Thunderbolts #39
Thunderbolts #39
Title: "Black Hearts”
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Zemo is astounded that Scourge would dare to challenge him as they fight. Scourge says that Zemo is quicker than he expected. He says that he had him listed as brains instead of brawn. He says that the combination of both will be even better. Scourge breaks his lance into two battle staves. Zemo wonders what the measure of his opponent is. Zemo is battling Scourge with a sword. He notices that Scourge fights defensively and that he knows that he is not a trained swordsman. Zemo wonders how long Scourge will fight by his rules. Scourge unites his staves and creates a flash of light. Zemo goes on the defensive and Scourge fures a shrapnel release of ice at him. Zemo dodges and Scourge releases a concussive blast of pure force at Zemo. Zemo wonders how many weapons are in his lance. Zemo finds it troubling that he is enjoying this physical confrontation. Scourge follows the fleeing Zemo by bouncing after him with spring coils under his boots. Zemo tries to recall who used that technique before but doesn’t have the time. Zemo concludes that Scourge’s entire body should be considered a weapon and that Scourge prefers quantity over quality. Zemo ducks under Scourge’s spring loaded jump and Scourge drives himself head first into the wall. Zemo thinks to himself that he didn’t want to lead Scourge to his study, but that he had little choice. In the study is filled with “storied icons of power amassed across our long lineage.” He says that the sanctity of the room cannot be sullied by this thuggish confrontation. Scourge is shocked that Zemo is taking the fight to him. Zemo kicks Scourge in the face and Scourge realizes that it is because of Zemo’s attachment to the room. Zemo punches Scourge, but he thinks that he may have broken his fingers against Scourge’s helmet. He wonders why he is fighting on this level. Scourge kicks Zemo back into his father’s china cabinet that was stocked with “Der Fuhrer’s personal table setting from his bunker!” Scourge says that Zemo’s “precious memories are an affront to humanity!” He says that they are all tainted in innocent blood. Zemo realizes that Scourge is only talking to goad him. He thinks how his father and mother would have ignored the inferior, but that he can’t still his tongue. He wonders if he lacks their strength of conviction or if he is just a product of the times. Zemo says that a Zemo don’t concerns themselves with such trivialities. He says that they are superior by birth and mettle. Scourge says that they will see about that as he releases a thermal blast and sets a portrait of Zemo’s father and mother on fire. Zemo is outraged. He grabs a sword off the wall and charges Scourge. Scourge’s sword pops out of nowhere. Zemo swings and knocks Scourge’s helmet off his head. Scourge thinks to himself that now it is more than a challenge, it is personal. Scourge says that it will hurt Zemo even more when he dies now.
In Boulder Colorado, at a Roxxon Energy Research Center, a watchman says that Gyrich’s security clearance is accepted. Gyrich says that he thought all he needed to do was fly through the roof with all their security lapses. The watchman says that Mr. Higgins will meet him at the front entrance. Higgins asks Gyrich what brings him from Washington. Gyrich tells Higgins not to be coy and that the CSA knows about Roberta Haggert , their murdered employee. He says that first the Beetle steals Omega-32 and now this. Higgins says that he already feels bad and that their security cameras reveal that the killer used his face. He says that he had some sort of a holographic mask and that he fired a poisoned dart into her neck. Gyrich says that considering Haggert’s assignment that it had to involve Omega-32. Higgins says that is speculation. Gyrich says, “Please!” Gyrich says that Beetle broke in there and stole the experiment and that now the woman spearheading the data processing his murdered. He asks if he believes that is a coincidence. Gyrich says that Hammer is in custody now, but that with the way he was captured he is sure that his lawyers will have him out soon. He says that they all know why Hammer wanted the Omega-32 and that based on their contract that it shouldn’t have even existed for Hammer to steal. Higgins says, “I know, Peter… but my bosses… they hadn’t even thought of applying the contents that way… so after we completed the project for you, they…” Gyrich says that he knows why they did it, but that it is over. He tells Higgins to perge it completely and that he will do the same on his end.
At the Downslope, the television is trying to report something happening at Mt. Charteris, but the reception is very staticy. The customers ask Wilma to hit the television or something. Man-Killer smacks the side of the set and knocks it and the hinges right off the wall. One customer asks if she had been working out. Man-Killer says that the stand must have been loose and goes to get a broom. She thinks that she let herself get distracted and forgot about her super strength. She says that an electromagnetic disruption around Charteris must mean that the Thunderbolts are involved. She wonders if they are in trouble and maybe they need help. She says that she doesn’t want Atlas getting hurt. She says that he is a good tipper, but she admits to herself that it is more than that. She realizes that she hasn’t worn her Man-Killer outfit since the Masters got their butts kicked by the Bolts. She says that she might be able to help the Bolts, but thinks to herself that they would never give her a chance to redeem herself.
Back at Central America, Zemo dodges a blast and dives towards Techno’s work console. Zemo says that a part of him misses Techno and his respect for authority and his relentless pursuit of discovery. Zemo says that at least he left some things behind. Zemo fires an electromagnetic disruptor at Scourge. Scourge uses stilts to dodge the blast, but the disruptor hits some equipment and explodes. Scourge does a flip as the blast spins him over. Scourge kicks Zemo in the face. Zemo wonders how Scourge’s armor can contain so much weaponry without being much bulkier. Zemo orders himself to keep his head in the game. Zemo wonders if Scourge is toying with him.
Zemo runs to a room and says that he has survived this long because he is a Zemo. He says that isn’t entirely accurate and that he is alive because of who he became instead of who he was. Zemo hits a button and closes two large metal doors behind him. Zemo thinks that it is because of his training as Citizen V and his time leading the Thunderbolts that has kept him alive. Zemo is in his weapons depot. He wonders if even the weapons are enough to take Scourge and says that it is time for him to evaluate his situation. Zemo thinks how Scourge’s mannerisms denote comprehensive training, but that his deployment of weapons have been less skillful. Zemo says that he was a “martial combatant before he was a walking arsenal.” Zemo wonders where the arsenal is coming from again. Zemo thinks that he didn’t hear the sword or lance drop and wonders if it is a teleportation device of some kind. He debates fighting against Scourge by disrupting the device. He thinks how he would never have thought that until his time as Citizen V and that maybe being Citizen V was the best thing that he ever did. Zemo says that Moonstone was right. “Why rule the world, when manipulating it is so much more… satisfying?” He decides that he can’t beat Scourge and that since he doesn’t want to die today. Zemo looks at this old V-Wing flier and wonders if he should “fight or flight”.
Outside, Scourge has accessed four different welding tools, but none of them could get through the doors. Scourge’s storage access is down to thirty percent and he says that he can’t waste any more call ups. He wonders if there is a key to the doors hidden in the room. Scourge looks around and sees tubes with bodies floating in them. Scourge wonders about them, but decides to let his bosses figure it out. Suddenly the doors blow open. Zemo is riding his V-Glider trying to get away. Scourge can’t decide if he is surprised that he is running or that it took him this long to do it.
Zemo is feeling disgusted with himself, but
decides that it was the logical decision. He looks back and sees
Scourge coming after him on a glider that resembles that of the
Green Goblin’s. Scourge says that he hates the thing. He
says that he never needed to fly before and that he didn’t
expect Zemo to either. Scourge notices some ivy in front of Zemo
and blasts it with a call up. The ivy rapidly grows and grabs
Zemo. Zemo falls and smashes through the window going into
another room. Scourge sees that Zemo is still conscious and
descends into the room. He wonders what the room is when he sees
something that greatly disturbs him. Inside a glass tube is the
tattered remains of Bucky’s costume. Zemo thinks to himself
that he can’t be defeated in this room. Scourge is stunned
and is trying to stay focused, Zemo asks if he is distracted by
the contents of his study. Zemo thanks his father as he takes the
sword from his hand. Scourge summons his sword again and says,
“Storage access 39. You’re not fit to lick Captain
America’s boots, and the fact this room exists proves
that!” Zemo realizes where Scourge’s weaponry is coming
from, but wonders how he would have access to that kind of
technology. Scourge lunges at Zemo with his sword, but Zemo
deflects. Zemo says that allowing his anger to cloud his logic
will be a fatal error. He says that Scourge is his inferior to
him in swords. Scourge calls up Captain America’s shield and
Zemo’s sword shatters against it. Zemo says that if Scourge
is who he thinks he is that it is fitting for him to die in this
room, and that it is fitting for him to betray everything that he
ever believed in inside that room. Zemo says that he has finally
won as he pulls’ Scourge’s mask off. Zemo sees
Scourge’s real face and says, “No! I thought… it
can’t be you… you are dead…” 
Scourge says,
“Yes. I am. And now, finally, Helmut Zemo… so are you!
Justice… is served…” Scourge cuts Zemo’s head
off and puts his mask back on.
At Mount Charteris, the Thunderbolts stand before Dallas Riordan, revealed as Citizen V. Atlas says that he saw her in prison. Dallas tells Erik to look at the uniforms and realize that she was sprung by the V-Battalion. She asks if he really thinks they would let one of their operatives be arrested. Erik asks why she didn’t tell him and that he loved her. Dallas tells him to shut up and asks how he can be mad at her after what the Thunderbolts did to her. She says that they ruined her life. One of the giant holographic heads says that it is obvious that she can no longer handle being Citizen V. He tells her to renounce the mantle and family name and she will not be tarnished for her recent transgression. Dallas asks if she is just supposed to give back the costume and let them continue to sink deeper into the moral cesspool. She says the name Citizen V means more than that and that is should mean more to him as well. Dallas calls the man “Roger”. The voice shout, “Do not compromise our secrecy!” Dallas says that maybe it is exactly what the V-Battalion needs. She says that they have compromised enough people over the last fifty year… her father, her, and even their own beliefs. Hawkeye says that this isn’t the time or place to settle a family feud. Karla says that she is actually interested to see how this plays out. Hawkeye asks if they can at least agree to stand down and talk things out. Dallas says that there is nothing to talk about. Suddenly an empty cloak of the Crimson Cowl appears behind Dallas. The cloak says, “As per pre-programmed evasion protocol…” Dallas tries to speak, but the others don’t hear her as the cloak teleports her away. Everyone stands stunned.
Traitor’s rating: 7.5 out of 10
As a Zemo fan I didn’t really care for the outcome of this fight. Scourge is quite a mystery, and knowing what I now know about Scourge, I have to say that this issue was written well. I’m not really happy at all about the way the Man-Killer storyline is going. Does every loser villain need to “redeem” themselves. Bagely does another superior job with the pencils.