Thunderbolts #29
Thunderbolts #29
Title: "The Fundamental Force”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
10,000 miles above the earth floats the remains of one of San Francisco’s finest SWAT teams, and the helicopters that were sent to back them up. They weren’t lucky enough to freeze to death. Rather the nitrogen in their bloodstream boiled and their capillaries burst. The strongest of them lived long enough to drown in their own blood. They shouldn’t be up there. Far below, the man that put them out there has already forgotten their existence.
Graviton is standing with the Thunderbolts frozen in place unable to move. He asks the Thunderbolts if they realize the mistake that they have made. He says that when they attacked him they attacked the ruler of a sovereign nation. Graviton says that they will be executed for the effrontery as an example to the world, and that the world may even applaud him for doing it since they are all internationally wanted criminals and a noted mutant terrorist. Graviton levitates the Thunderbolts and his Sky-Raiders back up to Sky Island. He says that they have to put the Thunderbolts into their cells so that they can reflect on their sins during their last day on Earth. He says that they are to die at dawn tomorrow.
Charcoal and Jolt watch from the ground. Charcoal says that if Hawkeye had not told them to stay back that they would be prisoners right now too. Jolt ads that if she hadn’t blown off his orders that they wouldn’t be in a position to save them right now. She says that they have to get up there. Charcoal puts his hands on Jolt’s shoulder. He says that if they just go attack Graviton that he would defeat them for sure. He says that they can’t just throw their last chance away on a pointless gesture. Jolt says that she guesses that Charcoal it right, but says that they have to do something… something smart that will actually work.
Graviton walks into his harem and tells his women to attend him. The women look at him with naked avarice, hungry for the gifts that he can give them, and Graviton thinks once again that it is good to be king. Graviton thinks about how it used to be. How he gained his immense power and turned from Frank Hall into Graviton. He thinks about how he has never reached the heights that he currently enjoys, but something still nags at Graviton and he realizes that, in some way he can’t express, it is not enough.
Jolt hangs up the phone and says that both the Fantastic Four and Avengers are out of town. She says that she guesses that they would be there already if they were available. Charcoal says that there must be someone. He asks Jolt if they didn’t work with the Heroes for Hire once. Jolt says that they broke up, and that she wouldn’t know how to reach any of them. She says that Graviton’s shtick is gravity and wonders who could help against that. She gets an idea and tells Charlie to get ready, as she is about to be brilliant.
Inside their cell, Archangel says that he kept expecting the Bolts to throw in with Graviton, but that it isn’t happening. Hawkeye is trying to figure out how to get through the gravity field that keeps them trapped. He says that it runs through everything, but that it looks real thin so that if someone were to run into real fast that they might be able to get out. Moonstone says that she wouldn’t do that. She says that she tried to phase through it, and even though she could phase through rock she couldn’t phase through the field. Hawkeye says to call him stupid, but he isn’t going to let Graviton just kill them. Hawkeye runs headlong into the field, and bounces off getting thrown back. Moonstone asks Hawkeye if he hurt his brains landing on them like that. Hawkeye says that he would still rather try and than just give up. He suggests getting a little sleep to help them think. Atlas suggests trying to break away when they come for them in the morning. Atlas says that he has been meaning to thank whoever it was that repaired his costume. Atlas asks if it was Songbird. Songbird says that she has enough trouble just keeping her carapace polished. Atlas asks Moonstone if it was her. Moonstone asks if Atlas if asking because she is a woman. Moonstone says that she has never sewed. Atlas says that he figured, but that Jolt doesn’t sew either and it wouldn’t have been Charcoal. Atlas says that it was right after they moved to the new headquarters. Archangel suggests that maybe they have elves. He suggests leaving out some milk and some shoes to be repaired. Atlas says that Archangel is a “real stitch” and asks if that is why they booted him out of the X-Men. Moonstone remains silent, but thinks about the key that someone slipped into her cell.
After being asleep for about ninety minutes, Hawkeye is suddenly woken up by Songbird. Songbird apologizes for waking him, but says that she wanted to see if he was hurt from his fall. Hawkeye says that he is fine. Songbird says that she wanted to thank him for saving her life and apologize for being so snappy lately. She says that she has just been nervous lately and feeling lost. Melissa says that she knows that Hawkeye is looking out for them, and that it is nice to feel protected again. Hawkeye starts to tell Songbird that it is no problem, but his mouth is suddenly blocked by Melissa’s kiss. Melissa pulls Hawkeye to her. Hawkeye’s surprise turns to pleasure. He goes to reach for her, but instead pushes her away. Hawkeye says that this isn’t right. Songbird apologizes and says that she doesn’t know what came over her. Hawkeye says that he knows how she is feeling, and that she is used to having her man around to be able to count on. He says that now she just feels like she has to have somebody to make the feeling go away. Hawkeye says that he has been there too. Hawkeye reminds her that Abe didn’t dump her, but that he sacrificed his freedom for the team. Hawkeye says that Abe is still there for her, and that so is the team. Hawkeye says that Melissa has had a rough life, and that she has been taught there is only one way to relate to a man. Hawkeye says that now she has friends, teammates, and Abe and she doesn’t have to do this. Hawkeye hugs Songbird and she thanks him. While holding Songbird, Hawkeye looks over and sees that Moonstone was watching them. He wonders what she saw. He thinks to himself that she creeps him out sometimes, but that he can’t let that stop him from being the man that the team needs.
At prison, Abe Jenkins is being moved in the middle of the night. He wants to know what is going on, and why he is being transferred in the night. Abe walks through a door and sees Henry Gyrich and Valerie Cooper waiting for him by a helicopter. Gyrich says that as Jenkins has probably guessed he is not being transferred.
In a town north of San Diego, Jolt and Charcoal are writing a gigantic “X-51” in the sky. Charcoal asks Jolt what they are doing. Jolt says that she saw this place mentioned on the “It’s Amazing” show last week. She says that Machine Man was spotted a few times in this area. Charcoal asks what a “Machine Man” is, and what writing “X-51” has to do with it. Jolt says that they are trying to get his attention. Jolt tells Charcoal about these experimental military robots that were supposed to have virtually human intelligence. Jolt says that all of them went bad except the one that became Machine Man. Jolt says that eventually he wound up joining the Avengers. She says that Machine Man was an X-51 series. She says that it was published a few times, but that it is hardly common knowledge. She figured that most people would think the flames were just a movie promotion. Charcoal says that the Imperial Forces told him that the robots were proof that the government was out to get them. He asks how that is going to help them. Jolt starts to tell him, but suddenly Machine Man’s head appears and asks what he can do for them. Jolt freaks a little, but Machine Man suggests that they come down to talk. He says that Gears will let him in. Charcoal guesses that Machine Man has a robot butler, but Gears turns out to be “Gears” Garvin, “God’s gift ta mechanics”. Gears says that he should have figured that it was some kind of super fun when he saw the flame letters. He says that they came there to kind of get away from all that. He says that they came there for a fishing vacation but that Machine Man has taken himself apart. Gears opens the door and Machine Man innards are all over room. Machine Man recognizes Jolt and Charcoal. He says that he heard about the Graviton fight, and that he would have come himself, but that he is still three days away from reassembly. Jolt says that she was hoping he would come with them, but now they had better get back to save the Thunderbolts. Machine Man asks Jolt to tell him about it, and says that she can catch her breath and maybe he can still find a way to help.
Outside Machine Man’s house, two SHIELD agents are radioing in to base. They say that a local disturbance lead them to the subjects location. The agent says that the disturbance involved two Thunderbolts, and he asks if they should try to apprehend them. The agent is told that Machine Man is the primary target, and that they should let the Thunderbolts go.
On Sky Island, Graviton surveys his domain
and swells with pride at being a monarch, but there is still
something missing. Two of Graviton’s underlings bring
Moonstone, encased in gravimteric field, to Graviton. Graviton
says that they can go, and that Moonstone will be no threat.
Moonstone says that Graviton has shown that he is in charge and
asks to what she owes the honor of this audience. Graviton says
that the last time they met she told him that he had no vision,
and that as a result he would always lose. Moonstone says,
“Yes. And…?” Graviton says that things are quite
different now. He tells her to look at what he has built, and
that now he is a king the likes of which has not been seen since
the Great Kings. He says that he sleeps on satin, eats the finest
foods, and commands his subject’s every act. Graviton says
that he is virtually a god. Moonstone says that it’s very
nice, but asks why he bothers telling her. Graviton says that
Moonstone can’t be so naïve. He says that she is about to
die, but that under the right circumstances he could be persuaded
to be merciful. Moonstone says that Graviton has got to be
kidding. She says that she knew that he was pathetic, but that
this is too much. Moonstone says that she stung his ego before
and so now he wants validation. She says that he wants her to say
what a big scary man he is, but that he is not. She says that is
why he has surrounded himself with a “collection of
cliches”. She says that they are all hooligans and losers to
worship him. 
Moonstone
starts laughing at Graviton and says that this was all he could
think of. Graviton orders the guards to take Moonstone back to
her cell to await death.
At dawn, the Thunderbolts do try to escape, but they only get through ten guards before Graviton’s powers crush them to the flagstone. Soon after the Thunderbolts are suspended in the air. Graviton tells one of his subjects to begin the video transmission. Graviton tells everyone that these criminals have offended the personage of Graviton the First, and that the penalty is death. Graviton says that he is a fair and just man, and that he will allow them to live their lives as prisoners if they humbly beg for mercy. No one says anything. Moonstone smirks at Graviton. Graviton tells the Bolts to breathe deeply because it is going to be their last breath. Out of nowhere, Jolt punches Graviton. Graviton says that he doesn’t know how Jolt managed to approach him without his detecting her, but that he will simply freeze her so she can join the others. Graviton is stunned to realize that he cannot get a lock on Jolt. Jolt punches Graviton again. Graviton says that it doesn’t matter that he can’t affect her, and that he will have no trouble dealing with one lone girl. Jolt asks why he thinks she was alone. Jolt says that she was just distracting Graviton until Charcoal was done with his part of the plan. Graviton asks what a “Charcoal” is, but then he sees that the Thunderbolts are all free now. Charcoal explains that Machine Man flies by “canceling the gravity equation” whatever that means, and that while he couldn’t come that he did make some armbands up for them so that Graviton can’t affect them anymore.
Atlas, Songbird, and Moonstone all blast Graviton. Moonstone wonders to herself what is wrong with her. She says that she was ready to die instead of bowing to Graviton. Hawkeye tells Graviton that he isn’t as powerful as he thinks. The Sky-Raiders jump to Graviton’s defense, but Graviton tells them to get back and that he will handle this himself. Graviton starts repelling massive amounts of rock at the Thunderbolts. Moonstone is still distracted by her more courageous and combative behavior and says that she doesn’t like this. She thinks that she can’t worry about it now, and that they must deal with Graviton now. She says that his power if not his weak spot, but that his mind is. Moonstone says that they have to break him. Hawkeye shoots an arrow at Graviton, but Graviton says that he can still protect himself. Moonstone says that the arrow was just a distraction as she punches Graviton. Archangel punches next, and Atlas says that he is next. Graviton says that they don’t understand. He says that they don’t stand a chance and that he is Graviton. Songbird says, “Sure you are pal… sure you are!” She pastes him from behind with a giant sound construct. Graviton is knocked to the ground. Charcoal and Atlas begin pounding on him. Atlas says that they can’t let up. Graviton starts freaking out. He thinks that this can’t be happening to him. He thinks that he should be impervious to pain, but that something about those “damnable bracelets” is causing him to feel some of the impact. Graviton freaks and blows Atlas and Charcoal off him with a giant rock. Atlas tells Charcoal to brace himself because this is going to hurt.
Moonstone says to Graviton, “How sad, Graviton. All that power, all those cliched fantasies, those borrowed dreams… and you can’t even hold on to them, can you? Everything’s falling apart…” Power starts to pour out of Graviton. He shouts that she is lying to him. He says that he has the power, the vision. He says that he has it all. Graviton shouts, “I’m Graviton” as power flows out of him on a massive scale. Moonstone wonders if maybe she went a little too far this time.
Traitor’s rating: 9 out of 10
“Canceling the gravity equation”… I always thought that was so stupid, and I still do, but I find it barely interfered with my enjoyment of the issue at all. The scene with Hawkeye and Songbird was outstanding. Moonstone’s manipulations of Graviton are also fantastic. It seems apparent that Graviton is much like Thanos in the respect that he loses primarily because he allows himself to be defeated. Again Bagely does such an outstanding job with Graviton that I find I don’t even know where to begin.