Thunderbolts Annual 1997

Title: "The Origin of the Thunderbolts!”

Writer: Kurt Busiek

Pencillers: Mark Bagely, Bob McLeod, Tom Grummett, Ron Randall, Gene Colan, Darick Robertson, George Perez, and Chris Marrinan

Inkers: Al Milgrom, Will Blyberg, Scott Koblish, Jim Sanders, Tom Palmer, Bruce Patterson, Karl Kesel, and Andrew Pepoy

Colors: Joe Rosas

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Note: The story that Zemo tells Jolt will be written in italics. The actual story will be written in between in normal print.

Chapter 1- Awkward Questions

Jolt is working out as the other Thunderbolts watch. Techno is monitoring the workout to test Jolt’s agility and endurance. Jolt asks how she did. Atlas says that the Romanian judge may have caught a flaw, but that he thinks she did great. Techno says that the diagnostics are working out. He takes the results and reads them. He says that she absorbs virtually any source of ambient energy and uses it to fuel her physical abilities and “jolt” punches. He says that provided that she doesn’t overextend herself that there is no reasoin she needs to worry about running down. Techno asks Jolt if she has any questions. Jolt says that she doesn’t have any question about her powers, but that she does have a question about the team. Jolt asks how Citizen V managed to find and recruit all of them. Citizen V says that is an excellent question, but that it is an involved one. He tells her to go take a shower and change and then come meet him in his office. Jolt says that she will see him in twenty minutes and goes.

Zemo thinks of the best way to handle the situation and that he needs to stay as close to the truth as possible so the others will have to stay consistent with his story. Jolt sticks her head in the door and asks Citizen V if he is ready for her. Zemo tells her to come in and says that she wanted to know how he found so many super heroes in such a short time. Jolt says that he doesn’t have to tell her, but Zemo says that they have nothing to hide from one of their own. He says that he will start with himself.

Chapter 2- The Search Begins

Zemo says that he comes from an illustrious family with a rich and storied heritage. He says that he has spent years studying and training to make a difference in the world. He says that recently he hadn’t been realizing his ambitions to his satisfaction.

Zemo is trashing his lab and asks if this is what it has come to. He asks if he is to become a pathetic escapee hiding in his own castle while his wife lies dead in prison and his enemies flourish. Zemo says that this is intolerable.

Citizen V says that he didn’t give in to despair and that he was raised better than that.

Helmut says that he is a Zemo and that a Zemo never surrenders. He says that all defeats are simply setbacks to be overcome and that it is his birthright and destiny to rule. Zemo says that all he requires is a new plan.

Citizen V says that he began scanning beyond their reality searching for dimensions that border theirs to inspire him and give him purpose.

Zemo looks for a power source or a gateway to a realm where he could conquer and return to Earth with an army. Suddenly Zemo comes across a screaming human voice. He tried to isolate the source, but all he could get was a signal. Zemo realizes that the E.E.G. was a pattern that he recognized. Zemo says that it couldn’t be him.

Citizen V says that his adventures had brought him in contact with many other adventurers and that if he was right that he had made contact with a man that he knew that was suffering and needed his help. Citizen V says that he knew his limits however and that he set out to bring in the assistance that the situation required.

Chapter 3- Technical Support

Citizen V says that one of the other explorers he knew was a man that challenged the unknown without benefit of costume or super-powers. He says that it was that man that he went to Minneapolis to find.

In Atlanta, Zemo stands on Fixer’s front doorstep. Fixer voice tells the person to say something. Zemo asks what is the meaning of this indignity. Fixer’s computer tells him that the voice analysis and bio-scan confirm Zemo’s identity. Fixer says that he didn’t need the computer to tell him that what with Zemo’s cheery disposition. Fixer opens his front door and tells Zemo to come in. He says that he won’t even ask him to check his weapons in the umbrella stand. Fixer says that he especially likes the micro-tec agony pad and asks if it was Zemo’s father’s design or if it was A.I.M.’s. Zemo steps into the house and is surrounded by technology. Fixer says that he turned off the holograms for Zemo and that if he were anyone else that he would be looking at a furnished room. Zemo says that he is tired of talking to thin air and asks Fixer where he is. Fixer says that he is below and asks Zemo if he would join him. Zemo says that he doesn’t see any stairs. The floor Zemo is standing on begins to descend very deep into the Earth. Hundreds of yards below the platform came to a halt.

Citizen V says that it wouldn’t be easy to drag his friend from all of his rewarding work, but that his purpose was noble and his need sincere. He says that he had to make the effort.

Zemo and Fixer greet each other. Zemo asks Fixer how he is doing. Fixer says that he is bored out of his skull. He says that he has built a completely-interactive cable decoder, an automated aerobic exerciser, a gourmet coffee synthesizer, and a virtual-reality film-restoration and editing system. He says that right now he has Godzilla playing the Peter Lorre part in “Casablanca”. Fixer says that he is tired of puttering around and that he needs a new challenge. He says that he has to get out of this mess. Zemo says that he has something for Fixer. Fixer says that he is Zemo’s man.

Citizen V tells Jolt that he managed to convince him and that he came back with him to his home to see about their friend.

Fixer says that it is definitely Josten and that it sounds like he is being tortured. Fixer says that this is a tricky one. Fixer says that it’s an extradimensional extraction with no communication and possible unknown hostiles. Zemo asks if he can bring him back. Fixer says that what he does is fix things. He says that he will get Goliath back one way or the other. Fixer says that he just hacked into Josten’s prison records. He says that it seems that Josten was in the prison hospital in a coma when he simply vanished. Fixer says that earlier Giant-Man had rescued him from a dimension called Kosmos and that odds are that is where he is now. Fixer says that he will need additional hardware.Zemo says that he will have whatever he needs. Zemo says that he will leave Fixer to his work and that he has other matters to attend to.

Citizen V says that an idea was forming in his mind. He says that he was acting alone and that perhaps that wasn’t the best way. He says that perhaps a team was a better idea.

Zemo stands at the window and says that it seems that he is assembling a new Masters of Evil and that with Fixer’s technological needs that it seems wise to recruit some others.

Chapter 4- Screams of Anguish

Citizen V says that all of his contacts weren’t adventurers and that one woman he knew was a singer. He tells Jolt that the singer was touring the mid-west with her accompanist.

Screaming Mimi and Angar the Screamer run after robbing a bank. Mimi tells Angar that the people in the bank will be dizzy for twenty minutes and that they won’t be ringing any alarms. Angar says that he has taken care of the guards and that his psychedelic screams will keep them hallucinating. The guards are randomly shooting at monsters that Angar’s screams are causing them to see. Angar says to head for the hills and that they will count up the loot. He says to forget Bonnie and Clyde and that the two of them are unstoppable.

Citizen V tells Jolt that in one of the towns they were performing in that there was a bank robbery and that shots were fired.

Mimi tells Angar that they make a great team. Angar says that she is the best partner he ever had. Mimi asks Angar if he only thinks of her as a partner. He says that of course she is much more than that. Suddenly Angar keels over.

Citizen V says that her accompanist, that she has grown to love, was hit by a stray bullet.

Mimi tells Angar to speak to her. Angar says that one of the “piggies”must have gotten off a lucky shot. Mimi tells him to hold on and that she will get him to a hospital. She begs him not to leave her all alone again. Angar dies in Mimi’s arms.

Citizen V says that once the woman realized what had happened that she let out a scream from within that was like a force of nature. He says that she screamed for forty three minutes stopping only to take breath. He says that when it was over that her larynx was destroyed and her throat was raw and ruptured. He says that her singer’s voice was forever silenced. He says that is when he arrived to give her new purpose.

Zemo flies into the area. He says that granite was shattered and trees liquefied. He says that he never would have guessed that she had it in her. Zemo lands and tells Mimi to come with him quickly. Mimi looks up and sees Zemo. He says that the police couldn’t approach during her scream, but that they will be there soon now. He says that he can offer her a place to hide and heal. Mimi mutters, “Safe?” and goes with Zemo. Zemo carries Angar’s body onto the ship as Mimi leads the way.

Citizen V says that she didn’t realize what he was offering her, but that she would come to understand in time that her life was over and that he was offering her a new life.

Chapter 5- Shell-Shocked

Citizen V says that his next stop was in New York. He says that he didn’t know his next recruit, but that he knew some people that had worked with him and spoke well of him. Zemo says that he was an aviation engineer and a crack pilot. He asys that he had some unusual ideas about the potential uses of aviation technology, but that he had recently experienced some business reverses.

Beetle shouts that he can’t believe it. He says that he put together the gang, picked the targets, masterminded the robberies, and that now that they are ready to split the take his partners ditch him and take the money. Beetle says that this is now why he became the Beetle and that he is not going to sit still for this. He says that if he wanted to be a laughingstock that he would have stayed a master mechanic. He puts on his mask and says that nobody crosses the Beetle.

Beetle flies after Carlos, who is running away on the rooftops. Beetle tells Carlos that he has reached the end of the line. Carlos says that it wasn’t him. Beetle says that of course it was Carlos and rams his face into a door. Beetle tells Carlos that he is going to tell him where the others and his money are. Daredevil arrives and says that normally uou open the door before you usher someone through it. Beetle turns confused. Daredevil says that he is hurt and says that surely Beetle remembers his old pal Daredevil. Daredevil smacks Beetle. Beetle says that Daredevil doesn’t understand and that the man cheated him. Daedevil tells Beetle to tell it to the judge. Carlos laughs at Beetle and says that he is a loser and a nobody. He says that they were laughing behind his back the whole time. Beetle tells Carlos that he is just making it worse on himself and that he will get his hands on him sooner or later. Daredevil says that he isn’t getting his hands on anyone. Daredevil says that they have done this before and that they both know how it ends. Suudenly explosions start going off deafening Daredevil. Daredevil has to move out of the way allowing Beetle to get away. Beetle says that he doesn’t know what that was about, but that he has to find a place to hide quickly. Beetle decides that he has to go somewhere that Daredevil can’t follow. Beetle dives into the Hudson River. The dirty water of the Hudson clogs up Beetle’s armor, but he did manage to get away.

Beetle makes it back into his apartment where he finds Zemo waiting for him. Zemo informs him that he is the one that caused the explosions and diverted Daredevil. He tells Beetle that he has come to offer him membership into his new Masters of Evil. Beetle asks if he has a big plan that will wipe the smirks off of everyone’s faces. Zemo asks if there is another kind. Beetle says that he is in.

Citizen V says that the engineer chose to join his growing band.

Chapter 6- Onslaught

Citizen V says that when he returned with the man that would become MACH-1 that operations had temporarily stalled.

Zemo says that he knows Fixer needs more supplies and tells him to give him a list. Fixer says that he already printed it along with a list of possible sources. He says that he is nothing if not thorough. Fixer says that he hasn’t been idle though and that he looked at Mimi’s damaged voice box and made some improvements. He says that her powers aren’t the same as they used to be, but that she will still be quite the songbird. Fixer says that he took the schematics for Klaw’s sonic horn, which he took from Project Pegasus years ago, and rebuilt her larynx and throat from his design. He says that when modulated through the sonic carapace she will be able to create the same solid-sound constructs Klaw does. Zemo looks at Mimi and says that she looks improved, especially after removing her ridiculous fright wig. He asks her how she is feeling. Mimi says that she feels empty and says that she doesn’t know if she can do this anymore. Zemo says that is nonsense and says that all she needs is a chance to recover and something to focus on so she can forget the past. He says that he will personally attend to her training, but that he won’t hold her against her will. She says that she can leave and be alone, friendless, and wanted by the law. Songbird says, “A-Alone? N-No… I’ll… I’ll stay…” Zemo tells Songbird to come with him and they will see what her new powers allow her to do. As he walks away, Zemo tells Fixer to look at Beetle’s armor and see what improvements he can make. Beetle is resistant at first, but figures that he can use all the help he can get. He says that Zemo is probably right. Fixer says that Zemo usually is.

Citizen V tells Jolt that things proceeded smoothly from there for a while. He says that Techno and MACH-1 built the MACH-1 armor and that he trained Songbird in the use of her powers. He says that they acquired the new components that Techno needed and things were right on course, but then fate intervened. He says that one day he was scanning the news.

Zemo tells the computer to compile all recent occurrences of the Avengers, individually and as a team. The computer immediately shows Zemo a live video feed of the Marvel Universe heroes fighting against Onslaught.

Citizen V says that he watched like everyone else did confident that they would triumph like they had so many times before. He watched them carry out their makeshift, last-minute plan. He watched them defeat the creature, but also destroying themselves in the explosion that consumed Onslaught. He says that he watched their sacrifice and like so many others he was shattered.

Zemo disbelieving says that they were to die at his hands. Zemo sat not knowing what to do.

Citizen V says that he was going to take his team to the Avengers and ask them how they could serve the best, but that now without them he was in shock and mourning. He says that he couldn’t see any point in continuing, but then the alarm went off.

Chapter 7- To Defy a Kosmos

Zemo asks Fixer what is happening. Fixer says that he has a lock on Josten. He says that they are trying to bring him across the dimensional flux matrix, but that something is resisting him. Zemo says that it doesn’t matter anymore. Fixer tells to look at the agony on Josten’s face. Zemo is about to say that it doesn’t matter again, but Mimi interrupts him and says that “they” are here. She says that the forces that took Josten have noticed them and that they are here.

Citizen V says that suddenly the lab was filled with extra-dimensional energy. He says that Techno’s flux matrix became a vortex and that the vortex became a storm.

A booming voice says that they are Kosmos and that they will not take what is theirs. They tell Zemo to surrender their hold on the transgressor or they will be destroyed. Zemo shouts that he won’t surrender or be destroyed. Zemo says, “I am Zemo, do you hear? I am Zemo… and what I want… I take!” Suddenly erik Josten is kneeling on the floor naked. He grabs Zemo and says, “Oh Lord… I’m back, I’m back! You saved me, Zemo! You rescued me! I’m yours… I’m yours forever!"

Citizen V says that Atlas then fell unconscious.

Mimi asks who they were. Abe says that he doesn’t know, but that he isn’t in any hurry to meet them again. Abe asks Fixer what he did. Fixwe says that he didn’t have anything to do with them arriving or leaving. He says that there was something binding Goliath to their world and that he fixed it. He says that he doesn’t know how though and that he doesn’t always know how he does it.

Citizen V says that it was days later when he was made to realize what he needed to do.

Abe Jenkins brings Erik Josten some chicken broth and asks him how he is feeling. He says that the medi-scans showed that he was pretty torn up. Erik says that it is funny, but that he feels pretty good. He says that his head is clearer than it has been in years. He tells Abe to catch him up on what has been happening.Abe was just finishing telling Erik about the heroes sacrificing themselves against Onslaught. He says that is just his luck and that Onslaught didn’t get Spider-Man or Daredevil. Erik says, “Hah! The Avengers and the F.F…. gone? Maybe we should apply for the job! Gotta be money in that somewhere right? I mean… somebody’s gotta defend the world against mooks like us, right?” Zemo realized that Erik was only joking, but he started to develop his plan.

Chapter 8- Showdown at the Vault

Citizen V tells Jolt that he thought that they would be aiding the Avengers and that it never occurred to him that they would be replacing them or that they were even possible of doing so, but that they soon had a chance to test themselves.

The U-Foes, Mandrill, Radioactive Man, Hydro-Man, Orka, Armadillo, Speed Demon, Kaine, Wizard, and Madcap are all charging out of the Vault. Orka says that they are free and that no one will ever cage them again. Citizen V says that he believes that he “contests that assertation”. The villains look up and wonder who is talking to them. Citizen V says that they are merely concerned citizens. Mandrill says that they are nobodies and that he doesn’t even recognize them. Ironclad tells everyone to attack. Atlas says that sounds like a good idea. He leaps off of Citizen V’s V-glider and plows into Ironclad and Armadillo. Songbird tells Mandrill to surrender before she is forced to hurt him. Mandrill says that she can barely stay steady with her pink wings. He tells her to come and fall to his mind-control. Songbird freaks and drives Mandrill into a tree with a blast of sound construct. Citizen V compliments Songbird on defeating Mandrill before she got too close to his pheromone power. Citizen V leaps off his glider in front of Speed Demon. Speed Demon says to give him a break and that he can run faster than V can think. Zemo asks if that is so why it looks like he is so unsteady on his feet. Suddenly all the villains start getting dizzy and are having a hard time moving and thinking. Radioactive Man asks if they were poisoned or something. Atlas says that is too bad and starts plowing into them. They tear into the villains until all of them are trapped or unconscious. Atlas says that was a blast. Songbird tells Citizen V that she has Hydro-Man contained in her bubble and asks what they are going to do with him. Zemo says that they are going to do what any other hero would do and turn them over to the proper authorities.

Warden Jzemlico is having the guardsmen usher the villains back to their cells. He says that there is no sign of of what made the Vault’s systems go haywire or why the guardsmen armors shut down. The Warden wants to thank Citizen V, but Zemo says that they would prefer to keep their name out of it for now. He says that they are not ready to make their public debut yet and want to keep a low profile. The warden says that the world needs some good news like that there are some new heroes. Zemo says that he sincerely hopes so. He says that they were just happy to help out. He asks if everyone was rounded up. He says that the only escapee is Moonstone.

Citizen V says that while they were testing themselves that MACH-1 and Techno were on a special mission. They were recruiting a “new age philosopher expert, who’d been suffused with an extra-terrestrial energy during a harmonic convergence."

Beetle and Fixer are helping Moonstone out of her shackles and restraints. Beetle says that Fixer sprung those shells like eggshells and that it was easy getting Moonstone out in the confusion. Fixer says that he tries. Moonstone asks them why they did that and that she was prepared to sit out her sentence. Beetle says that she will have all the answers she wants in a minute. Citizen V, Atlas, and Songbird descend on the V-glider. Fixer asks Citizen V how it worked. V says that it performed admirably. Fixer says that it was a challenge to make a gas that would react with each of the very different body chemistries and still only knock out Moonstone for a half hour. Citizen V asks Dr. Sofen how she is doing. Karla says, “Very good. If not for the fact that you’re working with known Masters of Evil, I doubt I’d have recognized you. Still, that Prussian arrogance comes through no matter what the outfit. What do you want, Zemo?” Zemo tells Moonstone the plan and says that he doesn’t trust her since she tried to kill him, but that if they are going to succeed that they will need a trained psychiatrist capable of judging emotional rections and guiding the team in their portrayals. He says that she can either give him her complete loyalty or go back to jail. Moonstone says with an added ten years for “escaping”. She says that he has made her a fugitive, but that the plan sounds workable with a high chance of succeeding. She says that she is in.

Techno tells everyone that he gave them new fingerprint and retina distorters and new vocal modulator chips. Fixer offers Karla a bio-plasmic disguise that would give her a new facial structure, skin tone, or hair color. Songbird says that he modified her cheekbones. Atlas says that he likes his face so much that he asked Techno to make it permanent. Atlas says that they need a name to make them sound like “good bad news”. Moonstone says that it should sound self-righteous and have an air of authority like the “Avengers”. Zemo says that it sounds like the stormtroopers and blitzkrieg from World War II. Zemo tells them they are the Thunderbolts.

Citizen V says that Jolt knows the rest of the story. He says that their first public battle was against the Rat Pack. She says that they were kidnapping her, but that no one suspected that she would become a superhero, much less a Thunderbolt. She says that she is so proud and gratedul. Jolt hugs Zemo. She says that she won’t let him down. She thanks Citizen V and says that she is going to find Techno so he can explain the readouts to her. Zemo is silent for a minute and then turns to his curtains. He says, “Well?” Moonstone emerges from the curtains and says, “New age philosophy expert’, Baron? ‘Harmonic convergence? Thank you so much, I’m sure.” Zemo says that is what she gets for eavesdropping. He tells her to have the others stop by so he can tell them their new pasts. He says that he is sure Abe will be delighted that he is an engineer now. Moonstone warns Zemo that his story had some holes in it and that the girl isn’t stupid. She says that Jolt could be dangerous to the plan. Zemo says that it was Moonstone that brought her into it, but that the girl is completely star-struck and doesn’t suspect anything. Moonstone mutters that she warned him.

Traitor’s rating: 9 out of 10

There is nothing that I don’t like about the story. From the layout to the execution to the knowledge of the minute details that give this story such a texture. I love the way Zemo and Fixer are handled. I love Mimi being teamed with Angar, I like especially the way Zemo didn’t even care about helping Josten once his plan was ruined. The art varies from exceptional to average. An average of 4 for the art.

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