Thunderbolts vol. 2 #4

Title: “In Sword and Claw”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Co-Plotter: Kurt Busiek

Penciller: Tom Grummett

Inker: Gary Erskine

Colors: Chris Sotomayor

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Purple Man thinks to himself how all of his characters are in place and how the story has been set in motion. He thinks about how proud Hydra is of making Wolverine into a feral killing machine. He thinks that making him into a suburban housewife would have been more impressive.

Wolverine, acting for a Hydra splinter group… The Dawn of the White Light, attacks Hydra agents. Wolverine cuts through the Hydra agents and then punctures the hydraulics. Wolverine stabs an agent in the hand. He tells Wolverine that he won’t win. He says that their supreme commander will live forever, and that if you cut off one limb that another will take its place. Wolverine says that maybe he can’t die, but that they will see if he can be killed.

Purple Man thinks about how they figured that the death-spore virus in Strucker’s veins would keep him standing, but that it was worth it just to ruin his expensive suit.

On the building’s patio, Strucker says that was well played and draws Swordsman’s sword out of his chest, but adds that it will take more than that to undo him. Swordsman says that he is drowning in boredom. Strucker calls Swordsman in insolent dog. He swings the sword and Swordsman ducks under. Strucker asks Swordsman who he is and says that the original Swordsman is dead. Swordsman says that he guesses that he isn’t him then. Strucker says that the original Swordsman was a coward who betrayed his beliefs to help the Avengers. Swordsman says that he was a hero embracing newfound beliefs. He says that he is there because he wants to see the Thunderbolts succeed. Strucker asks why that would be and knocks Swordsman into the building through the window. Swordsman stabs Strucker in the arm with a knife as Strucker follows up. Swordsman knocks the sword out of Strucker’s hand. He pulls the knife from his arm and stabs Strucker in the neck with his sword. Strucker tells Swordsman to slice his head off and expose all of Manhattan to the death spore virus inside him.

Purple Man watches as Wolverine joins the Strucker/Swordsman fight. He leaps into Strucker and knocks him back out the window. Purple Man says that the characters in the stories he writes always manage to surprise him.

At Thunderbolts headquarters, Speed Demon tells Jenkins to give fixing his armor a break, and that they’ve only been back an hour. Abe says that he has to fix his flight harness and that he doesn’t have a back up in case something happens. Speed Demon says that they will handle it and asks Jenkins if he didn’t see the news that they are heroes now. Abe says that they aren’t anything yet. He says that they saved the UN building, but that Songbird is in the hospital as a result. Speed Demon asks if good enough isn’t good enough for him. He tells Abe that he liked him better as a loser than a boy scout and runs off. Radioactive Man tells Abe to ignore him. He says that Speed Demon is arrogant and impatient… very American. Abe says that Chen Lu needs America’s help finding Fathom Five in order to get justice for their attack on Beijing. Chen Lu admits as much and asks Abe if he can help with his armor so long as he is there.

In the dormitory, Donald Gill looks over his damaged Blizzard suit. He thinks again that maybe he isn’t cut out for this. He says that he has to find a Home Depot to fix the Freon coils. Speed Demon comes in and tells Gill that he is so low rent. He says that he isn’t hanging around there and asks Gill if he wants to hit a strip club. Gill says, “Uh… yeah, sure…”

Speed Demon runs into Joystick’s room where she is taking a shower. He peeks over the shower door and asks if she needs any help with the hard to reach places. Joystick says that she prefers to take care of herself. Speed Demon says that he is fine with that too. Joystick says, “You’re pretty much an idiot, huh?” Speed Demon says that she is going to wind up loving him. He says that they are going to go get hammered. Joystick says that it sounds good. Speed Demon tells her to be ready in ten minutes, but Joystick says that she will make it in eight.

As Chen Lu helps Abe, Abe asks if a lot of his mood swings were because of radiation surges in his body. Chen Lu says that is true. He says that they build up inside him to a level greater than his harness can control, and that on occasion it has caused him to behave irrationally. Abe asks how he solved the problem. Chen Lu says that he hasn’t. Speed Demon says that the green skin and skirt were enough of a reason to get out of there. Abe asks Sanders, Joystick, and Gill where they think they are going. Sanders says that they just saved the UN building and that it is Miller Time. Abe says that it isn’t. He reminds Gill that he is on parole, and that the Great Game could come after Joystick at any time. She says that to let them try. Abe says that until his parole officer greases the skids for them that they aren’t going anywhere. Sanders says that they might as well be in jail. Abe says to tell it to Melissa.

Atlas sits at Mel’s side in Cedars-Sinai hospital. Mel wakes up and asks Erik how long he has been out. Erik says that it was a couple of hours and that they smeared some gel down her throat. Mel whispers that it hurts and asks about Abe. Erik says that he couldn’t come and that he has to keep an eye on the others. Mel whispers that she understands. Erik says that they left ice chips for her. He says that she screamed herself raw, but that she pushed him and that they saved the building. Mel whispers that when they were in there that Erik got so mad. Erik says that he knows. He says that the ionic energy in him just makes him a little nuts sometimes. Mel whispers that he suddenly got his powers back after the Fathom Five attacked. She asks if that was before or after Genis got dragged into the Hudson River. Erik looks down and says that there was nothing he could do to prevent what happened to Genis. He says that she has to believe him. Mel says, “Yeah… why wouldn’t I…?”

In the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cape May, a tour boat is showing their guests some dolphin activity. The people notice something glowing inside the water. One man says that it looks like there is a man inside all that glowing.

As Wolverine and Strucker fight, Swordsman notices an Atlantean artifact on a necklace on the floor. He recognizes it from an auction six years ago. Strucker tells Wolverine that he has become a pawn, but that he can make him into a king. Swordsman blocks Wolverine’s claws with his sword and says that there is only one puppet allowed per team. Swordsman explains that his sword didn’t break because it has an adamantium alloy coating. He says that it isn’t indestructible, but that it should last him long enough for him to apply his personal additions. Wolverine is electrified by the sword. Strucker says that he stabs him through the heart and then protects him. Swordsman says that he was sent there as a test, but that if there is a Hydra civil war that he will back the devil he knows. Strucker asks Swordsman if he thinks he knows him. Swordsman tells Wolverine that he can’t expose the virus in Strucker or he will kill all of Manhattan. Wolverine says that works for him.

Purple Man continues to watch thinking of the differences in others’ brutish means as compared to his art.

Swordsman tells Strucker that he can’t hold Wolverine off much longer and for him to run. Strucker pulls Swordsman back. He says that a man of nobility… a warrior bred… doesn’t run from battle. He touches Wolverine with his metallic hand and zaps him. Swordsman stops his fall with his sword. He tells Strucker to let Wolverine go. Strucker says to let him die. Swordsman says that he is just a puppet, but that if Strucker kills him that he is letting them pull his strings. He asks Strucker if he wants the X-Men after him while he is locked in a power struggle. Strucker lets Wolverine go and drops him off the side of the building. Swordsman leaps after Wolverine and says that this isn’t over. Strucker says that it soon will be.

Purple Man thinks to himself that he set this up not only to see if his puppet would dance on his strings, but to see if he could also move on his own. He thinks how Swordsman liked the Errol Flynn meeting Conan aspect to his identity… how it appealed to the dichotomy of his upbringing. He wasn’t a fighter or a hero by any means, but that he had grace, skills, and experience. Purple Man thinks that, most importantly, that he had contradictions worth exploring.

Swordsman fires his sword, connected by a cable to the hilt, into Wolverine’s chest. He hooks the wire onto a passing water tower and stops their fall. Swordsman says that Strucker is gone. He says that he knows that he is being forced into this and asks what his puppet masters say now. He says that if they say they can find a nice restaurant and order a merlot that would be fine with him. Wolverine says that he doesn’t like wine, and that he never liked him. Swordsman says that is his exit line. He wishes Wolverine luck on finding his freedom. He says he hopes that they both do. Swordsman uses the cable from the water tower to Wolverine’s chest as a springboard to fly away. Wolverine pulls the sword from his chest.

Swordsman lands on a rooftop in front of Purple Man. Purple Man asks Swordsman what he says. Purple Man thinks about the steak and two waitresses he had for dinner and how for desert he made a superhero clean his shoes with his tongue.

At Thunderbolts HQ, Gill reminds Sanders that Abe said they couldn’t leave. Sanders asks if he is kidding him. He says that Jenkins went to meet his parole officer, and that while the cat is away that the mice will play. Radioactive Man asks why they would risk their position in this organization, and the potential to help society, just for a vacuous evening of alcohol and lechery. Speed Demon and Joystick break up laughing. Sanders asks Gill if he coming. Radioactive Man says that he is staying. Gill tells Sanders to wait for him.

Mel stands looking out her hospital room window. She wonders where Genis is. She thinks how he was always bragging about his cosmic awareness and wonders why he didn’t see it coming.

Erik sits alone in a bar.

At South Street Seaport, Manhattan, Abe meets with Carol Danvers. He says that he was hoping that she would clear Speed Demon and Joystick on a probationary basis. Carol says that this is a potluck way of putting a team together. Abe says that he knows, but that Magneto, Doom, and Red Skull turned him down. Carol says that Radioactive Man said yes. Abe says that technically he never asked him. Carol says that they should consider a name change for him. Abe says that they are working on his skirt first. Abe says that she had some questions. Carol says that she wants to know about his financing. Abe says that he told her that he met a guy in prison, but that he wants to keep a low profile. Suddenly, Llyron smashes out of the ground and through Abe and Carol’s table. Carol turns into Warbird. Dragonrider’s dragon smashes into the bridge.

Traitor’s rating: 8 out of 10

Review and picture by the Leader

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