Thunderbolts #30
Thunderbolts #30
Title: "Uh-Oh!”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
In Denver, Melvin Biggers is running down the alleys trying to get away from Citizen V. Citizen V has spent most of her career going after Baron Zemo and the Thunderbolts for sullying the good name of the original Citizen V, but today she is after other game. Citizen V throws v-shaped stars and pins Melvin against the wall. She points her sword at Melvin and says that the word on Melvin is that he knows about everything criminal in this town one way or the other. Citizen V demands to know where is the Crimson Cowl. Melvin asks Citizen V if she means the Crimson Cowl that was just defeated by the Thunderbolts. He says that she just broke out of jail. Citizen V goes silent for a minute and then says that she must be rebuilding her organization, and that chances are that she would try doing it locally. Melvin says that he doesn’t know anything about that. Citizen V says that she doesn’t believe him and makes a small cut on his neck with her sword. Panicky, Melvin says that he does know about “one set of heavies” that is recruiting. He says that he will tell her all about them.
In San Francisco, pouring is still pouring out of Graviton uncontrollably. Graviton’s new followers all start abandoning him hoping that they can make it back to the ground before their new power of flight suddenly stops working. Jolt says that it just looks like them against Graviton. Songbird says that she just had a bad thought and wonders what will happen to the power all runs out of Graviton. Moonstone tells Songbird to worry about protecting herself from the flying debris. She says that if the island stayed up while Graviton was asleep that it will stay up now. Hawkeye says that might be true if he was knocked out, but maybe not if his power runs out. Hawkeye says that they have to do something fast before the armbands burn out. Moonstone grabs Hawkeye and Jolt and says that she has a plan. Jolt reminds Moonstone of how well her plans with Graviton have been working out.
Down on the ground, Moonstone tells everyone to give her their armbands. Jolt says that they are the only thing protecting them. Moonstone says that they won’t last long, and that as long as Graviton still thinks that they are wearing them that he won’t attack them directly. She says that before he realizes what is going on that they can use the armbands against him. Hawkeye gets it and says that someone is going to have to get close to him. Moonstone says that she will do it by phasing through the rocks, but Archangel says that he had better do it. Archangel says that if Graviton does try for her that he has already proved that he can affect her while she is phasing. He says that they need someone that can maneuver through the rocks. Hawkeye says that he isn’t so sure, but Archangel says to trust him and that he has been doing this since he was a teenager.
The other Bolts try to block for Archangel as he flies towards Graviton with the armbands. Graviton’s scream has degenerated into an animal howl as the power pours out of him. Archangel operates on instinct and manages to tag Graviton with the armbands. Graviton is stunned and wonders where his power went. Songbird compliments Archangel’s flying, but Archangel is more interested to see if the island is staying in the air. Hawkeye starts to say that he wants the island pushed out over the water just in case, but then a flow of power starts going into Graviton. Graviton curses the Thunderbolts and says that the sudden disruption of his gravitic force spasm has caused it to collapse inward. Hawkeye tells everyone that flies to grab someone that doesn’t. Songbird says that it is hard to fly and asks what is happening. Hawkeye says that Graviton just became the pocket equivalent of a black hole, and so they have to get clear of him before they get sucked in. Archangel tells Jolt to hang on tight to him, but Jolt says that she is already holding on as tightly as she can. Archangel says that now he is being hit on by teenage fugitives. The Thunderbolts strain to get away, but they do manage to get clear before Graviton’s black hole pops out of existence.
Songbird asks if Graviton is dead. Hawkeye says that he will be back, and that he would bet his eyeteeth on it. Hawkeye says that he has done this sort of thing before, and that wherever he goes when he collapses inward is someplace that he can come back from.
They head back to the Champscraft. Charcoal and Atlas look over the Champscraft. Jolt recalls that Graviton said something about being trapped in another dimension when they first encountered him and wonders if he went back there. Hawkeye compliments Jolt for coming up with the Machine Man idea. He compliments Moonstone for coming up with the plan and Archangel for carrying it out. Archangel tells Hawkeye to go ahead and keep the Champscraft. He says that it will be nice to see it put to good use. Archangel says that they are doing an admirable thing and he hopes they all make it. He says that unlike mutants that they all earned their bad rep, but that he thinks that they can all make it. Archangel flies away. Hawkeye says that they beat a major bad guy and made an ally. He says that’s not bad for a few days work. Atlas reminds Hawkeye that they had better leave before the police arrive. Hawkeye says that he has to get used to that. As they fly along Moonstone says that this is embarrassing as black smoke pours out the back of the Champscraft. Atlas says that they can fix it, and Hawkeye tells Songbird to be ready in case they start dropping to the ground.
Alone in the darkness, Graviton is curled up in the fetal position. He is mumbling about his lost kingdom when suddenly a bright light appears. A red robed and hooded figure appears to Graviton and says, “You seek vision Graviton. You have power… but you fail because your dreams are too small, too petty. All you require is vision… and I shall assure… that you have it…”
In the morning at Mount Charteris, Atlas calls for Hawkeye to hurry to the hanger. The Champscraft has been completely restored and repainted with a new Thunderbolts insignia over the old Champscraft logo. Hawkeye asks what happened, but Atlas says that it was like this when he woke up. Moonstone says that this is more like it. Atlas says that he has gone over, and that it looks better than perfect. Jolt points out the new logo and wonders where the “C” went. Charcoal says that he thinks that he got the “C” as he models his new outfit of unstable molecules with a “C” for Charcoal. Jolt says that maybe they really do have elves the way Archangel suggested. Karla thinks to herself about the key that someone gave her when Crimson Cowl had her in restraints. She thinks about all the repairs, the replaced costumes and equipment and she wonders where Techno is these days. Hawkeye says that he doesn’t believe in elves. He reminds Jolt and Charcoal that they have to get ready for school especially since they missed a day already. Jolt tries to protest but goes to get ready.
Hallie and Charlie stand outside the school. Hallie says that she hates this place. Charlie says that they have to take the absence notes to the office, but as Charlie walks to the door he sees that Hallie is not following him. Hallie is staring at the other kids and remembering the kids that used to be at her school before Onslaught. Hallie starts to cry and tells Charlie to go ahead without her. Hallie runs off. Charlie thinks for a minute, and then decides to go ahead in. As he walks into the building, a janitor spots Charlie walking in. He holds up a communicator and tells the “base” that he has spotted the target and that the target doesn’t suspect.
A little later, Erik Josten stands outside the Down Slope, the sports bar where Man-Killer is bartending, with his hands in his pockets. Erik wonders what he is going to do. He thinks that he knows that it is Man-Killer working there and he is supposed to be a hero, but he just can’t make himself tell the others. He thinks that he knows how she feels wanting to just lay low. Erik says that busting her would be like busting himself. Erik says that the other Thunderbolts seem to have their acts together, but that he just stumbles along hoping not to mess up, and yet here he knows that he is messing up, but that he finds that he just can’t stop himself. As Atlas walks in the door to the bar he wonders if he is trying to find a way to get booted off the team because he doesn’t feel worthy to be on the Bolts. “Wilma” greets Erik as he walks in the door. She asks if he is going to be a regular there. Erik says that he could be and asks for a beer. As Wilma is pouring the beer Erik watches the big screen television. He comments on the skier in red on the screen. He says that he is really tearing up the course and she has to figure him as a shoo-in. Wilma says that the guy is wasting his energy when he should be hanging back. She says that he is going to peak too early and blow the race. Erik says that it sounds like she knows a lot about skiing. Wilma says that she thinks that after you work in a sports bar long enough that you pick these things up. Erik thinks to himself that she doesn’t sound like she hates men. He says that she reminds him of guys in his old army barracks that was just fun to hang out with. Erik starts to say that he bets that she is just being modest, but then he suddenly stops as he thinks he sees Techno is his human form. Wilma asks Erik if something is wrong. Erik says that he thought he saw someone that he knew, but that it must just be someone who looks like him.
Deep in the tunnels at Mount Charteris, Hawkeye and Songbird are looking around together. Hawkeye says that they just can’t scout around, and that they have to make maps as they go. He hopes that Moonstone is doing better, but Moonstone phases through the wall and says that there are thousands of tunnels down there, and that it would be impossible to find someone without a bio-sensor. Hawkeye says that maybe they will try that later. Hawkeye says that he wants to go grab a quick workout and asks if either of them wants to join him for a mock combat. Moonstone says that she does, but Songbird says that she wants to go e-mail Abe so he will have something to read when he gets to go on-line.
Ten minutes later Hawkeye and Moonstone are working out. Hawkeye shoots an arrow at Moonstone, but Moonstone blasts it out of the air. Hawkeye says that Moonstone relies on her intelligence and powers, but that she would probably be pretty formidable even if she just relied on her athletic skills. Moonstone says that she did always like to stay in shape, but that she is nowhere near him. She asks if he works out for like four hours a day. Hawkeye says that he has to though. He says that all he has is skill, and that he has to work until it becomes second nature. Moonstone says that takes a lot of dedication, and that not many people could make themselves work that hard. Moonstone says that is why she believes that he makes such a good leader. She says that his constant pushing causes others to make an effort. She says that he gives them confidence and not just orders. Moonstone says that doesn’t mean that he can catch her with such an obvious attack. Hawkeye says that he thought that he had her bedazzled by his roguish charm. Moonstone thinks to herself that she is actually enjoying this. She had wanted to get a handle on Hawkeye, but she assumed that it would have to be through some trick.
Hallie comes back to the school. She swallows hard and opens the door. She thinks to herself that she is a Thunderbolt and that enough is enough. She says that there is nothing to fear here, and that all she has to do is find Charlie and everything will be okay. At Charlie’s locker, the wall blows in and the Imperial Forces start coming at Charlie. They say that he knows that he doesn’t belong there, and that they are taking him back to where he belongs. Charlie says that he won’t let them. His eyes start to glow with power, but the Imperial Forces say that they came prepared. They blast Charlie with gas. Hallie runs up to the three kids that found the Thunderbolts at the cabin when the Imperial Forces took over the town. She asks what is going on. They say that the Imperial Forces have returned and grabbed her friend. Jolt keeps saying “no” as the Imperial Forces fly off with Charlie. She thinks to herself that she has to find a quiet place and radio the others.
Moonstone and Hawkeye are still training. Moonstone has a hold of Hawkeye’s shirt and she keeps him in the air with one hand. Moonstone thinks to herself that she knows that Hawkeye is attracted to her and that in the past it would just be something else to use, but now she is finding that she likes it. She also realizes that she is attracted to him as well. Moonstone slams Hawkeye to the ground and Hawkeye gives up. She holds him down and says that she just realized that she doesn’t know his real name. Hawkeye decides to tell Moonstone that his real name is Clint Barton. Moonstone kisses Hawkeye.
Songbird sits at the computer. She sees that her last e-mail that she sent to Abe hasn’t even been read. She says that he should have gotten it Tuesday. She wonders if Abe has been put in solitary. Suddenly Jolt is shouting for someone to come in on the radio. Songbird asks what it is. Jolt tells Songbird that she has to get the others and that they have grabbed Charlie.
After the kiss
breaks, Moonstone whispers into Hawkeye’s ear that one of
the great things about having mental control of your costume is
that you can make it disappear at will. Hawkeye’s eyes open
wide. Songbird comes around the corner and sees a nude Karla
mounted on Hawkeye. Karla says, “Oh…” Hawkeye
says, “uh…” Songbird says, “uh-oh…”
Traitors rating: 9 out of 10
This issue is kind of a weird one. It’s like the Graviton story just couldn’t fit into the last issue. Well the Graviton thing is wrapped up, and the second half of the issue serves at the set up issue for the next story. It’s actually cooler than having a whole issue of downtime. The Moonstone Hawkeye relationship is going to be one of the cooler angles in this book. Now I know from hindsight, but you could tell even from this one issue. I’m also enjoying the Atlas/Man-Killer storyline though it will drag out a little too long, but as for this issue it’s still just fun. This is just a fun book to read. Bagely continues to impress. He seems to have such an intricate knowledge of the characters. It’s hard to imagine someone else on the book.