Thunderbolts #52

Title: “The Pursuit of Justice”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Patrick Zircher

Inker: Al Vey

Colors: VLM

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Captain America, Beetle, Meteorite, Scream, and Rebel fight off some Doombots. Rebel asks why Doom’s toys would be attacking them. Captain America says that either Doom betrayed them (which he doubts), or they were reprogrammed. Beetle is amazed that “the kid” is good enough to crack Doom’s security codes as she knocks one of the Doombots away from Meteorite. Meteorite says, “thanks girlfriend”. Rebel says that “the kid” is the biggest problem Doom has on Counter-Earth. Meteorite says that she is still weirded out by the idea of another Earth on the other side of the sun. Captain America says that in this line of work you get used to things like that.

Captain America thinks how the Redeemers got sucked into this job by Doom using Dallas Riordan as leverage. He also thinks about how Kid Colt used his Kymellian powers to open up a spatial hole. Bucky and Toro then came to our world’s Latveria and threatened Doom with a biochemical gas. Meteorite asks Cap if he taught Bucky how to be an eco-terrorist. Cap says that he doesn’t remember her and that he doesn’t condone her actions.

Jolt, Fixer, Smuggler, and Charcoal are on the other side of the mountain looking for Bucky as well. Jolt wonders why the CSA didn’t just pardon her with the other Thunderbolts. She looks at her “teammates” and thinks how Fixer would leave now if he could. She thinks that Smuggler is too inexperienced, and that Charcoal’s anger is causing him to behave oddly. Jolt tells Charcoal and Smuggler to go downslope. Fixer says that Jolt is always the bossy brat. Fixer manages to trace the Kymellian energy residue, but doesn’t mention that it was Doom’s technology that allowed him to find it. Fixer thinks to himself that he knows that his cocky arrogance is a façade. He wonders if the others know as well, after all how cocky can you be after getting yourself killed. Fixer thinks about how he emerged from a bio-nutrient gel tank. His pre-programmed survival protocols, along with Zemo’s help had enabled his body to prevent decay and regenerate itself until his brain functions could be reintegrated into a cybernetic wetware relay. Now he is stuck playing hero or his tech-harness will shut down his neural net. He thinks about how his consciousness was transferred into the Techno robot, and how that robot saved Jolt’s life. He thinks about if he will be able to find a way to save his own soul. Fixer signals to the others that he has found something weird. He says that he just picked up a second warp saturated human signature. Smuggler blends into the shadows and comes out on higher ground hoping to see something, but all he spots is an avalanche coming right at them.

In Burton Canyon, Colorado Melissa walks Abe to his first day of work. She says that they don’t have any choice. She says that they aren’t superheroes and they aren’t super-villains, they are just …nothing. Abe says that what they are is free and that is worth any tough times. He says that he knows she will find a job today. Melissa asks herself what she is going to do for the next nine hours. She thinks about cleaning the apartment or sitting around eating ice cream. Melissa walks into the department store as she notices that they are hiring. She asks herself what she could do, and thinks that there was only one thing she was ever good at. Melissa looks over and notices an expensive necklace. She thinks for a moment and then steals the necklace as she leaves.

On top of the mountain in Latveria Bucky, Toro, and Ish are talking. Ish asks her if he just killed them starting the avalanche. She says that if they are any good at all that an avalanche isn’t going to stop them. She says that he was just buying them a little time. They’re talking about their unease at carrying out this mission. Bucky says that they will do what they have to do. Suddenly Fixer, Jolt, Charcoal, and Smuggler are upon them. Smuggler trips Toro from behind and causes him to fall into Charcoal’s punch. Bucky asks Jolt if they are supposed to be the Teen Titans. Jolt says that she wishes and points out the old bald guy with them. Fixer says that he heard that. Bucky kicks Fixer and he curses. Meteorite catches Fixer from falling as the others arrive. Toro blocks the attack as Bucky tries to assemble the chemical gas, but the construction is stopped when Captain America’s shield flies through the nozzle.

In Doomstadt, Dallas sits with Doom. She says that he should be evacuating his people. Doom says that he could do that, but that it would be sending the wrong message. He wants his people to know that he has matters in hand, and asks why he would alert them to a problem that will not come to pass. Dallas asks if he is so confidant why he felt he had to kidnap her and blackmail the Redeemers into helping him. Doom says that kidnap and blackmail are ugly words, and that he prefers “politics”. Dallas asks if that is so if something does happen that Doom will have someone else to blame and give him an excuse to start a war between the worlds. Doom says that he will not let his people be harmed.

In Seagate Prison, Clint Barton gets a visitor- Dum Dum Dugan. Dugan says that right now he is on very unofficial business.

Toro asks Bucky what they should do next. Captain America says that they could start by surrendering the weapon. Bucky has Toro throw her in the air towards the weapon. Cap throws his shield, but Bucky’s vibranium photonic shield stops the momentum of Cap’s shield. Bucky uses the shield to break the seal on the weapon’s lid. Rebel points his gun to Toro’s head and fires. Toro picks the bullet off his head and says that it tickled. Charcoal tells Jolt that he likes their style and Jolt agrees. Charcoal asks if Jolt wants to switch sides. Jolt says that they are terrorists, but Charcoal just repeats the question. Captain America tells everyone to calm down. He says that he doesn’t remember Bucky, but that if she were ever his friend that this isn’t the way she would choose to behave. Bucky asks how he dare play “holier than thou” with her. She says that Captain America and all the heroes abandoned her and left her planet at the mercy of the cosmic forces. She says that every tragedy has befallen them, and that now Doom is trying to keep things the way they are because he rules through desperation. Bucky removes the lid and reveals that the gas is inert. Bucky says that Cap called her bluff and now Doom wins. Bucky and Toro leave.

Fixer starts to rub it in saying that one didn’t work out so well. He says that they get Dallas back, and that Rebel gets whatever Doom promised him, but that Cap’s “teen dream” loses. Cap says “maybe not” as he picks up the empty canister.

Doom commends Captain America on a job well done. Cap says that the job is only half done. He says that before she left Bucky said that there were other canisters buried around Latveria, and that they would be activated if some changes aren’t made on Counter-Earth. Cap says that Doom must provide the basic necessities. Doom says that she was bluffing. Cap says that she might be as Doom knows her better than he does, but asks Doom if he is going to risk it now that he is the only one who will be blamed if Latveria suffers.