Thunderbolts Annual 2000

Title: "Under the Surface”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Norm Breyfogle

Inker: Norm Breyfogle

Colors: Joe Rosas

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Demon seed: Kurt Busiek

Hawkeye fires an arrow at the person standing opposite him. The arrow would have hit the man right between the eyes, but the man not only has no eyes but no head at all. The man introduces himself as a Baliff of Madness. He says that the boss sent him to help him along his journey. Hawkeye says that maybe he shouldn’t introduce himself by saying “boo” next time. The Baliff says that maybe in this context that was unwise. The Baliff says that he would have been there sooner, but that the master was enjoying his resourcefulness in getting this far without a guide. Baliff says that he will take him to see the master and that he is impressed that he would go to such lengths to save the soul of his wife.

Three days ago, Clint Barton asks Anton Devine who he is. Anton Devine excuses himself and says that his social skills went into the toilet when he became “an occult muckity-muck”. He guesses that telling him that his dead wife needs his help as he comes out of the Home Depot wasn’t the best approach. Anton says that he has been working for an old acquaintance of his Daimon Hellstrom. Anton says that he asked him to tell him that he has some information regarding Barbara Morse and that he will be waiting for him at his home in Fire Lake.

Hawkeye made a few stops first and then went to see Hellstrom at his home. Hellstrom wasn’t home , but his assistant Cutter led him to a door. The door led down a stairway that went into the nether-realms.

Hawkeye stands before Hellstrom and says that with all the changes that he has heard about he was expecting something different. Hellstrom is outfitted in his old red and yellow super-heroing outfit.

At Mt. Charteris, they ask where Abe wants them to go. Abe says, “Hell.” Atlas and Charcoal are falling over themselves laughing. Songbird says that this isn’t funny. She tells Moonstone to tell them what she told them. Moonstone sighs part angry, part scared, mostly disbelieving. She says that Hawkeye got a message from an old acquaintance of his that said that the soul of his ex-wife was trapped in one of the realms of the underworld. She says that she told him that they would do whatever they could, but Hawkeye refused the help. He said that he didn’t want to involve the team in his personal matters. He added that given their pasts that where he was going was probably someplace that they should avoid visiting. Atlas realizes that Moonstone isn’t kidding. Abe says that Hawkeye went to New York and then to Massachusetts on his atomic steed. Karla says that this is ridiculous and to let him go on his own. Abe asks if she has changed her mind from yesterday. He says that they owe Hawkeye. Charlie says that he agrees with Abe. Atlas says that he does too and that Karla can’t be jealous. He says that Hawkeye needs to lay her to rest and that will free him up. Karla asks him for what and that this isn’t any of his business. She says that they can help Hawkeye without her. Moonstone flies off. Ogre asks how they plan on getting to the netherworld. Atlas says that as much as he hates to ask this person for a favor that he can think of someone who can help them.

Hellstrom is laughing at the look of relief on Hawkeye’s face to see him in his old outfit. He says that it was fun fooling Reed Richards, but that Hawkeye was never that naïve. Hellstrom turns back into his regular self. Hawkeye demands to know what is going on and that he is tired of getting yanked around. Hawkeye says that Hellstrom is changed and he thinks that Patsy Walker’s death affected him more than he wants to admit. Hawkeye says that losing his wife changed him. Hellstrom says that Hawkeye is exactly the same. He says that the Thunderbolts might as well be the West Coast Avengers. He says that Hawkeye has no idea what he has been through. He says that he took over the family business and that he rules part of Hell. He says that among Mephisto, Satannish, Pluto, and the others that he is the only one with “even a modicum of conscience” and that he is the only thing keeping them all in check. Hawkeye asks what this has to do with Bobbi’s soul. Hellstrom says that Mockingbird’s soul is trapped in Mephisto’s realm.Hawkeye is surprised, but Hellstrom reminds Hawkeye that Mockingbird did kill the Phantom Rider as well as others during her time as a spy. Hellstrom says that Mephisto killed Mockingbird knowing that he would get her soul. Hawkeye says that this all began when Mockingbird tried to tell Wasp something when Grim Reaper reanimated her. Hellstrom says that he became involved a few days ago when he spotted a demon from Mephisto’s realm holding Mockingbird’s stave. He suggests that she was trying to get out again. Hawkeye asks how he gets to Mephisto’s realm. Hellstrom says that they have been knocking on his door. A wall rips open and Swordsman comes charging out.

At the Ash Hotel in midtown Manhattan, Erik goes after a response to his personal ad in the Daily Bugle. Atlas sees that they haven’t finished rebuilding Four Freedoms Plaza yet and says that he hopes they never run into the Fantastic Four. He says that he never thought that he would be back in New York, much less making a deal with one devil to fight another. He says that he sure can pick women. From Dallas Riordan, who turned out to be Crimson Cowl, to Man-Killer, who he still hasn’t told the team about. Erik says that now he is asking the woman that originally gave him his super strength and that she is an Asgardian goddess herself. Erik greets the Enchantress. Amora says that it has been a long time and asks why he wanted to see her.

Downtown at a restaurant, Scarlet Witch is meeting with Moontone. Wanda says that she is surprised Karla called the mansion and that it is risky for her to be talking to her. Karla says that she knows, but that she is only trying to help Clint. Karla says that she knows that he came to New York before going to see Hellstrom and asks if he came seeking help from the Avengers. She says that Hawkeye asked what he should expect if he went to save Bobbi. Wanda says that they offered to help, but that Hawkeye refused them. She says that she did imbue some of his arrows with some chaos magic. Wanda asks if the Thunderbolts are going to help him. Karla says that she thinks that they are. Wanda says that some would say that was very heroic. Moonstone tells Wanda to believe what she wants, but that really they just need Hawkeye alive, but in her subconscious the warrior woman of her dreams shouts out that Karla is doing this because she really does care for Hawkeye.

Outside 387 Park Ave. South, the Thunderbolts wait to meet their contact. Abe asks Erik how much he is going to owe the Enchantress for this. Erik says that he will worry about that when it comes to that. Abe says that they all will together. A large man in a coat and hat says that when Amora is owed a favor that it is best not to dwell on it. The man tells them to follow him. He leads them into the basement. The man says that new portals to Hell open and close everyday depending on the anguish of the mortal coil, but that some on this location have known so much grief that the portal remains open perpetually. The man stands before a door and asks if they brought something of their friend’s to create a sympathetic alignment while they travel. Charlie says that they didn’t. Suddenly Moonstone phases through the wall and hands a pair of Hawkeye’s underwear to the man. Songbird asks where she got those. Karla says that Wanda gave them to her from Avengers mansion. Charlie says that he is sure. Suddenly the man reveals himself as Pluto. He opens up the portal to Hell. He says that he doesn’t care if they fail or succeed, but that they better stay out of his realm or their souls will be his. Everyone stares at the portal. Moonstone flies in and asks if they are going to stall after all that. She tells them to get used to it and that if they believe in this that they’ll all wind up there anyway.

Swordsman and Hawkeye fight. Swordsman says that Hawkeye never could take him. Hawkeye says that he isn’t gonna get into a head game with him because he knows that he is not the real Swordsman. Hawkeye says that if he was then he would know how important this is to him and that even despite their differences that he would be helping him. Hawkeye kicks Swordsman through a hole and the two of them wind up at a carnival that looks just like the carnival Hawkeye and Swordsman met at. Swordsman says that this is where Hawkeye’s soul started to drink of darkness. He says that this is where he learned the skills that led to his life of crime and that he will be spending eternity here. Hawkeye says that the mind game is not going to work and that he believes that a person can be redeemed for mistakes they made. He says that both of them are proof of that and that so is Bobbi. He says that he plans on giving her the chance to get out of there and that nothing is going to get in his way. Hawkeye draws an arrow imbued with chaos energy and uses it to disperse the demon’s Swordsman appearance. Mephisto says that is impressive. Hawkeye asks if the woman wrapped up behind Mephisto is his wife. He says that he has come for her and that he wants her now. Hawkeye aims another arrow at Mephisto. Mephisto says that he would be scared if it weren’t for the fact that Hawkeye needs him alive to get the soul that is entwined to him. Hawkeye thinks and asks Mephisto what he wants. Mephisto says that Hawkeye knows. Hawkeye says that Mephisto can have his soul. Mephisto says that he wants souls tastier than his. Mephisto shows Hawkeye the Thunderbolts coming to help him.

The Thunderbolts follow the sympathetic alignment stream, but Abe says that his targeting scopes can’t detect anything past the end of the tunnel. Moonstone says that she will go first and that she will stay intangible to protect herself. Moonstone passes through but on the other side of the tunnel she finds herself separated from her teammates. There are hundreds of blue-skinned humans doing battle with pink-skinned people and a tower standing in the middle. Karla realizes that the landscape is familiar from her dreams. She is on a battlefield on Kree-Lar. Karla realizes that they are fighting over the moonstones. On top of the tower stands the blue-skinned woman from her dreams. She is protecting the moonstones

Charcoal finds himself himself in high school. He doesn’t seem surprised that Hell is high school. He changes into Charlie and goes to his locker. He says that there isn’t anything in this place that could scare him. Suddenly Jolt leaps at Charlie and shouts, “What about me, Charlie?”

Erik stands outside the Downslope, the bar where Man-Killer works, and he wonders if this is his own private Hell living his guilt trip. He says that if this is his Hell he would hate to see what he owes for bashing Hercules’ head in. Man-Killer stands behind the bar in full costume wiping the bar down. Erik asks if one of the stools is taken. Erik’s brother, Carl, says that it is just waiting for his butt. Erik asks what he is doing there. Carl says that he wanted to talk to him and tell him to forget all about being a Thunderbolt. He tells him that it is never going to work for him and that he is still lying to his friends and cutting deals with nutcases like the Enchantress. He says that it is time for him to admit that he will never be a hero.

Songbird is curled into the fetal position. She is surrounded by a primal yell so loud that it is practically silent. She is drowned in the scream, but she is lost in guilt and anguish because she knows that the voice is that of Angar the Screamer and that he is yelling because he blames her for his death.

MACH-2 flies above what appears to be New York City. Suddenly he is blasted. He looks up to see that the Beetle is coming straight at him. Abe says that he was the Beetle.

Hawkeye asks Mephisto if his Arena of Tainted Souls is just each Thunderbolts’ personal Hell. Mephisto says that there were so many heroes spending time in his realm that it seemed ideal to allow them to wallow in the very sins that brought them there. He says that the Bolts provide much entertainment though they are only visiting… for now. Hawkeye asks if this is what Mephisto planned all along. Mephisto asks if he really seems that Machiavellian to him. He says that there may be some truth to that, but that perhaps they are really pawns in a much bigger game. Hawkeye say that he isn’t going to sit there while Mephisto tears his team apart.

Moonstone grabs the spear of the blue-skinned woman from her dreams. Moonstone asks who she is. She says that her own subconscious is being used against her in her dreams. The woman hits Moonstone across the face with her staff. She says that Moonstone is weak and that she is afraid to be a real hero and of the responsibility. Moonstone hits back and asks who she is to judge her. The woman’s face is exactly the same as Karla’s. The woman says that she is the person most qualified… she is her.

Jolt attacks Charcoal. He says that she shouldn’t be here. Jolt asks if this isn’t the place that failed heroes wind up at. Jolt says that she lied, broke the law, and ran around with the Masters of Evil. She says that the real reason she is there is because of him. She says that she wouldn’t even be there if he had done something. She says that he could have turned into Charcoal and protected her instead of diving under the table. Tears start to roll down Charcoal’s face as he says, “You… you know?”

Carl asks Erik if he is ready to admit that he is no hero. Erik puts his face in his hand and says, “You’re right… I know you’re right…”

Angar shouts, “Your fault, Mimi!” He starts to gag and Songbird comes flying out of him. Angar shatters like glass as Songbird says that it wasn’t her fault that he died.

The Beetle says that he is so fancy in his new suit. He says that he has better training and fancier gear, but that he still had to cheat to get out of prison. Beetle asks what about him. MACH-2 pulls off the mask and reveals that the Beetle is Goulding. Goulding says that Beetle killed him in cold blood trying to make a name for himself as leader of the Sinister Syndicate. Goulding says that he can hide form his past with new armor and a new face, but that he can never hide from him.

As Hawkeye runs he can feel the emotions of the Thunderbolts. He can feel a sense of life, a spirit, a spark of hope. The hope acts like a beacon drawing him to them, but as he makes his way wayward souls are drawn the Hawkeye like a moth to a flame. The people begin to smother Hawkeye begging for help. Hawkeye says that can’t help them all and that he isn’t Captain America. Suddenly one of Mockingbird’s battle staves hits the ground. The wayward souls run from the blazing light from the stave.

Moonstone says, “Behind the mask… you are me? Somehow you’re inside of me… and I’m becoming more like you…” The blue woman says, “…or maybe, becoming more like what I always should have been.” Karla says that she can deal with that, but thinks to herself that she hopes she can. The blue woman disappears.

Charlie tells Jolt to get out of her head. Jolt tells Charlie to admit it. Charlie asks if he is to admit that her death is his fault because his first instinct was to protect himself. He says that she wasn’t quick enough to save herself. He says that it is survival of the fittest and that she failed. Jolt disappears.

Erik tells Carl that he may never succeed in redeeming himself, but that he likes himself more now than he ever has in his life, and that he will never stop trying. Carl disappears.

Songbird tells Angar that she is sorry that he was shot in that robbery. She says that she can still hear his voice in her head and she guesses that she always will, but that she never blamed herself for his death. She says that whoever did this picked the wrong approach. Angar disappears.

MACH-2 says that whoever he is that he made a big mistake. He says that he thinks about Goulding every single day and that his face is burned into his memory. He says that his memory is what reminds him of everything that he has to atone for. MACH-2 says that even if he winds up in Hell that he will have climbed up to get there. Goulding disappears.

The Thunderbolts are suddenly all together. They see Hawkeye holding up the blinding battle stave over his head. Somehow Hawkeye knows that the rod is drawing the psychic energy from all the flawed but once noble souls in Mephisto’s arena. Hawkeye knows that the stave, when used against Mephisto will hurt him. Mephisto asks what Hawkeye is doing as Hawkeye ties the stave to one of his chaos energy arrows. He fires the arrow and hits Mephisto right in the chest. Mephisto’s body explodes. Hawkeye knows that as soon as enough evil has passed into his realm that Mephisto will be back. Hawkeye grabs the wrapped up female form and the Bolts all follow MACH-2’s on-board guidance system back the way they came. Atlas says that what he doesn’t get is if Mockingbird is wrapped up who threw the battle stave. Mockingbird watches from above as the Thunderbolts leave.

The Thunderbolts make it out of Hell. Charcoal asks what they are supposed to do now. Atlas says that he barely made it out of high school and that he isn’t sure what to do with a soul they just got out of Hell. The door they escaped Hell from closes and seals itself. Hawkeye starts to unwrap the body and discovers that it was really Patsy Walker, Hellcat, inside the wrappings.

Hours later outside Hellstrom’s house, the Thunderbolts wait outside with Ms. Cutter and Gargoyle. Inside the house, Hawkeye fires an arrow right over Hellstrom’s head. He says that the next one goes right between his eyes. Hawkeye says that Hellstrom used him. Hellstrom says that he did exactly what his wife wanted him to do. He says that after she disappeared from Earth that she appeared in his throne room. Hellstrom shows Hawkeye. Mockingbird says, “Avengers… you’ve got to reach Hawkeye for me! Tell him that he… that he… tell him he’s got to…” Then in Hellstrom’s throne room, “… help Daimon… Patsy Walker is going to be used by Mephisto as a pawm to kill him!” Hawkeye asks if this was how it really happened. Hellstrom says that he couldn’t go into Mephisto’s realm without starting a war that might have destroyed the Earth. He says that they did exactly what had to be done and avoided a black war. Hawkeye says that the joke is on both of them then. Hawkeye says that he never got to see his wife and that Hellstrom’s wife doesn’t want to have anything to do with him. Hellstrom says, “Yeah, that’s a funny one too, isn’t it?”

Outside Atlas asks Hawkeye if he is okay. Hawkeye says that Hellstrom was using them, but that it was for a good purpose. He says that Patsy Walker is with the Maria Stark Foundation to get her life set up again. Moonstone tells Hawkeye that she is sorry about his wife. He says that he is too. Hawkeye also thanks the Bolts for coming to help him and that if they ever go to Hell again that he will be right behind them.

Traitor’s rating: 5.5 out of 10

Well the story is decent, if not a little dragged out, but the art I really just dislike. I’m not sure who did the cover, but I would have enjoyed it much more had he/she provided the interiors as well. I enjoyed the attention brought to Erik Josten’s past with the Enchantress and Pluto’s involvement in the book. The plot was decent, but not terribly original. Writing gets a 3.5 out of 5.

Title: “Physician, Heal Thyself?”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciller: Mark Bagely

Inker: Al Vey

Colors: Joe Rosas

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Karla stands nude before a three way mirror after taking a forty minute shower. She says that she still can’t get the stench of Hell off of her. She says that is because the dirt isn’t on the outside. In one of the three mirrors Karla sees herself in her original Moonstone costume. In the middle she sees herself as the Thunderbolt Moonstone, and in the last mirror she sees herself as the blue-skinned woman in her dreams. She says tat confronting her dream self didn’t solve her problems. She says that it only brought into the light that which she had been hiding from. She says that for the first time in her life she is left wondering who she is. She wonders how she could be uncertain and that she had never met anyone that had such a self of sense as she had.

Karla thinks about how she stole the moonstone from Lloyd Bloch and then failed in every attempt as a super-villain. She says that now she knows what she suspected and that the Kree Moonstone is a living spirit inside of her. She wonders if the spirit is her own or if it belongs to someone else. She decides that it can’t be her and that this all must have been forced on her. She says that would explain her love for Hawkeye and the mounting guilt for the way she treated Deanne Stockbridge. She says that these, along with these impulses to do good, are not her. She says that this all has to be a means to an end. She says that she joined the Thunderbolts to take power, She says that when that failed she played the part of the ex-villain seeking redemption to avoid the taint of Zemo’s failure and jail time. She thinks how especially since Hawkeye has started leading them that something has been growing inside her. She says that she can’t deny these feelings of belonging, family, purpose, and hope that she has been having. She says that instead of embracing those feelings she has been ignoring them for fear that she can’t aspire to them, or worse, that she doesn’t deserve them. Karla smashes the mirror into pieces. She wonders if maybe it is even that she is afraid of becoming a better person.

Traitor’s rating: 10 out of 10

I love the inner workings of a character’s mind, and since I love Moonstone anyway this story is even better. As I understand it, Bagely leaped at the chance to do a story where Moonstone appears nude in the entire thing. Great story and great art.

Thunderbolts #38 follows the annual

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