Thunderbolts #28
Thunderbolts #28
Title: "Castles in the Air”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Moonstone flies under her own power as Hawkeye, Atlas, Songbird, and Archangel fly along in the recently reacquired Champscraft. Archangel wonders how he got involved in all this.
Not long ago, Archangel and the Thunderbolts watch the tape of Graviton. Graviton tells the watching public of San Francisco that he has started his own nation and installed himself as sole monarch. He says to see his new land all they have to do is look up and see Sky Island. Moonstone, Songbird, Hallie, and Charlie arrive in response to the alarm as the tape of Graviton continues. Graviton continues saying that he is appearing to them all to announce that he is recruiting citizens> he admits that it might not seem a terribly attractive offer at first. He says that he demands complete obedience, that there is no freedom of press or speech, but that there are compensations that you will not receive as a citizen of any other country. Graviton motions to an attractive young woman named Clarissa and a handsome young man named Mick and asks them if they would like to demonstrate. Clarissa and Mick begin flying for the cameras. Graviton says that in exchange for swearing allegiance to him that he will grant them the power of flight. Graviton says that he will be recruiting tomorrow at Coit Tower at dawn. The news report went on to talk about how Graviton’s Sky Raiders had raided the city, and that the military jets that had tried to investigate the island were repulsed most brutally. Jolt turns to Moonstone and “compliments” her work at giving Graviton focus and a goal. Moonstone starts to reply, but Hawkeye cuts her off and says that what is done is done. Hawkeye says that Graviton has a plan now, and that while he doesn’t care if Graviton has his own country he is using it to attack people. Hawkeye says that right now they are the closest super types around. He asks Archangel if he wants to come along. Archangel says that it will give him a chance to see them in action, and adds that Graviton kind of reminds him of Magneto. Jolt turns to go get changed, but Hawkeye stops her and says that she has school tomorrow. Jolt says that stopping Graviton is more important than school. Hawkeye says that normally he would agree, but that she just started and should settle in before missing days. Jolt starts to object, but Hawkeye says that the decision has been made.
Back in the air as the Bolts fly towards San Francisco, Archangel is now flying under his own power watching the Champscraft. He says that they act like seasoned pros, but not that long ago they were trying to take over the world. Archangel says that no matter how nice a guy Hawkeye is he is going to be watching them to see if Hawkeye is under some king of mind control.
Moonstone is also lost in her own thoughts. She is thinking about how she had the opportunity to take over the Crimson Cowl’s plans, but that the thought of Deanna Stockbridge (whom Karla had always held in contempt) made her save the day and she doesn’t know why. Moonstone also thinks about the dreams that she has been having lately. Each day the dream becomes a little clearer. It is a dream of a woman, majestic and commanding, that seems to know her. The woman speaks to her in a raspy voice that Karla cannot quite hear about righteous battle
Atlas thinks that everyone is being real quiet, and that they’re probably thinking about the upcoming battle with Graviton but that he can’t stop thinking about Man-Killer. He says that he knows that he should tell the others, but that she isn’t hurting anyone. He thinks that he knows what it is like to be on the lam, but that the more he thinks about it the more confused he gets about it.
Songbird is looking at Hawkeye and thinking about the smug look on his face. He turned all their lives upside down and sent Abe to jail. Songbird thinks to herself that she knows that he is trying to what he thinks is best for them, but that sometimes she just wants to tear his face off.
Hawkeye is thinking about how well this is going. He says that people are starting to wonder about them being reformed after they took down the Masters of Evil, and that another win will help further cement the idea in their heads. Hawkeye also likes the idea that for once they are taking the offensive instead of dealing with problems that the Bolts were already mixed up in.
Coit Tower at dawn, Graviton descends from
Sky Island sitting upon a rock with a group of his followers to
find around seventy-five supplicants and a SWAT team. The SWAT
team orders Graviton to come down, and that he is under arrest
for theft, kidnapping, malicious mischief, disturbing the peace,
and conspiracy. With a flick of his wrist Graviton sends the
entire SWAT team into the air. He tells them that theirs is the
law of man, but that he is a law of nature. He tells them to
think about that as they orbit the earth 10,000 miles out.
Graviton turns to his supplicants and says that he has come to
bring them the sky, but that the sky comes with a price. Graviton
turns to a man named Lewis and asks him to demonstrate. Lewis
gets up and starts flying. Graviton says that now that Lewis is
up there he would like him to tell him about his visits to the
harem quarters he has been making for the last two weeks.
Graviton says that it seems to him that’s forbidden. Lewis
says that Graviton has the wrong guy, and then says that he can
explain. Graviton snaps his fingers and Lewis falls to the ground
with a loud crack. Graviton says, “Graviton giveth, and
Graviton taketh away”.
He says that
he brooks no disobedience, but that as long as they follow his
rules that the sky is theirs. Graviton asks who is still
interested.
Back at Mount Chateris, Charlie is pleading with Jolt not to go after them. Jolt says that she doesn’t care if Hawkeye is angry with her, and says that she has been a Thunderbolt longer than he has. She says that she can’t believe he tried to pack her off to school like she was some kid. Charlie says that he has been shipped around so much that having a place to live and go to school seems kind of nice. He says that he thought that after the way her parents were killed and all the Thunderbolts chaos that a little normalcy would be good for Jolt. Jolt shouts that she does not want a normal life. She says that she likes being a Thunderbolt, and that she is going to go do her job. Jolt asks Charlie if he is coming or not. Jolt and Charlie fly out together on the atomic steed. The silhouette of a figure watches them fly off from the supposedly empty headquarters.
Graviton is raising his new citizens into the sky towards Sky Island. He looks up and spots the Thunderbolts coming at him. He says that the would have thought that they had learned their lesson last time, but that they are so foolish that they’re trying to attack him from the air. Graviton blasts a plus-gravity wave. Suddenly the craft weighs ten times what it should and it starts falling to the ground. Hawkeye says that they can’t afford a new ship, and tells Songbird to catch the thing. Songbird does so, but even in the sound construct they hear a crack when the thing lands.
Graviton says that he is tired of doing all the work and orders his Sky-Raiders to attack the Thunderbolts. The Sky Raiders says that they are as good as dead. Moonstone says that a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, but that this is ridiculous. She starts swatting down the Sky-Raiders around her. Some of the Raiders try to shoot at Atlas figuring that they can’t miss, but Atlas says that at this height nothing short of a bazooka is going to phase him. He starts swatting them down as well. Hawkeye reminds the Bolts that these aren’t the real targets. He tells them to put them down fast so they can go after the man behind them. Songbird is trashing some of the Raiders and tells Hawkeye to tell them something that they don’t already know. She says that they aren’t complete incompetents without him guiding every step. Archangel is dealing with the Raiders as well. He says that they may be able to fly, but that they haven’t being doing it nearly as long as he has. Graviton sighs and says that he supposes that is what he gets for recruiting “bikers, druggies, dreamers, and Highlander fans”. He says that it is true that if you want something done right that you have to do it yourself. Graviton lets loose and enormous blast.
At that moment, in a luxurious cliffside structure, in the mountains north of Boulder, the Jury is having another workout with USAgent. Wysper says that was their best workout yet, and asks if they are going after the Thunderbolts again soon. USAgent says that they aren’t going until he is sure that the team is fully trained and ready for anything. He says that he doesn’t want a repeat of last time. Wysper says that they have all newly designed equipment, and that they aren’t a bunch of rookies. USAgent says that they have the equipment and that they know how to use it, but that it isn’t enough. He says that they were used to attacking one individual and teaming up on them. He says that they aren’t going out until they’re reacting as a team who will watch one another’s backs. As they are about to run another simulation, a SHIELD agent interrupts with information about the Thunderbolts being in San Francisco with Graviton. USAgent tells everyone to put in fresh power packs and that they are leaving for Frisco in three minutes. Mr. Cord tells them to ignore that order and says that they aren’t going anywhere. Cord says that he just said that they weren’t ready. Agent says that chasing them is one thing, but that Graviton is killing pilots and police officers. Cord says that someone else is going to have to deal with that. He says that he has spent millions on the Jury to bring in the Thunderbolts, but that he isn’t paying to have them going after other threats and putting his investment at risk. USAgent says that with all due respect that Tony Stark spent millions backing Iron Man and the Avengers, but that he doesn’t expect them to sit on their hands unless it is Stark property in danger. Cord says that he is not Tony Stark, and that he would have thought that obvious by now. He says that they aren’t going anywhere. Cord walks out and USAgent remains grinding his teeth.
Graviton says that he is going to have to make an example of the Thunderbolts to teach everyone that it is not wise to annoy him. Songbird and Moonstone tell Graviton that he doesn’t scare them. Hawkeye tells them to spread out, and that he has to concentrate to use his powers. He says that he is still just a human under it all, and that he can be defeated. Graviton says that his power is influenced by his very thoughts, and that they are going to need more than sticks and sound bubbles to beat him. Archangel is flying up behind Graviton. He is thinking that the Thunderbolts could be in league with Graviton so that everyone will think that they are heroes, but that they sure don’t seem like it. Graviton rips up the ground that Hawkeye is standing on and whips it up into a whirlwind. Archangel thinks that he had better do his part and distract Graviton so that Moonstone can attack him. Graviton asks Archangel what he hopes to accomplish. Archangel says that Graviton hasn’t managed to hit him with one of those whirling rocks yet. Moonstone is zooming at Graviton from behind in her intangible state, but Graviton turns and says that he has told her before that as long as she has any mass at all that he can affect her. Graviton blasts Moonstone. Songbird says that it is Graviton’s turn. Graviton says that Songbird’s shoulder pads give her power. He wonders what would happen if they suddenly weighed several tons. Songbird starts to plummet to the ground. Songbird is about to hit when Hawkeye fires an arrow that creates a bouncy substance for Songbird to land softly on. Hawkeye starts to apologize for the mess, but Songbird just smiles at him and says that he just saved her life.
Graviton notices
a pounding and turns to find Atlas pounding on his shield. Atlas
tells “Goatee-Boy” to give it up and that he is just
going to keep growing bigger and bigger until one of the two of
them breaks. Graviton tells Atlas to go ahead and get as big as a
planet. He says that his shields aren’t affected by him. A
sonic arrow buzzes around Graviton’s head and breaks his
concentration. Atlas smacks Graviton out of the sky.
Miles away, Jolt and Charlie are arriving on the atomic steed.
Hawkeye tells Atlas and Moonstone to keep
pounding on Graviton. He says that they can’t give him a
second to concentrate. Hawkeye tells Songbird to get ready to
spell them. As Atlas starts pounding and pounding on Graviton he
starts getting that old feeling again- that old angry crazy
feeling. He hesitates for a second, and although Songbird jumps
right in there it is all the time that Graviton needs. Graviton
says, “That… will… be… ENOUGH!” Graviton
lets loose with one enormous gravitic wave.
Jolt and Charlie are knocked off the atomic steed as they approach. On the ground, Jolt tells Charlie to Charcoal up, and that they have to go help the others before it is too late. Jolt suddenly notices that it is very quiet. She peeks around a large rock they are hiding behind and sees Graviton levitating victorious with all the others floating around him unconscious. Graviton says that they have attacked a monarch and failed. Graviton says that as his final lesson to the world that he is going to have them publicly executed. Jolt asks what they are supposed to do now.
Traitor’s rating: 8.5 out of 10
Graviton is back, and not only is that cool for the story, but in the hands of Mark Bagely it also is cool for the artwork. Bagely does a mean Graviton. Not so much his physical appearance, but the repercussions of his powers are impressive things (4.5 out of 5). The story is also very cool, but the little things bother me. Hawkeye has fought Graviton before, and unless it was his plan to leave Jolt and Charcoal back “just in case” I find it hard to believe that he wouldn’t put Graviton as priority one. The other thing is that I still just don’t like USAgent or the Jury at all. Their inclusion demonstrates just how far from noble Cord’s motivations are, but not much else. Still all in all a fun comic book to read and see.