Thunderbolts #74

Title: "Becoming Villains 5: No Win”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Chris Batista

Inker: Rich Perrotta

Colors: Hi-Fi Design

Editor: Andrew Lis

Anomaly asks Zemo why he would sacrifice his homeworld for this one. Zemo tells Anomaly to pick from this world being a more daunting challenge, riper pickings, or just petty vengeance. Anomaly says that he is the void, and that he feeds off both worlds. Zemo says that who he is, is Koyami Sazaki, age 23. He says that he is a graduate student that had been investigating the anomaly radiation for over a year, and that when the radiation washed over Tokyo that it accosted him. Zemo says, “Origins happen. Don’t defy the process. Anomaly says that Zemo is trying to belittle him, but Zemo says that he is just reminding him of the student within. Zemo says that he is a fellow engineer. He says that this is a problem of physics and math. He says that they should solve it together. Anomaly asks how. Zemo says that the void requires mass, and that it is taking a little bit from both worlds. He says that they should give it one entire world. Moonstone says that Zemo can’t be serious. Zemo asks why not, and asks why that world is more deserving than this one. Anomaly says that the void wants both worlds, but Zemo says that it is a greedy void, but that they should look for a solution that helps them all. The ground shakes loudly. Moonstone doesn’t know what to say and Zemo says this is a first. Moonstone asks how they are qualified to make this decision. Zemo says, “Like this. Follow me.” Anomaly asks what Zemo is going to do and Zemo says that he is going to “feed the rumble in your tummy.”

Moonstone sees Toro getting up, but says that she needs someone to argue with. Jolt starts to move and Moonstone says that is perfect. Hallie sees Moonstone is awake and asks if there is any power her two moonstones don’t give her. Karla says that she still can’t make moral decisions. She tells Hallie about how Zemo wants to sacrifice the real world for this one, or if they do nothing then both worlds die. The ground rumbles hard again. Jolt asks if that has been getting worse. Karla says that she hadn’t noticed. Jolt asks Karla where she stands on Zemo’s decision. Moonstone says for Jolt to tell her. Jolt says that all she knows is that they can’t let Zemo make the decision. Karla says that she agrees, but asks Jolt to tell her why. Jolt rambles on about how lives of people can’t be weighed on a scale, and asks who they are to decide who deserves to live and die. Moonstone says that she knew she could count on Jolt proselytizing, but that they still have to deal with both worlds dying then. Jolt says that she has an idea.

Inside the ship, Zemo says that his scans show that part of the problem is that Anomaly is draining energy off the void. Anomaly says that the void feeds him. Zemo says that what Anomaly has to do is flood the void with all the energy inside him. He says that he will overcharge their side and create a stronger attraction to the other side. Anomaly asks if the other world will then be pulled into the void. Zemo says that it would plug this side up though. Anomaly tells him mother and father that he couldn’t save them, but that he may be able to save the world. His mother tells him that a world will die, but his father sees that there is no other option. Zemo tells Anomaly to always listen to his “pater”. Anomaly asks if this will hurt him. Zemo says that honestly he doesn’t know or care. He tells Anomaly to get started before those outside complicate matters.

Bucky wakes up and asks what she missed. Toro tells her the end of the world, betrayals, double crosses and secret plans. He says that it is the same old. Fixer says that he admits that they have had a good deal during their stay, but asks if they really want to go through all the trouble of saving this world. MACH-3 says that they have been over this and that no matter how they came into being, that these people are real. He says that they have to save both worlds. Jolt says that all of them will have to work together for her idea to work. Fixer asks how. Jolt asks if they remember how they used her bioelectricity and Atlas’ ion energy to stop the radiation in Tokyo. She says that they need to do that on a much larger scale and combine in with the phasing and teleporting powers they have among them. She says that they can punt the ship off Earth and break the link between the worlds. Dallas asks Fixer if that could work. Fixer says to let him run some tests. Fixer determines that they need 3.56 gigajoules of bioelectricity/ion power, but that they only have 2.34 gigajoules. He doesn’t tell the others and says that it can work. MACH-3 says that they need time. Moonstone says that even with her new power that she isn’t sure she can stop Anomaly. MACH-3 tells her to just delay Zemo. He says to start him on a rant and do what she does best… infuriate him.

Inside the ship, Karla appears and says that she comes with a rebuttal. Zemo says that he takes it Jolt regained consciousness. Karla says that she would have come up with something on her own… eventually. Zemo says that she wouldn’t have because, like him, she doesn’t care. Zemo says that it isn’t about one Earth over the other, but survival and power. He says that they have a better chance for both there. Karla says that is all it was ever about for him… personal power. Zemo says that he isn’t so different from her. He says that it was all about whether or not they could do it. Karla says that she doesn’t deny it, but that they are different because she feels good about helping others. Zemo asks if that is her old boyfriend talking through her. Moonstone tells him not to go there. Zemo asks why not, and says that she is so afraid to. Zemo says that Karla could have left Counter Earth for the real thing any time after gaining the second moonstone, but that she stayed. He asks if she did this to please herself or to please her boyfriend Hawkeye. Karla asks what about Zemo. She says that he killed a duplicate of his own father, and then set out doing something that his father would never do… ruling through salvation over domination. She asks what happens if the only way to save this world is to lose his power base. She asks if that trick wouldn’t give him a leg up in his daddy-complex.

As they make their preparations, MACH-3 asks Atlas if he is okay. Atlas says that he’ll be fine so long as there are no more radiation bursts. Fixer says “crap” and another eruption in the ground occurs. Bucky asks if it is going to get worse. Fixer says that it should stop after the whole world blows up. Bucky says that he is comforting guy. Fixer says that she is a spunky kid, and that he hates spunky kids. Bucky says that she loves “bald old farts”. Bucky thinks to IQ that she doesn’t trust him. IQ says that since Germany that he has been able to see that the Bolts morals and motives are inconsistent. He suggests some telepathic coercing. Bucky tells him to keep that up his sleeve. Fixer says that they don’t have much time. He asks Karla what Zemo’s deal is. Moonstone says that he really is betraying them, and that he would rather rule in Hell that serve in paradise. Fixer tells the others that it is a typical Zemo plan… long on ego and short on considering consequences. Atlas says that if they try to stop him that they have to fight Anomaly and will run out of time anyway. Jolt asks how it is that Zemo manages to make the wrong decision every time. Bucky says that there are billions of lives in the balance and that at least Zemo is making a decision. She says that they have to make a decision. Bucky calls IQ.

IQ contacts Zemo and tells him in German, “Helmut Zemo… Conquest is ill gained if the conquered no longer exist!” Zemo asks if he is a German. IQ says that he is and that he is one of the Young Allies. He says that they have another plan. They sever the source link to the ship long enough to remove it from the world. Zemo says that the only problem is that they have to remain in the ship to make sure that it stays clear of the real Earth. Karla says that they can save the world if they are willing to sacrifice themselves. Zemo says that they can survive if Moonstone phases them out at the right moment. He says that this side of the portal will be closed, and that they will wind up back on the real Earth. He says that they have to forfeit their power to save the world. Karla says that she asked him earlier, and that now he has to answer. IQ shows Zemo all the people that he has saved and all the people that he can save. He says that they all share life and the hope it brings. IQ says that Zemo knows what that is like, and that he can see it in Zemo. He says that Zemo knows that he has been a better man for his endeavors on this world that he ever was before. IQ asks if there could be any greater display of Zemo’s strength, power, and superiority than being able to save people and wanting to save them. The difference between doing it for himself and doing it for others. Zemo says that the people believe in him so much. Karla says that he has never given them a reason not to until now. Moonstone hands Zemo his mask and says that he has to stop thinking like a man hanging by a thread, and start thinking like a man that has started a climb. Zemo dons his mask and says that the hardest part isn’t helping the people that trust you, but choosing to save the ones that don’t. Zemo asks about Anomaly. Karla points out that he has a parent complex that puts Zemo’s to shame. Zemo shouts out to Anomaly to stop. Anomaly says that through his parent’s guidance that he can save this world. Zemo says that through their deaths that he can save two. Anomaly is confused. He says that they will die, but that they aren’t real. He says that he will die, but then gets confused. Anomaly tells his mother and father that he is coming and moves into the void. Moonstone wonders if he will be back. Zemo says that the void won’t go away. He says that it will just be plugged on both ends. He says that Anomaly might reform and find a way back.

Fixer says that there is a huge surge coming like the void was just fed ten gallons of chili. He tells Jolt to start. Jolt says that the bioelectricity will juice the ion-grid they made. Jolt tells Kid Colt to get ready. He says that he doesn’t know if he can teleport them through this soup. Bucky says that he has to. Jolt starts to scream in pain. As the procedure starts, Erik and Dallas begin to separate. Dallas says that it is draining too much of their ionic energy. MACH-3 says that they don’t have enough power. Fixer admits they don’t. MACH-3 says that Fixer knew. Fixer says that there was no way to save themselves. Erik says that it hurts. Dallas tells him to hold her. MACH-3 tells Jolt to let it go and that it is either enough or not. Jolt says that she has to stay outside the grid. She says that she is keeping it online and focusing the ionic energy. She says that she has to stay, but that she loves them all. MACH-3 grabs Erik and Dallas. He tells Fixer to get in the ship. Fixer fires something on Jolt. He tells her “so long, squirt. Good luck to you…” MACH-3 tells Karla that they are all in and to phase now.

Jolt’s energy form fades and she drops into Toro’s arms. She asks if it worked. Colt says that he would ask the big ship, but that it is gone.

Karla phases them out of the ship. They Bolts all appear. Karla says that it worked and says, “The things we survive…” We hear a voice say, “…there was something… someone… on the other side… But did they follow us here?” Another voice says, “Yup.” Zemo points a gun at Hawkeye’s head as Hawkeye takes aim with his arrow. Hawkeye says, “They followed us back. Everyone take a deep breath… and get ready to kick some ass.

Traitor’s rating: 7 out of 10

Review and picture by the Leader

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