Thunderbolts #23
Thunderbolts #23
Title: "Public Relations”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Hawkeye asks Abe Jenkins if he is ready. Abe says that he is not, but that he isn’t going to be any more ready than this. Hawkeye says that Abe is going to be fine, and that he is sure that Abe is going to be able to take it. Abe nods and turns to go outside. The flashes start going off as he emerges. Abe sticks out his arms and his wrists are manacled. A police tells Abner Ronald Jenkins that he is under arrest.
The Thunderbolts all watch on live television. Songbird says that he really did it, and that she hates this so much. Jolt says that his face looks like he is going to die. Songbird says that Jolt has never been to prison before. She says that she knows that Jolt was tortured by Arnim Zola, but that prison is a whole other kind of torture. Atlas says that Melissa should try to look on the bright side, and that Abe is doing this so that they can have a shot at redeeming themselves. He says that you have to admire Abe’s courage. Melissa says that she would rather admire him while he was here. Jolt says that it will all work out and asks for Moonstone’s assurance. Moonstone says that she supposes so, but is really thinking to herself that she should have thought of this and if she had she would still be leading the team. Karla wonders if Hawkeye knows how this is bonding the rest of the team together, and that if he did it on purpose or if he is just lucky.
Members of The Jury watch the coverage as well. They says that there is one that they don’t need to worry about. Another says that they may have lost Gavel and their whole support system, but that it looks like they’ve landed on their feet. Another says that they’re getting nice digs, nice pay, and that they are getting all the tech they need. He says that it seems like compared to some of their other targets that the Thunderbolts are going to be a walk in the park. USAgent says that he is going to pretend that he didn’t hear that, but that the next time someone acts like this is a game or underestimates an enemy that there will be repercussions. USAgent says that Hawkeye is leading the team and that even though he was a friend of his that he is going to take him down. USAgent says that Hawkeye is very good, and that if they beat him that it will not be a walk in the park. The Jury’s former leader tries to apologize for everyone, but USAgent just dresses him down.
On the news coverage, Hawkeye says that a man has given up his freedom voluntarily so that people will realize that the Thunderbolts have changed. Hawkeye says that over time people will only receive more proof of that. Gayle Rogers asks if Hawkeye can confirm if he is the new leader of the Thunderbolts, and if he is what does he say to those who say that he should be charged as an accessory. Hawkeye says that when he started out he was a villain. He goes on to list Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Falcon all started out on the wrong side. He says that he isn’t asking them to trust them yet because they haven’t done anything to earn it. Hawkeye says that he just wants the people to watch them and decide for themselves. While Hawkeye is talking to Gayle Rogers, billionaire head of Cordco Industries Edwin Cord is talking to another camera. He says that this is all spin and a lot of happy sounding lies. He says that people aren’t going to stand for this kind of filth, and that he has taken steps to see this band behind bars. Cord says that if Hawkeye is going to show his true colors allying himself with the Thunderbolts that he knows that the people are with him opposing him, but when Cord looks over his shoulder Hawkeye is being mobbed for his autograph. As the people mob around him and asks questions a young African-American man drops a small rock into Hawkeye’s quill and walks away. Hawkeye tells the crowd to judge the Thunderbolts on their actions and rockets off on his atomic steed.
Elsewhere, Klaw, Crimson Cowl, and Man-Killer have just finished watching the coverage. Klaw says that he doesn’t like this. He says that Cowl is always underestimating the Thunderbolts, and that with Hawkeye leading them that they may be a danger. Cowl says that she doesn’t think so, but that she wouldn’t be the leader of the Masters of Evil unless she acted against even minor threats. Cowl tells Man-Killer to get a report from Cyclone.
After he is sure that he isn’t being followed, Hawkeye descends to the new cabin that the team is staying in. He says that it is nicer than Songbird’s cabin that Hercules destroyed, but that it is more of a risk because it is a rental. He thinks to himself that the deal with the Commission isn’t really as legal as he made it sound, and so not only are they not going to get any help from them but they might come after them. He wishes that the Dominus base had worked out, but says that at least they cleared the air with the Avengers. Hawkeye lands and shouts, “Hey! Team! Front and Center!” Moments later the entire team is standing in front of Hawkeye. Hawkeye says that it is no “Avengers Assemble”, but that he can’t argue with the results. Songbird asks Hawkeye if he wants ant more of them to turn themselves in. Hawkeye says that he doesn’t have any other surrenders for the day, but that he thought they should get some training in.
Off in the distance, Citizen V is standing on a tree limb in her new camouflage outfit. She is speaking to someone via a radio link. She says that the suit worked perfectly, and that she has installed surveillance equipment in every room of the cabin. She says that now they can get information before they move against them. Citizen V does says that the Thunderbolts have another visitor as well. Behind another tree, Cyclone watches the Thunderbolts. He reports back to Man-Killer that the team has not moved, and that Hawkeye is back with them. He says that now they can pick them off at their leisure. Cyclone stops suddenly as the young African-American man that dropped the rock in Hawkeye’s quill walks up to the Thunderbolts.
Hawkeye asks who he is and what he is doing
there. Charlie Burlingame introduces himself and says that he has
followed him from Denver. Charlie says that he heard what Hawkeye
said about a lot of heroes starting out as villains, and that he
was hoping he could join up with them and reform too. Moonstone
says that Hawkeye was followed and says that is good leadership.
Atlas asks Charlie if he is reforming from stealing bicycles.
Hawkeye says that he will take care of this, and asks Charlie why
he wants to join the Thunderbolts and how he followed him from
Denver so quickly. Charlie says that he flew. He says that he
guesses that they never saw him like this. Charlie says that the
last time he met the others that he looked like this. Charlie
transforms into Charcoal. 
Atlas and
Songbird both decide that Charcoal is still after them for the
Imperial Forces. Charcoal says that he just dropped a bit of his
charcoal finger into Hawkeye’s bag. Charcoal tries to
explain that he isn’t with the Imperial Forces anymore, but
before he can he is head butted by a giant sound constructed ram
head. Charcoal flies through some trees. Atlas charges at
Charcoal and says that he just made the biggest mistake of his
life coming after them without his army to back him up. Charcoal
says he didn’t start this, but that as long as he can
transform into any form of carbon that he will do just fine.
Charcoal’s arm transforms into diamond and hits Atlas in the
face. Charcoal blocks Moonstone’s blast. Jolt says that
Moonstone was just distracting him so that she could blast him.
Charcoal says that because carbon isn’t very conductive that
Jolt’s blast don’t do anything to him. Suddenly
everyone stops fighting and grabs their ears as Hawkeye had shot
a sonic arrow around them. Hawkeye says that as weird as it
sounds coming from him there is no reason to fight when you can
talk this over. Hawkeye says that from what they told him about
their first battle that it sounds like Charcoal was an underling
and not likely to go out on his own to cause trouble. Charcoal
says that is right. He says that he never wanted to join up with
the Imperial Forces. He says that was his father that wanted
that. Hawkeye says that there is no reason they can’t talk
it out.
Suddenly USAgent and the Jury burst onto the scene and say that they will be doing their talking in jail. USAgent says that Hawkeye heard that Cord said that he had taken steps to see the Thunderbolts in jail, and that they are those steps. USAgent barks out some orders to Sentry, Wysper, Firearm, Ramshot, and Bomblast. He thanks the Bolts for fighting among themselves and that it made it much easier for them to find them. Sentry flies into Atlas’ face and hits him. Bomblast tries to nail Moonstone, but she judges that he is firing plasma bolts and simply phases through it. He says to just think of the million bucks a head that Cord is paying to bring them in. Songbird asks why Cord doesn’t give her the million, and that she would be gone. Wysper says that maybe Cord doesn’t think that people like Songbird should get away with what she has scott-free. Sentry tells her to talk less and fight more. Sentry asks Firearm if he is going to let a little girl get away from him. Firearm says that he has it under control, but as soon as he says that Jolt hits him with a tree branch she had pulled back. USAgent squares off against Hawkeye. He says that they had their problems, but that Hawkeye won his respect. He says that he never thought Hawkeye would sink so low as to help some crooks escape justice. Hawkeye asks USAgent if he has fixed any battles to make himself look good lately. USAgent says that he got past that, and that he was cleared to become by the government to become an Avenger. USAgent throws his shield at Hawkeye, but Hawkeye dodges. USAgent says that since Cap ripped off his photonic shield idea that he just had some gizmos installed in his shield so that he can control it after he has thrown it. Hawkeye leaps onto the shield and says that Cap never needed any gizmos. Hawkeye says that the problem with the shield flying around is that it doesn’t help out defensively at all. Hawkeye fires a blasting arrow into USAgent’s face. Hawkeye says that he wishes he could say that it was beneath USAgent to become a fascist stormtrooper for a corporate slime like Cord, but that this isn’t much of a change for him.
Ramshot is attacking Charcoal, but Sentry reminds him that Charcoal is not a Thunderbolt. He says that he is ground based, and that Ramshot should help him against Atlas. Ramshot flies off and Charcoal is indignant that they are ignoring him. Charcoal informs them that he is not ground based by ramming into both of them from behind. Atlas compliments Charcoal. USAgent yells at Sentry. He says that he is acting like an idiot, and that they are too used to ganging up on one foe. He tells him to get his head in gear. Hawkeye notices the way the others in the Jury flinch when USAgent dresses Sentry down. Hawkeye then notices that there are news helicopters above. He thinks that he didn’t want everyone to see them fighting the authorities even if it was a privately owned authority. Hawkeye tells the Bolts to razzle dazzle them just like they did the Avengers. Moonstone blasts USAgent off his feet and thinks to herself that Hawkeye once again surprises her. She says that this is the most organized that the Bolts have ever been. Sentry blasts Atlas but, because he is busy looking over his shoulder, Atlas grabs Sentry’s foot and smashes him against the ground. Hawkeye contacts Songbird over the radio links. He tells her where he thinks their power source is, and Songbird creates sound based swords to slash open Firearm’s and Ramshot’s power packs. Wysper blasts Songbird with sonic blasts that cause her to shout in pain. Hawkeye fires an arrow into Wysper’s power pack. USAgent says that this is Hawkeye’s doing, but Hawkeye says that without him it may have taken a little longer but that his team is used to fighting like one. Jolt bounces off USAgent’s face. The last of the Jury, Bomblast is protecting his power pack, but Songbird simply covers the muzzle of his blaster causing it to explode. Bomblast jettisons the blaster and the fiery wreckage destroys the Thunderbolts’ new cabin. Hawkeye thinks how this is typical. He says that they were going to have to leave it anyway, but that the cabin was on his Visa card.
Off in the trees, Citizen V thinks how her bugs were now worthless. Cyclone likewise thinks about how he is going to have to track them all over again. He wonders if they are the luckiest or the luckiest heroes in the business.
Hawkeye says that they are leaving. He asks USAgent is going to follow them or try to help his men. Hawkeye tells him to think about the odds on six to one. USAgent says that Hawkeye wouldn’t stop, and that he would just barrel right in but that he isn’t going to desert his team. This surprises the Jury, as they thought that he viewed them as cannon fodder. USAgent says that Cord will fix their design problems, and that they will be back to take them down. Hawkeye tells USAgent to take a number. Hawkeye tells Charcoal to come with them, and that he has earned that much.
Later above Burton Canyon in Mount Charteris, Crimson Cowl, Klaw, Man-Killer, and Tiger Shark are watching the news. The anchorman says that after the public surrender of MACH-1 that public opinion about the Thunderbolts was improving, but that it went right back down after they were seen fighting USAgent and the Jury. Cowl says that can’t be what Hawkeye had intended for the day’s news. She says that they hardly seem to be a threat to them as long as they keep shooting themselves in the foot. Klaw tells Cowl to keep watching the news. The anchorman then goes live to Gayle Rogers from an undisclosed location. Gayle is with the Thunderbolts. Hawkeye admits that this wasn’t the response that he was hoping for, but that it is no reason to quit. Hawkeye does say that he thinks it is a waste of Cord’s time and money to try and bring down a group that isn’t hurting people all over the west, but that if that is where his priorities lie that he is welcome to it. Hawkeye says that the Thunderbolts are going to show what their priorities are. Hawkeye looks into the camera and says that the Thunderbolts are going to take down Crimson Cowl’s Masters of Evil or die trying. Songbird says, “We’re going to do what?” Back at Mount Charteris the Crimson Cowl says, “They’re going to what?”
Traitors’ rating: 8 out of 10
Bagely continues to excel on this book. He has great action, great team facial expression and great style. I give the story a 3.5 out of 5 however. A lot happens in this book: MACH-1 goes to jail and his absence within the team is immediately filled by Charcoal. It’s ironic that the Thunderbolts aren’t willing to believe that someone else would want to redeem themselves when they can’t believe that people don’t believe them. That said… I hate USAgent. From his first appearance in Cap to every other book he is in I find that my enjoyment is lessened when he is in the book. I don’t know the Jury, but my initial response is not real positive. The good news is that the end of the book turns Thunderbolts right back onto a track I enjoy.