Thunderbolts #44
Thunderbolts #44
Title: "Keeping an Ion the Crowd!”
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciller: Mark Bagely
Inker: Greg Adams
Colors: Joe Rosas
Keeping an Ion everything: Kurt Busiek
Editor: Tom Brevoort
CONTINUED FROM AVENGERS VOL. 3 #33
Songbird leans over to Abe and asks him if he is nervous. Abe asks why he would be nervous just because they are wanted criminals, he is wearing a new face to hide the fact that he is not in jail the way he is supposed to be, and that they are meeting with the Avengers discussing strategy. Iron Man is saying that he understands that based on their history that working together might be uncomfortable, but that the situation demands they put their differences aside. Iron Man goes on that their ionic powered teammates are being controlled by Nefaria, who is the focal point of the Maggia crime family takeover. He says that Nefaria’s daughter, Madame Masque has been working with the Avengers to uncover his plan. Wasp says that it seems that he is looking to conquer the entire planet. Hawkeye says that they know that the Maggia are trying to find ways of controlling ionic energy. Widow tells them of their encounter with Cyclone at Zemo’s Central America base. Hawkeye says that their newest member MACH-2 planted a tracer on the Maggia getaway ship. Iron Man says that was quick thinking. Hawkeye quietly says, “Yeah, he’s good for a rookie… and his name is Matt Davis and he has nothin’ to do with Abe Jenkins… the original MACH-1… who’s still in jail…” Abe mentally thanks Hawkeye for his subtlety. Black Widow lets that sit for a minute and then says that they managed to catch the ship and Songbird took it down. Hawkeye says that Cyclone got away again, but Widow says that they landed the bigger fish, the man that last experimented with Atlas’ ionic energies and who knows more about the ionic process than anyone, Dr. Karl Malus. Malus says that he is willing to assist them in return for a lighter sentence. Goliath says that based on what Malus told them before this meeting that Nefaria is planning on building an ion emission device. Ogre’s holograph says that he concurs with Dr. Pym’s analysis, but the ‘why’ of the device remains in question. Triathlon says that he is trying to blow up the world. Wasp says that isn’t really Nefaria’s style. Malus explains. He says that Nefaria’s use of Atlas and Wonder Man was more than merely having super-powered servants do his bidding. He says that it was to prove that Nefaria could control, body and soul, anyone that has been effected by any amount of ionic energy. Iron Man says that anyone touched by his ion emission device would become his slave. Captain America and She-Hulk enter the room. Cap says that it is the same reasons as before…ego and greed. She-Hulk says that for every one of them that the Avengers are willing to stomp on their head. Vision thanks them for answering his priority summons. Iron Man says that with Thor and Quasar unavailable that they had to scrap the bottom of the barrel. Cap thanks Iron Man for taking a shot in front of the former Masters of Evil. He shakes hands with Hawkeye and Hawkeye tells him not to worry since they are all still afraid to be in the same room as them. Cap compliments Hawkeye on his new belt buckle. He says that he has heard that Hawkeye’s team has been busy. Hawkeye says that it has been a rough couple months.
Hours earlier, Moonstone is dodging the stretching limbs of Mister Fantastic. He tells her that this confrontation is unnecessary and that he admires her efforts towards redemption. He says that he holds no ill will for her group’s destruction of their former base, and that maybe he could help her if something is troubling her. Moonstone wants to trust them and knows their honor and word is beyond reproach, but for the part of her that wants to accept the help another part of her abhors the idea. Reed’s hands passes right through the intangible Moonstone. Susan says that she will try to contain her in a force field, but as Moonstone phases through that she shouts out in a primal scream in an unknown language. Moonstone flies out of the building. Sue asks Reed that she was saying. Reed says that she was speaking in an ancient Kree dialect, and that according to the computer she said, “I have to look within the life-stones!” Sue asks why. Reed says that he suspects that this had nothing to do with the Thunderbolts and everything to do with the origin of Moonstone’s powers.
In Washington DC, Andrea Sterman is meeting with Jack Norriss, a former agent of SHIELD who now works as a reporter for the “Inside America” television show. They greet one another. Jack says that her call interested him, but that before he gets into that he holds up a copy of her book. Andrea says to tell her that he doesn’t want it signed. Jack says that he wants to know what she meant when she called him a “desk-bound file clerk”. Andrea calls him a whiner and says that she also said that SHIELD was wasting the talents of the best information gatherer they had. She tells him to talk or she won’t pay for breakfast. Jack says that he has nothing on Colin Hume or Windshear besides the standard Alpha Flight references, and that hard air only links back to Hume’s mutant powers. Jack says that their was an unattached file floating that he tracked to something called Alpha-32. He says that it had been recently deleted from the federal hard drive, but that the unattached file remained in SHIELD’s systems as part of a Roxxon research grant that didn’t pan out. He says that the interesting part is that the grant originated with the Commission of Superhuman Activities. Andrea says, “Gotcha!”
At Avengers mansion, Goliath says to look at
the volume analysis and that it indicates a standard ionic
residue. Iron Man says that he never realized that the energy was
so pervasive. Ogre’s holographic head says that it is as
present in the atmosphere as gamma radiation. Ogre says that they
know that concentrated accumulations of gamma radiations can
results in abominations like… Pym interrupts, “the
Abomination?” Ogre says, “Or the Hulk”. He says
that perhaps if they focus in another direction such as looking
where large traces of ion energy used to be but are no longer
present. Goliath says that Nefaria would now be masking them and
compliments Ogre. He says that they’ve found him. Iron Man
asks Dr. Malus and Whitney where they stand with the dampening
device. Malus says that he is ready to shave five years off his
sentence. 
Masque says that
she doesn’t trust any of them, but that she trusts her
father less. She says that in order to stop Nefaria that she has
the Nefaria Protocols… an ionic lock.
Wasp and She-Hulk are giving Songbird and MACH-2 the tour of the public sections of the mansion. Songbird says that she could get used to living in a place like this. MACH-2 tells her not to hold her breath. Wasp tells MACH-2 to think positive and that they have taken reformed criminals into their ranks in the past. She-Hulk says that they could both be Avengers one day. Elsewhere, Triathlon and Charcoal are standing in front of a portrait of Falcon. Charcoal asks if Falcon was really forced onto the team. Triathlon says that the Avengers are cool with robots, gods, and aliens, but that “the brothers gotta be shoehorned in!” Charcoal says, “Yeah, and the ‘man’ is also dressing us, too!” Triathlon says that he is a pretty snotty kid. Charcoal says that it beats being ‘woe-is-me’. Out in front, Cap says that he will ask SHIELD about the conspiracy theory stuff regarding Jolt, but that the troubles are a testament to the unexpected character of the Thunderbolts and to his leadership. Hawkeye thanks Cap. He says that as much as he intended it as a poke that he was worried how they would react to his new costume. Cap says that he made a difficult decision and has stuck to it because of his convictions. Cap asks how they could be anything but proud. Hawkeye says that he is all verklempt.
At Mt. Charteris, Ogre is still working with Goliath ad Iron Man. They tell him that further scans have confirmed their suspicions. Iron Man says that the missing levels of ionic energy in southwestern Alberta could only be the result of Nefaria concealing Wonder Man and Atlas’ presence. Goliath says that they are prepping two quinjets now and thanks Ogre for his help. Ogre thanks them, but thinks to himself that they are patronizing meat. He wonders what they think if they knew that Ogre was really Techno and that comparing his intellect to theirs is like comparing an abacus to a Cray. Techno says that making them look stupid reminds him of why he is doing this. Techno walks over to his “multitasking challenges” of finding Zemo and recreating life. Scourge says that he is one dumb slab of meat that could solve one of his problems for him. Techno turns surprised and Scourge asks Bert if that wouldn’t be a human reaction. Techno says, “Touché but that Norbert Ebersol is dead. Scourge says that he thought he was alive and well inside a glorified toaster. Techno says that his scans indicate Pym Particles, an ingenious weapons storage system, and hard air residue. Techno says that he presumes that he is Jolt’s killer. Scourge says that he thought so, but that murderer is an ugly term. Techno says that is what Scourge is after killing Jolt, Gayle Rogers, and that Roxxon employee. Scourge says that Techno knows a lot. Techno says that he knows that if Scourge killed him that it would end the lives of the three in the containment chambers. Scourge says that he did know that and that he had to wait for an update to his protocols. Scourge says that his boss decided that they were acceptable losses.
Moonstone pounds her fist against the ground over and over after finding that Attilan is missing. She asks how an entire city could just disappear. She asks where else she would be able to get information about ancient Kree history. She wonders who else on Earth has such knowledge when she looks up at the moon and realizes that maybe that someone isn’t on Earth at all.
In Alberta Canada, Triathlon, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Captain America, and Wasp are waiting together. Triathlon says that one has to admit that Nefaria picked a nice place to rebuild his castle. Widow says that his property values will be reduced. Wasp reminds them that they are supposed to be the quiet part of the assault. Hawkeye asks f Cap still thinks this is the plan. Cap says that Wasp’s plan is sound. He says that they will sneak in while the big boys draw Nefaria out of his castle. Hawkeye asks what if Nefaria stays inside his castle. Widow says that is unlikely given his ego and the plan to eliminate his pawns from the battlefield.
Iron Man flies holding the ionic lock. He says that they are ready for Goliath’s distraction. She-Hulk hurls two large rocks at Nefaria’s castle. She asks if that is what they had in mind. Goliath says that as they expected that Nefaria is sending out Atlas and Simon. Simon and Atlas are hit with a sonic mace and white hot plasma. Vision and Warbird hit Atlas with blasts. MACH-2 blasts Wonder Man and says that fighting Atlas sucks. Songbird says that it is hard to hit an old friend. Charcoal tells them to do what he is doing and just take it out on Wonder Man for attacking him. Charcoal hits Wonder Man and accidentally knocks him into Iron Man. Iron Man drops the ionic lock. Wonder Man hits Iron Man. Songbird pleads with Erik to stop as he tries to smash through her sonic shield. Vision tells her that it is best of try and limit their emotional involvement. Warbird says that is easier said than done especially for humans. Wonder Man hits her as he holds Iron Man in a headlock. Iron Man says that maybe Charcoal was right and that they should switch opponents. Charcoal flies at Wonder Man, but Wonder Man palms Charcoal’s fist in mid-flight.
Wasp disarms Nefaria’s lock sensors and She-Hulk rips the bars on the door apart. She-Hulk says that it is bad enough walking through the sewers to get there. She says that Nefaria could have at least made the doors a little tougher. Widow tells She-Hulk not to take it as a sign of disrespect, but of Nefaria’s conceit. Wasp hopes that they can find the plans for the device that Nefaria is planning on using. The group suddenly finds Nefaria and his bomb. Wasp says that even for the jaded vets like them that this warrants a “wow”.
Wonder Man throws Charcoal into
Nefaria’s castle. MACH-2 says that there is no sign of
Nefaria. He says that they have to find the ionic lock and use it
before someone gets killed. He says that his sensors followed it
as it fell. MACH-2 scoops it up and shoots Atlas and Wonder Man
with it. The two of them, back into their human forms, begin to
fall. Warbird catches Wonder Man and Songbird’s construct
catches Erik. Iron Man says that Wonder Man and Atlas are down,
but that there is still no sign of Nefaria. Suddenly Hawkeye,
Goliath, She-Hulk, Wanda, Black Widow, Triathlon, Captain
America, and Charcoal are sent flying out of Nefaria’s
castle. Iron Man flies over to check on them. Cap says that they
found Nefaria and his bomb. Iron Man asks what bomb. Nefaria
floats in front of an enormous ionic construct. He says that this
is the bomb. MACH-2 doesn’t waste a moment. He fires the
ionic lock on Nefaria. 
The group
stands disappointed as Nefaria remains Nefaria and says,
“Not quite what you hoped for, is it? I applaud your
efforts, Avengers… though I am slightly disappointed by the
fact you deem me unworthy of Thor’s attentions. No matter,
when he returns from wherever it is dandy self-styled gods
go… he will find Earth awash in ionic radiation… and
the planet’s entire population under the absolute and total
control of… Nefaria!
CONCLUDED IN AVENGERS VOL. 3 #34
Traitor’s rating: 9 out of 10
Though I realize that it is important to keep and eye on the other Thunderbolts not really involved with the Nefaria storyline, six pages and a lot of stuffing makes this feel a little like a stall issue. Songbird and MACH-2’s reactions in Avengers mansion are classic. Techno’s intelligence overshadowing Hank Pym and Tony Stark’s is personally gratifying. The parallel between Ionic People and Gamma People was amazing if only to me, and Nefaria’s ultimate goal is outrageously cool. Bagely does an amazing job with this issue. My only real critique is that his She-Hulk lacks any real sensuality.
Review and pictures by The Leader