Thunderbolts #67
Thunderbolts #67
Title: "Becoming Heroes 2: Trust in Fear”
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciller: Patrick Zircher
Inker: Sandu Florea
Colors: Hi-Fi Design
Editor: Tom Brevoort/Lis
Birmingham, Alabama, thirty three years ago, Donnie’s father calls him over to take the day’s receipts to the bank. He tells him to focus and not to have his head in the clouds. Outside a large man tells Donnie to give him the bag. Back at the store, Donnie’s father yells at him that he has to fight for what is his.
At Ft. Paris, Georgia, twenty-five years ago, Donald Joshua Clendenon’s drill sergeant says that Donald is going to wash out in less than five weeks. He says that Donald cruises “at half-speed” and that he will never make it because he has no “fire in his belly”.
In Rhodesia, twenty-one years ago, “Josh” and “Sprock” are having beers. Sprock asks Josh if he is drunk and says that she is. She asks him if he wants to go make the bed squeak. He says, “Sure.” As they walk out, Josh asks Sprock if she knows what he likes about being a merc. Sprock guesses correctly, “No strings attached.”
At Seagate Penitentiary, twelve weeks ago, Sprock visits Josh and tells her that he had a daughter. Josh asks if she is sure and that they only did it that one time. Sprock says that she is sure now and that they did a DNA test after her body was recovered. Sprock shows her a picture of Valerie Barnhardt, aka Meteorite. He asks why she never told him. She asks if they were going to be all “Cosby Show”. He says that she was beautiful and asks what she was like. Sprock says that she is sorry to say that she wouldn’t know. She says that she hadn’t seen her in three years. She says that she was in a military academy since she was six and that she went into the air force at eighteen. He says that he can’t believe she died at twenty-one.
Eight weeks ago, Crimson Cowl tells Cardinal that the man responsible for his daughter being in the Redeemers program that got her killed was Hawkeye.
In Symkaria in the present, Cardinal has his targets locked on Hawkeye. He fires his rockets and blows the roof apart that Hawkeye is standing on. Hawkeye shouts, “Harrier?!” Songbird catches two Wild Pack operatives and tells Cyclone to check on Hawkeye. Cyclone says that American women are so bossy and that he is in love. Plantman/Blackheath says that would be the fourth time this week. Man-Killer/Amazon says that it figures that it would take a man that was half plant to figure out that sex doesn’t always mean love. Skein/Gypsy Moth asks Amazon what that means to her. Amazon says that she has never been in love. Hawkeye says so much for being sneaky. Hawkeye says that he knew that they were coming up behind him all along and that Harrier needs to learn to trust his teammates. Harrier says, “Yeah. Guess I do.” Silver Sable’s baton wallops off Hawkeye’s face. She tells him that his former standing as an Avenger no longer holds weight. She says that he and the Thunderbolts are wanted criminals. She says that they are going to be apprehended. Sable aims a gun at Hawkeye. Hawkeye says that he thought Harrier picked her up on his sensors. Harrier says that he thought Hawkeye had it covered and that he was trusting his teammates. Harrier aims at Sable. Sable says that he can shoot her, but not before she can shoot their leader. Harrier doesn’t move. Sable wonders why she thinks that is a trade that Harrier would be willing to make. Sable holsters her gun and says that she doesn’t want to destroy her country with a pointless fight. Sable asks why they are here. Hawkeye asks if she is ready for a long story.
Later at Sable’s headquarters, Hawkeye tells her the story of Hammer’s secret weapon. She asks how the trail brought them there. Hawkeye says that the Crimson Cowl has it and that she lives in Symkaria. Hawkeye says that they learned that after convincing a few of her Masters of Evil to turn over a new leaf. Sable asks how they managed that. Plantman says that this won’t hurt a bit, but that he has to connect her to show her a new way of seeing things. Sable sees the verdant fields. He tells her that they are the links to all organic vegetation on the planet. Sable asks if this exists in the real world. Plantman says that it is more “between the lines”. He says that the “meat” rarely see it. He tells her that Hammer’s weapon is a biological agent that he put into every supervillain that ever worked for him. He says that his powers are the key to activating it. Plantman says that he tracked spores on their costumes to the River Ryork, the border between Symkaria and Latveria. He tells her to relax her mind and that the return will be jarring. Hawkeye asks Sable if she is convinced. Sable says that she is enough to allow them to remain and help her stop the Cowl.
Cyclone is playing pool with Skein. He says that they have been planning for hours. Skein says, “So?” Cyclone says that he is just impatient. Skein tells him not to even think about others ways to pass the time. Amazon says that dark Europeon beer sucks. Skein says that Man-Killer bartends when she is on the run. Amazon asks what Gypsy Moth what she does. Gypsy Moth says, “Sex clubs.” Man-Killer asks if she hides in them. Skein says that she runs them. Man-Killer asks why she does this. Skein says that the Masters of Evil was just for kicks. She says that she is being a Thunderbolt because she never did it with a hero before. She wonders if they keep their costumes on for it. Cyclone offers his services. She asks on what planet he is a hero on. She moves the cloth covering his crotch and says that she prefers a “bigger baguette”. Cyclone flies away. Skein says that her eyes are elsewhere as she stares at Hawkeye talking to Sable and Songbird.
Hawkeye says that Sable just wants to walk right up. Sable says that she has her reasons. Hawkeye says that it is her call, but that it seems funny. Hawkeye tells Songbird to tell the others. Songbird says that she still wants to talk about Harrier. Hawkeye says that if Harrier has a problem with him that he can handle it. Hawkeye walks up on Plantman. Plantman says that the plants are very quiet at night and that they hum to each other. Plantman says that it reminds him of a lullaby his parents sung him when he was young. He says that he lost his parents at a young age. Hawkeye says that he did too. He asks Plantman if he isolated the thing in their bodies yet. Plantman says that poison doesn’t sing, it screams. Hawkeye tells him to keep working on it and that they go after the Cowl in six hours. He says that it would be nice to have a cure by then and that they don’t need to be walking into any traps. Harrier looks down at Hawkeye. He helmet tells him that his target has been acquired. Harrier turns the tracking system off. He says, “Watch out, boss-man. You never know who you can trust…”
In the morning, everyone drives up to the
front gate. Hawkeye asks if Sable never knew this place existed
before. Sable says that of course she did, but that she
didn’t know that it belonged to the Crimson Cowl. Hawkeye
asks whose house it is. Sable walks up to the gate and tells
Justine that she needs to ask her some questions. Justine comes
out and says, “Silver Sable. And you brought company?”
Justine is the woman that Dallas was sketching last issue.
Justine asks what she can do for her. Sable says that she is here
to arrest her. Sable holds a gun up to Justine’s face and
says, “You came into my country… and brought your
father’s legacy with you? I have no choice.” 
Justine’s
coat grabs Sable’s arm and says that she forged her own way,
and that she can’t be blamed for inheriting her
father’s money and resources. She says, “And
implementing our shared vision. Would you deny a father’s
dying wish?” There is a flash of red. Hawkeye tells
Songbird, Cyclone, and Harrier to go airborne and that the others
should come with him. Plantman says that Cowl was Hammer’s
daughter and that they should have seen that one coming.
Cowl’s cowl grabs Hawkeye’s leg and hurls him into the
air. Cowl floats before the others and says that they go by new
names now, but that she thinks Gypsy Moth, Man-Killer, and
Plantman are more fitting for their tombstones. Harrier asks if
that was Hawkeye flying by. Songbird says that she will get him,
but Harrier says that he is faster and will get him. Hydro-Man
blasts Songbird. Black Mamba says that none of them can catch
Cyclone, but Machinesmith says that while Songbird is recovering
that he will use her to catch Cyclone unaware. Songbird’s
carapace blasts Cyclone. Machinesmith says that being too
dependant on machines isn’t too good when he can control
them.
Harrier hold Hawkeye as he flies. Hawkeye says, “See? It is all about trust.” Harrier says, “Yeah… I guess it is.” Harrier drops Hawkeye down a cliffside into the water below.
Traitor’s rating: 6 out of 10
Well I liked Harrier turning on Hawkeye, but any enjoyment from that was kind of ruined when the 64 issue long mystery of the Crimson Cowl’s identity, which was revealed to be Justine Hammer’s daughter, Justine… who cares? Anyone? Did she exist before this issue at all? Zircher’s art is good, but again it doesn’t feel quite as finished or polished as it once did.