Thunderbolts vol. 2 #2

Title: “The Games People Play”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Gamemaster: Kurt Busiek

Penciller: Tom Grummett

Inker: Gary Erskine

Colors: Chris Sotomayor

Editor: Tom Brevoort

The news anchor recounts the Thunderbolts defeating the Atlantean group the Fathom Five with the help of Captain Marvel… who remains missing. She says that there has been no ransom demands for his release, and that the Thunderbolts have had little time to conduct a search. She says that commuter traffic on the George Washington bridge came to a standstill when the city was attacked by the Wrecking Crew.

MACH IV tells Atlas to keep Wrecker off balance and that he is powered by Norse magic. Atlas says that so is his toothbrush. Atlas asks Blizzard how he is doing with Piledriver. Blizzard says that he is punching through eighteen inches of solid ice and that Atlas can take him off his hands any time he wants. Songbird tells Gill to remember the plan. She says that Wrecker gets the most attention so the two of them have to hold their own. Songbird wraps a sound cage around Bulldozer. Bulldozer says that he figures Blizzard “holds his own” a lot. Bulldozer says that he likes feisty chicks and asks Songbird if she can make a hard sound bed. Songbird says that he doesn’t want to lose eight seconds of her life and says no thanks. Wrecker tells Jenkins that the Bolts are all full of themselves. He asks if he is MACH IV now and calls him a sellout. Abe tells Wrecker that he has heard it before. He says that they will keep trying to do something with their lives and that the Wrecking Crew can keep renting themselves out as strong arm thugs. Blizzard says that yesterday it was the Lincoln Tunnel and today it’s the bridge. He asks where the money in this gig is. Songbird scoops up Piledriver and throws him into the air. She tells him that they will worry about that later. She tells him to try and be more creative and that now that he is part of a team that someone always has his back. Atlas swats Piledriver between his hands like he was swatting a bug. Blizzard says to keep knocking him, but that no one asks how Josten got his powers back. Wrecker says that this was a straight up job, but that these traitors made it personal. He pulls his bar back to hit MACH IV, but then suddenly it is out of his hand. Speed Demon stands behind Wrecker, holding his crowbar, and says that it is heavy. Wrecker says that he recognizes the Whizzer. Speed Demon says that pushing his buttons is dangerous. He runs around Wrecker faster and faster hitting him all over with his crowbar. Wrecker drops to the ground unconscious. MACH IV asks Sanders what he is doing there. Speed Demon says that he goes where the money is, and that from what he sees that being a reformed villain is where it’s at. He says that he is there to join his team. Mel lands and asks Abe about this. Abe says that he knows, but that he has worked with Speed Demon before. Mel asks if there is anyone he hasn’t worked with. Abe says that he is cocky and arrogant, but that he isn’t a killer or a thug… or at least too much of a thug. Mel asks if they can trust him. Abe says that he doesn’t know, but that he intends to find out.

Abe asks Strucker if he planted Speed Demon on his team. Strucker asks if Abe is demanding answers of him. He says that he is financing his team and that without him Abe is nothing. Strucker tells him not to forget that. Abe says that he reminds himself of that every day. Strucker asks if he has a steel backbone now. He asks Abe if he thinks he can string him along, figure out his insidious plan, and keep his money. He says that he can tell that’s what Abe is thinking, and that he knows how badly Abe wishes he mattered, but that he is insignificant to Hydra. Strucker says that he will be the one to string him along and that if Abe chooses to annoy him that he will step on him like a beetle.

Later, unaffected by Strucker’s words, Abe is however disturbed by what he sees on the map at headquarters.

Purple Man watches the news coverage of the Thunderbolts handing the Wrecking Crew over to Code Blue. The news goes on to state that there is no further word on the whereabouts of Captain Marvel. Purple Man says that is because no one knows what happened except he and Atlas, and that even Atlas doesn’t suspect the true extent of their little game. Purple Man turns to Swordsman and says, “…does he?” Swordsman says, “No… and by the time any of them find out…”, he draws his sword and stabs through the screen of the monitor. “…we will have destroyed the Thunderbolts!”

At the Thunderbolts headquarters, Speed Demon says that they had better not be thinking of going to Atlantis because he doesn’t run underwater. Songbird asks if he thinks they should do nothing. She says that if he wants to make this work that he has to change the way he thinks. She says to start by wondering what the Avengers would do. She says that Abe’s tracking device tells them that Fathom Five retreated to a spot several hundred miles from Atlantis. She says that they have to find out of their attacks were sanctioned by Atlantis or not. Speed Demon asks if they are supposed to just call the Commission on Superhuman Activities and ask them. Abe says that they won’t need to. He holds up a paper whose headline reads that Atlantis is to address the UN and says that this is as good a place to start as any.

Brie Larmer reports from outside the UN building and says that Namor will be addressing the general assembly regarding the Atlantean terrorists that have attacked the United States, China, and the Persian Gulf in the last several weeks. She says that Namor has brought the leader of the Fantastic Four to support his cause.

Namor tells the assembly that Atlantis has maintained peace with the surface world for long enough that his word on this matter should be final. He says that the attacks were made by a faction of Atlantean extremists that call themselves At’la’tique. He says that it translates into “the fury of the sea”, but that its derivation is synonymous with respect for the power and majesty of the ocean’s might. He says that they are religious zealots that have perverted its meaning to instigate Atlantis and the air breathers into a global war that will “cleanse the sea”. He says that Atlantis has played no part. The delegate from China says that is all very well, but that they demand the terrorists be brought to justice. He says that if Namor can’t control his own citizens that they will be forced to act in self-defense. Reed Richards tries to say that a country can’t be held responsible for the actions of individual citizens. Another delegate says that after Richards’ recent escapades in Latveria that it might be best if he didn’t lecture them.

A referee for the Great Game radios in that the target is present, but that they need extra points established for a wild card. The voice on the other end says that Reed Richards is worth five thousand points. The referee says that he understands. The voice says that the Great Game commences in five minutes and counting.

Namor says that he understands their frustrations, and that they pale in comparison to his own. He says that the renegades are his nation’s most sordid criminals. Namor starts to say what the traitors do, but MACH IV interrupts and says that what they will do is continue to laugh at his leadership and flaunt international law. Speed Demon mutters that will play well on Fox news. MACH IV apologizes if his words seem disrespectful, but that the world no longer has the luxury of letting nations harbor terrorists while politely looking the other way. He says that the Thunderbolts are there to take a stand and do whatever it takes to bring Fathom Five to justice. He says that they know where they are hiding, but that they need Atlantis to help them ferret them out. He asks Namor if he is willing to help or not.

The referee says that the game is off. He says that the Thunderbolts just showed up, including newest member Speed Demon. The voice on the other end says that each Thunderbolt is worth a thousand points and that two thousand will be awarded if any of them agree to join the game.

Namor tells MACH IV that he is grandstanding on a public stage by belittling a king. He says that they are common criminals. MACH IV says that they are very uncommon criminals. He says to forget name calling and ranks and to boil it down to basics. He says that they are Namor’s people and his responsibility. He says that he can ignore Fathom Five and deal with them. He tells Namor to decide now in front of the world. Namor asks, “Or… what?” Suddenly Joystick, Tremelo, and Polestar burst through the wall and announce that Namor has been targeted for participation in the Great Game. Speed Demon calls them feebs. MACH IV asks Speed Demon if he knows them. Speed Demon says that they tried to recruit him. He says that he recognized the Polestar armor. MACH IV says that they know Joystick even with her clothes on. Blizzard asks what he means, but MACH IV says to forget it. He tells Songbird and Blizzard to protect the people. Songbird says that she is on it and creates a sound bubble over the assembly gallery. She tells Blizzard to cover the stage forum, but he seems confused. She tells him to protect the innocent first and then fight.

The referee says that he wants it on record that he doesn’t think they should have followed through with this. He is told that the game was funded by a very important sponsor. He is told to watch and see how the new Polestar handles himself.

Polestar leaps at Namor, but Atlas swats him out of the sky. Namor says that he doesn’t need help from the likes of Atlas. Atlas asks what that is supposed to mean. Namor says that a new name and face doesn’t hide his soul. He says that he knows who he is. He says that he invaded Avengers mansion and beat Hercules to near death. Atlas says that was a lifetime ago and says that isn’t who he is now. He asks Namor if he hears him. Joystick leaps over Speed Demon and asks Atlas if he rages much. Speed Demon says that he has lost times at how many times he has been called joystick. Joystick says, “Yeah, ‘cause being really fast is a selling point…” Songbird says that it works well as a distraction. She hits Jpystick with a hard sound contruct. MACH IV says that the guy with the vibratory powers is a problem. Speed Demon says that he would be the first today. Reed Richards tells Speed Demon that he called himself Tremolo, and that he is emitting sonic wavelengths. Speed Demon says that he doesn’t talk the problem to death... he just solves it. He says that he will just match the frequency. MACH IV says that will create a sonic backlash, but Tremolo and Reed are already sent flying from the impact. Songbird says that it looks like they are okay, but that Speed Demon and Blizzard don’t know how to fight on a team. MACH IV says that it takes time and that she knows that. Mel says that she knows, but that she doesn’t know if she has the patience.

MACH IV tells Namor that he has released ionized particles around Namor and that it should screw up Tremolo and Polestar’s armor sensors. Namor thanks MACH IV and says that perhaps he has misjudged them. He asks if he is the Beetle. Abe says that like Atlas said… that was a lifetime ago. Namor says that perhaps when the fools have been disposed of that they should talk. MACH IV says that would be good. He mutters to himself that Namor respects them and that is so cool.

The referee radios to Skybox that the game conditions are out of control. The referee says that the conditions have not exceeded the players’ capacity to perform. He is told to proceed, and that the game’s sponsor prefers and even greater escalation. The referee is told that the two minute warning has been engaged. The referee says that he can’t do that and that it violates their contract.

Speed Demon sees the now exposed referee and asks who that putz is and what is he talking about. Joystick hits Namor and says that she is blinking too. She says that she thought they couldn’t activate the two minute warning unless they were in danger of being caught. Songbird asks if it is some sort of fail safe as she grabs Joystick in a sound claw. Joystick says that it blows up the strontium chip that powers their armor. Songbird says that would kill her and asks what kind of sick game this is. Joystick says that there is no sense playing if the stakes aren’t high. MACH IV asks Reed. Reed, looking at Polestar’s armor, says that he can’t breach the armor locks. He says that even if he could that the transmission appears to be external. He says that there isn’t time to disarm every armor. MACH IV asks if they could scramble the signal. Reed says that might work, but that they would need to know the frequency it is being broadcast on. Atlas grabs the referee and says that he might know. The referee says that he isn’t given access codes. He says that all he knows is that each chip is strong enough to take out a city block. He says that if they blow that the UN will become a dust pile. MACH IV says that it was just rebuilt after Kang’s attack, and that it isn’t going down on his watch. Blizzard says that he could try covering them in ice and really pouring it on. Speed Demon says that he could run them all over to New Jersey. Songbird grabs Joystick by the neck and says that they have to make them give them access to their armors. Joystick says that if she does that, that even if they shut down the armors that the gaming council will still kill her. MACH IV says that they will protect her. Mel asks if they will. He says that they will buy her some time reprogramming their armor codes. He says that if they do track her down that they will have to go through the Thunderbolts first.

Purple Man watches from the Gaming Council and says that is an interesting challenge.

Namor asks if they would give protection to one that sought to kill him in a game. MACH IV says that he will take responsibility for her the same way Namor was ready to take on At’la’tique. Speed Demon says that was a nice sound bite and that Abe is growing some stones. Blizzard says that he will take anyone on the team. Speed Demon says that he took Blizzard. Joystick says that they had better stick by their deal. She opens her armor. Reed looks at it and says that the internal mechanics are quite sophisticated. MACH IV reminds him that they have thirty seconds, and that he needs eight seconds to get high enough. Reed sends the transmissions to MACH IV’s sensors. Atlas says that no one is going to shout “kill the ref”: after all.

MACH IV flies into the sky. He says that he is scrambling and asks Dr. Richards if there is any reaction. Reed says that it seems they are jamming the signal. Atlas asks why all the lights are still blinking then as he looks at the ref’s arm. Joystick says, “Whoops…”

An explosion rocks from the UN building.

Traitor’s rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review and pictures by the Leader

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