Thunderbolts #32
Thunderbolts #32
Title: "Blood Sports”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Deep within the Rockies, shielded by high crags and energy-screens, stands Cornwallis Base. Normally quiet the inhabitants tonight cheer for a fight tournament. William Taurey greets the people. He says that his lineage traces back to the Royal Courts of England. He says that no one can claim an equal bloodline and so he opens the night’s festivities.
Citizen V stands high above it all chilled to the bone.
Taurey tells the people that they have labored well for them and that they are pleased. He says that they take care of them in return, and that one of their rewards is entertainment. Taurey presents the Thunderbolts.
Charcoal says “uh oh”. Jolt asks Charcoal if he knows what is happening. Hawkeye sees the audience and force field and says that it is no wonder that they gave him his weapons back. Hawkeye asks Taurey if his little arena of death scenario isn’t a little “Star Trek”. Taurey says that he is of the elite, and that the elite does as it pleases. Taurey says that it amuses the lower classes and so, “Let the games begin!”
Taurey’s command echoes across the great hall and a sonic shielding ripples and softens as the Brute Force and the Shocktroopers step into the arena. Hawkeye asks if they didn’t already do this. Taurey tells the Brute Force and Shocktroopers that the team that brings down the last Thunderbolt will be rewarded with a full month of “proto-elite status”, but that if the Bolts survive that both teams will receive “correctional treatment”. The crowd erupts cheering.
Atlas says to listen to the people that they want to free. He says that it sounds like they want them dead. Songbird tells them to pick a partner and start the dance. Charcoal punches Fieldstone of the Brute Force and says that Songbird doesn’t have to tell him. He says that these are the jerks that tortured him for leaving. He says that they were supposed to be his friend. Loblolly is fighting Atlas, but one of the Shocktroopers tells her to back off because he is taking him down. The shocktrooper blasts Atlas. Hawkeye dodges Hoopsnake and hits Scarum with an electrical arrow because he is lunging at Moonstone. He says that he is “kinda partial to the lady”. Moonstone thanks Hawkeye. Songbird traps Watchfire in a sound bubble. As the fight goes on it seems that the crowd is cheering whatever side is hurting the other as if all they really want is blood.
Moonstone punches Hoopsnake for Hawkeye and warns him that there is someone on his left. Hawkeye thanks Moonstone. Jolt is worried as she notices Hawkeye and Moonstone pairing off as a team. She thinks that “if that manipulative witch gets her claws into him…” Fizgig asks if she is Jolt and gives her a jolt. Jolt recovers from the shock and says that wasn’t a jolt, but that this is a jolt. Jolt swats Fizgig and blasts her.
The leader of the Shocktroopers says that they have to rally so that they can enjoy that “proto-elite status”.
Citizen V watches with a mixture of satisfaction and unease. She has no love for the Thunderbolts and would happily see them harmed or jailed, but then she thinks of the scene that she saw earlier with the “shriequencer” that killed several dozen pieces and how the Secret Empire plans to use them on American cities. She thinks for a moment and then tells Piers to patch her to a phone line because she has a certain toll free number to call.
The fighting goes on for another twenty minutes. One of the Shocktroopers is instructing the others. Hawkeye hits him in the back with an arrow that has a rope attached to the end. Hawkeye pulls the guy to the ground and says that he looks like the leader and that they have to talk. Hawkeye tells Atlas to keep them off of him for a minute or two. Hawkeye tells the guy that they are trapped here just like they are fighting for scraps and favors. He says that if they work together they can bust through the force field and free all of them. He says that then he and his men can be free. The shocktrooper says, “Of course! I was taken by the Empire years ago… I’d give anything to be free again. Hawkeye says that is what he wanted to hear. He tells the guy to pass the word along and tell him men to be ready. Hawkeye gathers Moonstone and Songbird and tells them the plan. Moonstone says that she doesn’t think that they should do this. She says that if it fails it could exhaust them and leave them vulnerable. Hawkeye says that might be so, but that they are giving it a try.
Fifteen minutes later, Songbird starts attacking the force field. Moonstone joins in and together they break through the field right in front of William Taurey and the others. Chadwick says that they have broken through the field. Cheer says that they are just lowlies. She asks if they could really harm them. Hawkeye shouts for the Shocktroopers to join in and be free, but the leader just blasts Hawkeye. He says that he is a fool to believe that they would rebel against their masters. He says that he just agreed to it to get them to waste some energy and drop their guard. Moonstone punches the Shockguard leader off his feet and says that the next time she tells Hawkeye that something is a bad idea that maybe he will listen. Hawkeye says, “Yeah, yeah… next time.”
Moonstone is caught by Hoopsnake and Songbird is getting tired. Gloucester says that they are dead meat for certain now. Taurey says that might be, but that he wants the field sealed and the sonic cannon readied just in case. Taurey says that they have made some great strides thanks to their benefactor, and that he won’t lose it over some “mere entertainment”. Atlas and Charcoal are also starting to struggle. Hawkeye thinks to himself that he has made some boneheaded moves, and that he thought that he could be Captain America. Hawkeye says that he has doomed them all. Suddenly, USAgent and the Jury busts into the place. USAgent tells the Thunderbolts to put their hands where they can see them, but he is stunned when he sees what is happening. Hawkeye says that he never thought that he would be happy to see him again. He says that everyone he doesn’t recognize is a bad guy and tells him to pitch in anytime he wants.
Taurey freaks. He tells the Shocktroopers and Brute Force to stop “shilly-shallying and kill them all!” Taurey turns to Chadwick and says that if these newcomers have found their base that they had better evacuate and head to one of their other bases. Chadwick agrees. He tells Taurey to alert the rest of the elite, and that he will go get the files and data on the shriequencers, as they are the only thing they don’t have duplicated elsewhere.
Citizen V moves swiftly after bringing USAgent and the Jury in to help the Thunderbolts she will go and deal with the real threat.
USAgent says that he thought they had found their headquarter. He asks what is going on here. Hawkeye says that it is your standard “secret conspiracy, overthrow the government, take over the world” sort of thing. USAgent says that sounds familiar. Hawkeye says that USAgent is very funny, but that at least they are trying to stop guys like this while USAgent’s boss just pays him to hassle them because he is annoyed at them. Hawkeye says that USAgent’s boys aren’t doing too well.
Moonstone and Charcoal bail out the Jury. Charcoal says that they need to be backing each other up. Charcoal says that they have retracted the field, and that they have brought in the sonic cannon. The Shocktroopers say to just go straight to full power, and that they will sort out their guys afterwards. Taurey tells Cheer that it is time to go. The sonic cannon starts to whine, but Songbird says that it isn’t going to work this time. She says that it took her by surprise the first time, but this time she is ready for its sonic energy that she can block it. Songbird does manage to hold the sonic energy in, but it is taking a terrible strain on her. USAgent says that Hawkeye’s girl bought them some time. Hawkeye asks if any of the Jury are engineers because he has an idea.
At the base’s command center, Cheer
Chadwick asks Taurey what he is doing. Taurey says that he
refuses to run, and that these “costumed morons” must
be taught a lesson. He says that their benefactor has even more
reason to despise them. Taurey contacts his benefactor. Taurey
says that he wanted to offer him an opportunity. He says that he
has been very generous with funds, contacts, and technology so he
thought he would return the favor. Taurey says that they have the
Thunderbolts contained and would like to offer him the
opportunity to destroy them personally if he can act quickly
enough. Baron Zemo tells Taurey to be silent. 
He says, “I
am Zemo. You offer me nothing. What you mean to say, William
Taurey is that the Thunderbolts have you at a disadvantage, and
you are begging for more of my help in dealing with them…
lest they destroy you completely. Is that not right?” Taurey
says that the Secret Empire is in no immediate danger from the
Thunderbolts, but that they have discovered one of their bases.
Taurey says that they wold be forced to abandon it, but that he
thought that they might use his aid to destroy them. Zemo says
that Taurey can phrase it however he wants, but that the truth is
that the Thunderbolts have bested him. Zemo says that he wants to
make something clear. He says that he supported his organization
because he thought that they might have potential, but that if
they cannot cope with one band of costumed idiots that he was
obviously mistaken. Zemo says that this will be a test for them
to show him their mettle. Zemo tells them to escape now, but then
to hunt down the Thunderbolts and bring him their heads. He says
that if they do that he will consider maintaining his support of
them. Zemo signs off and Cheer starts asking how he dares. Taurey
tells Cheer to be quiet and follow him tot he hangar.
Dr. Chadwick says that he will just grab his notes, the schematics, and the experimental log. He says that they can rebuild the device at Burgoyne Base. He says that then he will activate the suicide measures in the underclasses to make sure nobody talks. Chadwick enters his lab and finds Citizen V standing there. Citizen V introduces herself and says that she thinks that the medical establishments that revere him would be quite shocked if they saw his shriequencer, but that he doesn’t need to worry about that. She says that she mined his lab. She pushes a button and blows it all up. Chadwick is stunned but realizes that he has something more to lose and makes a run for it. Citizen V smirks and easily runs after him.
Most of the Jury and the Bolts hold back the others while Firearm and Hawkeye work on rewiring the sonic cannon. Hawkeye says that they are ready. He says that he hates to do it but he needs to call on Songbird again. Songbird says that this will be a pleasure. Songbird shouts into the sonic cannon and overloads every generator, circuit breaker, and piece of equipment within the base. The base starts exploding. USAgent compliments Hawkeye. Hawkeye says that someone needs to stay behind to turn the losers into custody, and that someone needs to go after the leaders. USAgent is silent for a moment. He tells Hawkeye to go since they are better suited to deal with the authorities. Hawkeye asks if this isn’t going to get them in trouble with his boss. USAgent says that he will just have to live with disappointment.
The Bolts are chasing Taurey and the other elite. Through the ship’s intercom system, Taurey congratulates the Bolts for winning this round and capturing Dr. Chadwick, but that they are vast and strong and that they will make them pay. The ship buzzes off and the tired Bolts can’t keep up. Hawkeye wonders what Taurey is talking about. He says that they are missing something.
Citizen V stands with an unconscious Dr. Chadwick in one hand. She watches the Bolts disappear. She thinks that each time she has come across them that they have fought for justice bravely and well. She wonders if her vendetta against them serves any purpose at all.
Back outside Burton Canyon, after retrieving their airship, the Bolts are flying back to Mount Charteris. Hawkeye says that they did some good, but that they still don’t know who called in USAgent and the Jury and who captured Dr. Chadwick. Hawkeye says that he hates it when he doesn’t know what is going on. Jolt asks if they are just going to wait around for the Secret Empire to come after them for revenge. Hawkeye says that he is going to alert the Avengers, and wait to see what the law gets out of the captives. He says that they can trace down what they know about their earlier “shenanigans”, but that the others will take care of that. He says that she and Charlie have to study for school. Jolt says that she hates school and asks when he is going to stop trying to make her go. As they enter the Mount, Hawkeye is trying to convince Jolt on the merits of an education, but Atlas keeps calling Hawkeye. Hawkeye shouts at Atlas and asks what the big deal is. Hawkeye turns to see five atomic steeds lined up with ribbons on them. Atlas says that there is even one big enough for him to ride at giant size. Hawkeye says that they are cool, but that they are also too much. Hawkeye says that they have to figure out what is going on. Hawkeye says that tomorrow he will talk to the Avengers, and that Jolt is going to go talk to Moonstone about her “school thing”. Jolt starts to object, but Hawkeye says that he knows that Jolt doesn’t trust her, but that Moonstone is most qualified for this kind of stuff. He says that it is obvious this is more than a teenager “I-hate-school-ism”. Hawkeye says that the rest of them have got only one priority and that is to find whoever is living in the HQ.
Traitors rating: 6 out of 10
Man this issue gives me a headache. The story and art are both fine, but there is so much going on that it gets to be a little much. The art is still in great style, but it’s hard to see much because there are just random arms and legs in every shot. The revelation that Zemo is the Secret Empire’s benefactor is a cool revelation, but at the same time it makes the Secret Empire less interesting. I liked Citizen V in the story, but then I get my “favorite” USAgent again too. I’m just glad the issue is over.