Thunderbolts #45
Thunderbolts #45
Title: "Heroic Tendencies- part 1: The Inside Job
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciller: Patrick Zircher
Inker: Walden Wong
Colors: Joe Rosas
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Techno is multi-tasking viewing 24 view screens at the same time, 14, 457 separate systems operations, 3 catatonic test subjects in 3 biochambers, and a simulation human mechanic Ogre. Still Techno finds that he cannot locate the missing Moonstone and he cannot reduce the ionic flux that threatens to tear Erik Josten’s body apart. It has also been three weeks since he was attacked by Scourge and he must reluctantly admit that he cannot find him either. Hawkeye is angry that they can’t find Moonstone, and Techno knows that Hawkeye’s promise to lead the team to an official pardon and public redemption was a lie. He also knows that with Atlas down, Jolt killed, and Moonstone missing that Hawkeye is left without a team to lead. Techno contemplates revealing Hawkeye’s lie. He wonders if that would break up the Thunderbolts and wonders if that is even what he wants. He had enjoyed the challenges of replacing Ogre, but now the challenges are becoming nuisances and moral quandaries. Deep within the Techno robot, Scourge resides and examines Techno’s severed arm. Techno wonders where Scourge is and why he is doing what he is doing. An alarm goes off and Techno sees Moonstone on a priority alert from SHIELD’s moon base.
Twenty minutes later, “Ogre” replays the video for Hawkeye, Songbird, MACH-2, and Charcoal. Hawkeye says that they don’t know Karla’s status. Songbird says that they don’t know the status of the agents she was attacking either. Abe says that time spent on Karla and the agents is time wasted trying to stop Ego. Charlie asks Hawkeye if his excuse of not solving Hallie’s murder isn’t that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Ogre says that he can help them kill two birds with one stone. He says that he piggybacked the signal and hacked his way into the SHIELD moon base hard-drive to access their prisoner at the compound. He says that it explains why Karla is attacking them, and that he might be able to help them with their Ego-infestation. Ogre shows them an image of Supreme Intelligence. Abe says that this is moot since the Thunderbolts don’t have anything that can get them all the way to the moon. Ogre smiles and tells Abe that Charteris has things in its closet that can get them a lot farther than that.
Hawkeye looks at “the jumper” and says that Ogre talked about it as if it were no big deal. Abe says that sooner or later they have to learn everything about the base. Hawkeye says that each surprise is better than the last, but that as far as he is concerned that Charteris can have as many secrets as it wants.
Techno says to himself that it has so many.
Six minutes later the team is nearing the moon.
The team is being watched from a cloaked position. One being asks the other if they should stop them. The other says no and says that they might end up doing their jobs for them.
After the downed agents, Moonstone comes to a large armored suit. Moonstone asks if they wouldn’t be smart enough to simply surrender. The four agents inside tell Moonstone no. Moonstone phases her hand into the suit, as MACH-2 taught her, and feels for the hard-drive or cybernetic wetware. She pulls it out and incapacitates the armor. As she phases through the wall her costume becomes more Kree-like in appearance. She wonders if the warrior spirit inside her is upset that she attacked agents of the law or if it is just the proximity to the living embodiment of the Kree race. Supreme Intelligence says, “A conundrum, is it not, terran?” Moonstone says that she wants answers. Supreme Intelligence says that she forgot to say please and calls her “daughter of the Kree”.
At the Commission of Superhuman Activities, Mr. Warton tells Dr. Sterman that they are busy. Outside their forces are fighting the aliens, but Sterman says that he isn’t wearing spandex or shooting a rifle, and that surely he has five minutes to answer a few questions for her about a massive federal cover up. Warton says that she gets one question. Sterman says that she only needs one word and one number, “Omega-32”. Warton asks what she knows. Sterman says that she knows that he purged CSA documents about it. Warton says to come into his office.
In London, a nurse is on the phone saying that “he” is awake. The man asks for some water. The nurse says that she knows because he sat up and asked her what day it was. She says to tell Mr. Aubrey that after five years in a coma that he is awake.
Karla asks Supreme Intelligence what he meant calling her daughter of the Kree. She says that she is Dr. Karla Sofen, born on Earth, and is human. Supreme Intelligence says that it understands that she is confused about who she is. Karla says not to play games with her and that he could have ten times as many brains in him and that it wouldn’t be enough to manipulate her. Supreme Intelligence asks if she realizes that she said that in ancient tongue of Kree-lar. Karla asks what she is. Supreme Intelligence says that she is one of the chosen Guardians of the Galaxy. Supreme Intelligence says that when his race was still young that a stone of tremendous power was discovered on Kree-lar. He says that their people split the stone in two unleashing massive forces of order and chaos and that thousands died. He says that they dubbed them Alpha and Omega… life and death. He says that their existence drew the attention of advanced races… scientists seeking knowledge. He says that the other races brought their own artifacts of power and were seeking a common link to them all. Supreme Intelligence says that they found that link… the artifacts were geological survivors of the Big Bang… remnants of the previous universe, and that when they were combined they would be able to advance the evolutionary traits of all living things in this universe. He says that the Hellfire Helix was a conduit for other-dimensional energies funneled through the Alpha and Omega stones into an array of smaller gems brought by the visitors. He says those stones manifested facets of the elements, the spirits, entropy and creation, as well as earth, air, water, fire, life, death, anima, gravity. Karla recognizes her moonstone. Supreme Intelligence says that the sliver she possesses was never meant to be worn or absorbed into a living being. He says that its parent was used as the battery for the engine from which the chosen eight of fate were reborn… genetically remade… to serve as evolutionary vanguards of their respective races… in a group who maintained peace on inhabited worlds. Karla recognizes the woman that has been haunting her dreams. Supreme Intelligence says that she was one of the guardians empowered by the fundamental force of gravity. He says that her name was Alesha and served nobly for galactic peace for two hundred years. Karla asks if she is some kind of reincarnation of her or if she was transformed when she absorbed the moonstone. Supreme Intelligence says that it is neither. Karla asks why she is whispering into her ear and trying to take over her mind. Supreme Intelligence tells Moonstone that it is because she asked her to.
The Thunderbolts near the blue part of the moon where the SHIELD base is. He says that they are still getting no answer. MACH-2 says that he can go in solo and check it out. Hawkeye says that he has barely used his armor in space, and asks if he can handle it. Songbird says that Hawkeye can’t and asks why he questions him. Hawkeye says that he left his flight suit in his other bag. MACH-2 says that he is loaded with counter-security measures and that Songbird or Charlie would get snagged.
Those watching the Thunderbolts see that they have stopped, but that their sensors indicate that no one is coming out.
MACH-2 flies through space. He says that he would have done anything to get away from the tension in the ship. He says that Mel is mad about his skin color change, and focuses on Hallie’s death and blames Hawkeye. He says that Charlie is getting less respectful by the day, and wonders if it is Hallie or if it is the freedom his powers give him. He says that it is obvious that Hawkeye is starting to doubt himself, and that for a change of pace he actually feels like the most secure person in the room. He wonders if he is growing or if everyone else is that screwed up. Abe finds Karla’s heat signature and spots an airlock entrance to break into.
Supreme Intelligence asks if she denies the truth and says
that he thought she was so self aware. He says that he knows all about her and
that his captors don’t realize that he has access to the computer data banks
there. He says that he knows she prides herself on her psychological acumen, and
wonders why she has so willingly surrendered into the situation she is in now.
Karla tries to deny it, but MACH-2 enters the room and tells Karla to back away
now. He says that instead of letting them help her with her problems that she
has attacked the Fantastic Four and now SHIELD. He says that reflects badly on
the rest of them. Karla blasts Abe and says that this isn’t about the
Thunderbolts. She says that this is about her and her mind being torn apart.
Suddenly a giant pink sound version of Captain America’s shield hits Karla in
the back. Charcoal says that if she wants a fight that they’ll make it a quick
one. Karla says that isn’t what she wants. Abe tells her to stop running away as
Karla phases through a wall. Songbird tells Charcoal to stay alert and that
Karla isn’t above hitting them from behind. Karla hits Charcoal with a large
hunk of machinery and tells Songbird that if she was as good at analyzing
herself as she was others that maybe she wouldn’t be such an immature little
girl. Songbird hits Moonstone with a pink fist. She says that Karla has been
manipulating everyone since they got together and that now she’s ended up
manipulating herself. Moonstone says that this is an outside force, but MACH-2
asks if she is sure of that. Moonstone phases through the floor as the battle
damages the building and starts causing decompression. Charcoal smashes through
the floor. Abe says that Charcoal and Songbird are going to run out of air in
about fifteen seconds. Below, Moonstone argues with herself about whether she
should save them or not. She looks up at Hawkeye. He has an arrow drawn and
pointed at her. He asks her what it is going to be and says that all of this has
just been her trying to decide who she wants to be. Karla doesn’t know what’s
mine and what isn’t anymore. Hawkeye says that she is the super brain and still
hasn’t figured out what all the other Thunderbolts have figured out… you can be
whatever kind of person you want to be. Moonstone looks at Hawkeye. She flies up
through the ceiling and phases MACH-2, Charcoal, and Songbird through the
ceiling. Karla asks MACH-2 if he is Abe. He says that he is. Songbird asks
Moonstone if she is Karla. Karla says that she doesn’t know. She says that she
needs more information about the moonstone and the spirit inside it.
Captain
Marvel, or Genis if they’re buds, appears. He says that he thinks he can help
with that.
At Mount Charteris, Ogre is talking with Hank Pym. He tells Hank that they have gone to the moon to obtain more info on the Ego-spore. Hank says that was good thinking on Clint’s part. Ogre asks how things are for them. Hank asks what he means. Ogre says that he was contacting them for an update on Wonder Man’s condition. Hank says that he is recovering nicely and not showing any long-term residual effects from the ion radiation. Ogre asks why Erik is still incapacitated. Hank says that he assumes because Simon has had more experience manipulating the ionic energy in his body. He says that he will help Ogre run some tests when they are done with Ego. Ogre thanks Hank and turns off the screen. Ogre transforms back into his Techno body. He bitterly gripes about Hank saying that he would help him. He says that he could cure Erik in five minutes, but that he can’t look too perfect or it will give away his charade. Suddenly Techno grabs his head. Scourge grows right out of Techno’s head and destroys his body in the process. Scourge says that he finally figured out how to tell Techno that “Justice is Served!”
Traitor’s rating: 7 out of 10
I’ll tell you that I do think that the stones Supreme Intelligence was speaking about should be explored more as a theme, but I have to tell you that I had a pretty hard time figuring that the heck he was talking about. The story progresses, but only minimally. Sad about seeing Techno killed by “Scourge”. I don’t really care for either the original or this new Scourge. Zircher… while he will grow to prominence before our very eyes on this title… is only adequate in this issue. 3.5 out of 5 for both writing and art.
Review and pictures by The Leader