Thunderbolts vol. 2 #3

Title: “In Heavy Burdens”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Heavy Thinking: Kurt Busiek

Penciller: Tom Grummett

Inker: Gary Erskine

Colors: Chris Sotomayor

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Fathom Five, At’la’tique’s strike force, fights against Atlantean troops at their formerly secret hideout.

Nagala stands with Tamara. Nagala tells Tamara to look on the Fathom Five with pride, and that their believers are inexorable. Tamara says that she sees, but that she also knows Namor, and that he is sending them a message that he knows where they are and that he can shut them down at any time. Nagala asks what the Halfling can do to stop them. She says to look at what their devout soldiers have accomplished. She says that Manowar’s extending skin membrane engulfs the non-believers. She points out Sea Leopard’s strength and ferocity, and that he is suck a mystery that when his truth is revealed that it will make the surface world tremble. She says that Bloodtide, whose body was ravaged by foul pollutants, can now control the ebb and flow of all water around her. She says that Dragonrider can talk to the creatures from the darkest depths and rally them to their cause. She says that Llyron is charismatic, fiery, a true patriot, and their future leader. She says that it is a shame that they have to fight against fellow Atlanteans who have been lead to believe that their future should not lie with the eradication of the airlings. Llyron says that any that stand in their way will be dealt with. Tamara says that it should be with regret that their hand has been forced. Llyron says that this is Namor’s fault and that for years he failed to show the necessary resolve. Tamara says that is an over-simplification. Llyron asks where complications have gotten them. Llyron says that Namor ostracized them from the Atlantean people because he feared that they would rally them to their cause. Llyron says that Namor has gone to the surface to prattle and supplicate. He says to let them try to talk to one another when their lines of communication, that snake over their territories, have been severed. Llyron rips the fiber optic cables apart.

Strucker’s secretary tells him that the stock market just went down. She says that there is no word whether it is related to the attack on the UN. Strucker says that it is a minor inconvenience at most and to leave him to other business. Strucker contacts Commandant Herzog and asks if the third and fourth battalions are prepared. Herzog says that they are. Strucker says that their plans have been carefully prepared and that the purgings will be glorious. He says that nothing can stop them now. Swordsman stands outside Strucker’s window.

At the United Nations, MACH IV fires his fire retardant missiles at the building and immediately knows that it won’t be enough. A wave of panic washes over Abe and he thinks about leaving, but decides that he has to stay and that his team is still inside. He thinks of Melissa.

Songbird screams and is supporting the entire building by herself. Atlas starts to grow to help out. Blizzard asks what they should do. Reed Richards tells Blizzard to engulf the area in ice and smother the flames. Blizzard says that he never tried anything of that size before. He asks what if his suit can’t take it. Songbird says that Richards will figure something else out then and to stop whining. Speed Demon grabs Blizzard and says that he will funnel the fire toward him.

Outside, MACH IV contacts Code Blue as they pull up. MACH IV is told that it is illegal for him to be on the police band frequency. He is told that he may have been granted a pardon, but that he is running with Blizzard and Speed Demon… who both have outstanding arrest warrants. MACH IV says that it will look good for them to arrest him for trying to save the UN. Just then, Spider-Man webs up Code Blue’s guns. Spider-Man tells Beetle that he knows he is trying hard, and that while he respects that, that he still doesn’t trust him any further than he can throw him. MACH IV says that Spider-Man has thrown him pretty far. Spider-Man asks what they do now. MACH IV says that they put out the fires and try to gauge the structural damage to the building. Spider-Man asks where the rest of his team is. MACH IV says that they are inside and that he knows they are alive and fighting to keep everyone else alive too.

Reed Richards asks Joystick more about the power cells in their armor. Joystick says that she isn’t much on the nuts and bolts. Reed asks if she dons nuclear powered clothing without question. Joystick says that she is a girl on the edge and that all she knows is that it was strontium. Reed says that the strontium dispersed in the explosion. Atlas, bracing the building with Namor, asks if even if they save the building that all the people will die from radiation poisoning. Namor says that they will fight to their dying breath. Speed Demon says that is a great pep talk from the king of the terrorists that brought them there in the first place. He says that he should just run as far away from all of them as possible. He tells Blizzard that the fire funnel is coming. Blizzard says that he can’t handle all that at once. He asks what if the radiation affects the Freon in his suit. Speed Demon says that Blizzard is a glass is half empty kind of guy. Reed says that they need Blizzard functional and that his ice will diminish the effects of the strontium poisoning. Songbird tells Blizzard that he isn’t stopping until the fire is out. Blizzard’s suit springs a leak. He says that he doesn’t know if he can do this. Songbird tells him that he has to. She says that Abe is outside and that help is on the way.

MACH IV tells Spider-Man that his webbing holding the building up is incredible. Spider-Man says that he is popular at kids’ parties too. Stone from Code Blue says that he doesn’t care about the radiation and that they need the building stabilized. He asks what they mean when they say that Damage Control won’t work for the city until they are paid. He says that he wants them there now. He asks if he has mentioned that he hates working with spandex clowns. He is told that he hasn’t in five minutes. MACH IV tells Spider-Man that he heard Stone saying that they have radiation problems. Spider-Man says that his started when a spider bit him. MACH IV asks Spider-Man how he feels about the devil you know stopping the devil you don’t. Spider-Man says that it depends on the devil. MACH IV says that he has to make a call.

Strucker picks up the phone. He tells Jenkins that he sees him on TV and that he assumes his external speakers are muted. Strucker asks what Jenkins said. Jenkins says that Strucker heard him. Strucker says that even if he used his contacts with the Chinese government that it would take at least a day to get him there. Jenkins says that “he” is already in Manhattan, Strucker asks how he knows. Abe says that the Chinese ambassador inside the assembly is his handler, and that they did a job together once. He says that if he is there that Chen Lu is there, and that he is probably waiting to see if Namor was responsible for the Fathom Five’s attack on Beijing. Strucker asks why he would do this. MACH IV says that the radiation will breach his building in foiur minutes. Strucker says to let it and to let death fall like a blanket and smother everyone.

Songbird’s constructs start to crack. Namor says that they have to make up for her short comings. Atlas says, “shortcom… you fish-smellingson of a…” Atlas grows bigger and bigger. He shouts, “SHE’S GOT MORE GUTS THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW!” Reed takes one look at Atlas and asks how his mind and body can handle the stress. Namor says that he doesn’t think Atlas cares, and that neither should they since he is succeeding in supporting the building.

MACH IV says that the building is listing. Spider-Man says that it had to be toward the webbing.

Reed tells Songbird that he is trying to bypass the blown relays in her carapace. Songbird says that she will scream until she is hoarse. Blizzard says that his systems are shot and that he can’t do this anymore. Atlas tells him not to quit. Namor tells Atlas to let the structure lean into him. He says that if he forces it up that the opposing pressure will cause it to fracture.

A chunk of the building falls. MACH IV flies under it, but the weight is too much and slams him into the ground and pins him against the ground.

Mel asks Erik if he is okay. Erik says that he is fine, but that she might want to leave. Mel says that they need to clear out now. Speed Demon says that they aren’t going anywhere. He says that there is no easy way out. Songbird tells Joystick that she can move between the gaps and that Dr. Richards can follow. She says that she can then create a hard sound chute behind them and create a tunnel. Joystick asks why she would risk her neck. Songbird says that it is because she doesn’t think Joystick can do it. Joystick says that she is only going to fall for that because she can’t help herself. Joystick finds her way out and soon everyone is outside after going through the hard sound tunnel. Spider-man asks who is left inside. Namor says that only Atlas and Songbird are inside. He says that they can’t leave without the building collapsing.

Erik tells Mel that the radiation is mixing with his ionic powers. Mel realizes that he is sure about that and asks why he didn’t tell them about the ionic powers coming back. Erik shouts that it doesn’t matter. He asks why they are doing this. He asks why they should care if a bunch of schmoes get crushed like ants.

Stone says that “he” is coming in by helicopter, but that he is on record as being against this. Reed says that they aren’t in a position to decline his offer. He asks if the Thunderbolts have given him any reason to believe that Dr. Chen Lu won’t help them.

Radioactive Man leaps out of the helicopter.

Erik asks Mel if she feels something funny. Mel says that she doesn’t feel as sick anymore. She says that it must be the radiation. Erik says that if they are getting rid of it that it is too little too late. He says that he can’t hold it up anymore. Mel shouts that this building is not coming down and that they will hold it up forever if they have to. She asks Erik if he hears her.

Radioactive Man takes the radiation into himself. Namor asks if he will pose a threat after absorbing it. Chen Lu says that he is only a threat to Namor, and that he is there at the request of his government to avenge the deaths of the thousands in Beijing. Lt. Stone says to save it for later. He says that the radiation levels are normal, but that the building is leaning too much. He says that Damage Control just got there. Speed Demon asks if the mayor lowballed them. Stone admits he did. Namor pulls the rock off MACH IV. He says that he and his team performed admirably… much to his surprise. Abe says that they get that a lot and that they should talk about Fathom Five. Suddenly, Atlas’s arm comes smashing through the building. He holds the building up from the outside. He shouts, “THIS BUILDING IS NOT COMIN’ DOWN!!” Abe sees Mel and says that she did it. Mel hoarsely mentions his wrecked armor. Abe tells her not to talk. Mel says that Erik is going to lose it. Abe says that it is okay and that Damage Control is setting up gravimetric jacks. He says that she did it. Mel says that they did it.

Strucker watches the coverage. He says that is impressive and that they might be more of a liability than he thought. The news says that Songbird was taken away in an ambulance, and that Abner Jenkins publicly asked Radioactive Man to join the Thunderbolts. Namor publicly denounced Fathom Five and assured the surface world that thehy would track them down. Strucker turns off the TV. He says, “They were to have served an integral role as fodder… as prominent, hopeful agents of order through which to better foment sweet chaos, but now… could these fools actually threaten my plans?” Swordsman says that his plans end today. Strucker turns surprised. Swordsman says that the Thunderbolts are under his protection and runs Strucker through with his sword.

Traitor’s rating: 8 out of 10

Review and pictures by the Leader

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