Thunderbolts vol. 2 #7

Title: “Modern Marvels”

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Co-Plotter: Kurt Busiek

Pencillers: Bill Sienkiewicz & Tom Grummett

Inkers: Bill Sienkiewicz & Gary Erskine

Colors: Chris Sotomayor

Editor: Tom Brevoort

Brie Larmer sums up the Thunderbolts’ recent activities. She asks her two guests if they think that the Thunderbolts will be able to handle their success. Brie introduces her guests as Dr. Dennis Schoolcroft, author of ‘Shadows, the Dark Side of the Marvels’, whose weblog posted an in depth look at the Thunderbolts, and criminal mastermind Seth Voelker. Brie asks if she should call Seth “Sidewinder” founder of the Serpent Society. Seth says to just call him Seth and adds that he is a ‘former’ criminal mastermind. He says that he has recently earned his parole from the Raft. Brie says that brings them to the topic of redemption. She asks if superhuman criminals should be rehabilitated through acts of heroism instead of jail time. Seth says that he doesn’t think there is an easy answer to that question. Dr. Schoolcroft says that he believes that ability to reform and perform in such a manner is contradictory to the thought process that most of the super villains have. Brie asks if that kind of thing can really be predicted and says to look at the example of Dr. Chen Lu. She says that he is Chinese , with an avowed disgust for Americans, but that he saved Manhattan from a dirty bomb. Seth asks where else but New York would people high five and back slap a man that glows green. He says that you could really have similar thoughts about the entire team. Dr. Schoolcroft says that he discusses it in depth in his new book ‘Modern Marvels’. He says that the driving force behind the new team, and the backbone of the old team, is Atlas, Songbird, and MACH IV. He says that they were all in the Masters of Evil, but that something happened to them and they came to realize how hard, and how necessary, the role of superhumans have become in the Age of Marvels. He says that they learned not just how, but why they wanted to become heroes. He says that as the foundation of this team that they have to show the others how to feel what they felt, think what they thought, and do what they did. He asks if lightning can strike twice.

At Thunderbolts headquarters, Songbird watches as Dr. Chen Lu tells Genis that he can decrease his output level. Genis asks if something is wrong. Chen Lu says that there isn’t, but that he has a sufficient range of his new energy spectrum to analyze. Genis asks if Chen Lu knows when he might have some answers. He says that it has only been a few days since he was reborn, but that it is obvious that something happened to him. Chen Lu says that Genis’ patience will be tried. He says that he has an appointment with the Chinese consulate first. Genis says that he understands, but that he just feels like he was in some sort of warm dark void, but that then there was so much light. He says that for so long he has wanted to be something different, and that now that he has he wonders what if it isn’t good enough.

Atlas watches with Melissa. He asks if Genis is okay. He apologizes and says that he forgot she can’t talk. He says that will teach her to save thousands of people. He says, “So… Captain Jerkwad… I mean, Photon, is he okay?” Melissa writes down on a clipboard that she thinks so. She asks where Abe is. Erik says that he is in mech-bay working on his flight harness. He asks if her throat is any better. Mel writes that she is still using the clipboard to talk. Suddenly, Mel and Erik hear how Joystick is going to be on television. Erik says that they had better tell Abe.

Dr. Schoolcroft goes on. He says that little is known about Janice Olivia Yanizeski other than that she is an obvious action junkie as Joystick. He says that her public records speak of a quiet childhood and adolescence. He says that few remember her, and that her family moved around a lot. Her father’s job was non descript, but that he spent a lifetime looking for a big score that never came. For some reason, Janice received a scholarship to the University of Arizona. Something changed in her sophomore year and she began to take risks. She ran up tremendous gambling debts, alienated her family, and disappeared for three years. The next time she was seen it was as Joystick fighting El Toro Rojo and leaping around Spider-Man. She was part of the Great Game. He wonders why an adrenaline junkie feels such an overwhelming need to compete and win. He says that is the question that the Thunderbolts should be asking. He says that an adrenaline junkie is the worst kind of teammate. He says that if she only joined for an “action high” then what will she do when her needs for an “adrenaline fix” grow stronger.

Al Roaker, on the outdoor set of the Today Show, asks “Ms. Stick” what brings her by. Joystick says that she is just doing her rounds, protecting the people, and kicking butt. He asks how her newfound fame feels. Joystick says that she feels like “king of the mountain”. She tells anyone that thinks they can take them down… Dr. Doom, Red Skull, or even Galactus… to being it on. Joystick says that she has to roll. She kisses Al and tells him to say hi to Matt for her. Al says that was Joystick and says that they will see what the weather will be like today.

Dr. Schoolcroft says that it is a cold life for the Blizzards. He says that the original Blizzard was an engineer that invented the suit. He was an ego driven super-villain born of jealousy and indignation. He was after attention and gratification as much as money and power. He asks why Donald Gill became the second Blizzard. He asks why he joined the Thunderbolts. Dr. Schoolcroft says that Gill is like many people and that he is doing it because he doesn’t know what else to do. Gill was a low level employee of Justin Hammer. He followed orders for a paycheck. His education and aspirations were low. Hammer needed him because he was stupid enough to go against Iron Man and who was expendable in case the suit couldn’t be controlled. He was forced into violent high stakes situation with countless opportunities to walk away, but that he is still out there fighting and struggling. He asks what it is for. He says that Donnie has no reason to do what he is doing. He has no reason to be one of the Thunderbolts. He asks if Gill is the noblest of souls or the most misguided… hero or fool. He asks if Gill has realized yet that joining the Thunderbolts was not the hardest decision he has ever made as he thought it would be. He says that the hardest decision will be to stick with it.

Gill asks Sanders if it isn’t a little early for a bar. Sanders says, “hair of the dog” and adds that this is where “he” wanted to meet. Gill asks who “he” is. Sanders greet “Schultzie” Shultz says that Sanders is a big hero now. Gill says that Herman Shultz is the Shocker. Schultz says to say it a little louder and that the cops at the Starbucks on the corner might not have heard him. He asks Sanders what he brought Gill for. Sanders says that he is kind of like his puppy. Sanders asks what Schultz called for. Schultz says that he has a job that he can’t pull off without Sanders. Gill asks Sanders if he is nuts. He starts to say if Abe finds out, but Schultz says that Jenkins can kiss his butt. He says that he is a fraud. He tells Sanders that if he wants to do the Thunderbolts thing that most of them are fine with it… so long as he doesn’t jam them up. He tells Sanders that he can have his cake and eat it too. He says that he has a five million dollar score, but that he has to decide quick. He asks Sanders if he can do quick.

Schoolcroft says that Jim Sanders was a chemist. He was highly qualified, but never exemplary. He was always one step behind his quest for success and recognition until a cosmic entity known as the Grandmaster helped him complete a project that turned him into the Whizzer. Along with Hyperion, Dr. Spectrum, and Nighthawk they became the Squadron Sinister, doppelgangers of the Squadron Supreme who had spent some time fighting alongside the Avengers. The Squadron Sinister was created solely to compete against the Avengers in an intergalactic competition and only banded together a few more times before disbanding. Hyperion died, Dr. Spectrum’s power prism was destroyed, and Nighthawk became a member of the Defenders, but Jim Sanders became Speed Demon and was fodder for superhumans to smack down. Jim Sanders has joined the Thunderbolts to avoid getting smacked down again. But perhaps the deeper goal is that for a man that can’t run fast enough to outrun himself perhaps he is running toward a goal now instead. Brie says that they are all interesting questions poised in his book. She says that a man eminently qualified, and interested in the answers, is New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly. She asks him what the city’s position is on the Thunderbolts. He says that wanted super-villains are considered terrorists threats and so they are working with Homeland Security to determine the Thunderbolts’ status. Seth says that Commissioner Kelly understands, even if most of the viewers don’t, that the super-villain community doesn’t really care about such matters. He says that Jenkins might care about it, but that it is a tougher sell to the newer members.

Jenkins hoists his suit into the air. He listens to Seth go on to say that it is seldom about right and wrong, but more about what they need or want… at any cost. Melissa tosses down her clipboard that reads, “So Abe… does that pretty much cover your actions?” Abe says that he doesn’t know what she means. She writes down Strucker and says that he took money from the leader of Hydra. He asks if she heard that. He asks what he can say except that it was a short term thing. He says that he wouldn’t have let it stop him from stopping Strucker. He says that they did in fact stop him. Abe says that they will be out of money in two months, but that he knows the difference between right and wrong. Mel asks why he did something so wrong then. She walks away.

Schoolcroft asks if there is a double standard regarding law enforcement for superhumans in general. Seth says that the police follow policies of the commissioner, who is appointed by the mayor, who is voted in by the people. Brie asks if decisions are based on public opinion polls. She says that they will go to their own poll. The poll reveals that it is almost unanimous in favor of the Thunderbolts.

Purple Man holds his drink while four women lay around in his room. He says that the Thunderbolts have achieved maximum exposure and that everything from now on will be downfall. He tells Swordsman that they are ready for him now and asks Swordsman if he is ready for them. The Swordsman says, “Yes, Killgrave… I am as you made me.” Purple Man says that he knows and that he is proud. He says that soon the Thunderbolts will be making room for a new member.

Songbird watches Genis testing his powers. Atlas comes into his training session and asks if he has a second.

Genis-Vell is the one that does not belong. He is the son of one of the galaxy’s greatest heroes, Mar-Vell. He never knew his father, but was created with artifical insemination and genetically accelerated. He was born into the world with an eighteen year old’s body and a lifetime full of false memories. First he was Legacy, then Captain Marvel, and then he went crazy from his cosmic awareness. After all the damage he caused Genis is trying to earn respect and self-respect. Now he has been reborn as Photon, but has he really changed. For how can one know anything, much less everything, when one doesn’t know one’s self.

Genis asks if it is Atlas. Atlas says to call him Erik. He says that Abe told him that he was getting readjusted to everything. Atlas says that he has died and turned into energy before so if he needs to talk. Erik asks if Genis really doesn’t remember anything before he died. Genis says that he has no memory of it… which is odd because he is cosmically aware. Atlas asks if that is like super-ESP. Genis says that it just means that he knows any and everything when he needs to know any and everything. Erik asks why he didn’t know he was going to be attacked. Genis says that he doesn’t remember, but that it seems to him that he shouldn’t have been attacked in the first place. Songbird rubs her arm, looking sad, as she listens to them.

Dr. Chen Lu was China’s pre-eminent physicist when the Age of Marvels started. Je was determined to match, and exceed, the powers and abilities of the “western” super heroes. To China, Chen Lu was a self made hero like the Fantastic Four. He fought Thor and Iron Man. He joined the Masters of Evil and the Lethal Legion. Why would a man of heroic intent join such groups. Schoolcroft says that Chen Lu came to avenge the deaths in Beijing. He wonders what will happen now that he has accomplished that goal.

Chen Lu meets with the Chinese consulate and says that he sees no reason to stay any longer. They tell him that the Premier feels that it is in the people’s interest for him to remain there with, and participate, with the American superhumans. Chen Lu says that he is not accustomed, nor does he appreciate, being the pawn of a politician. He says that he came to avenge his people and that he has done that. They tell him that he is not being ordered to stay. They say that they are just asking very nicely. Chen says, “What about Sinipei Ling?” They say that she will be brought to New York and that he can see her whenever necessary. Chen asks if the American approve of this.

Condoleeza Rice appears on Brie’s show. Brie asks her Chen Lu’s immigration status. She tells Brie that talks with the Chinese have gone well and that it is expected that a temporary visa will be granted. She says that they understand that Chen Lu’s previous actions were due to a radioactive buildup in his brain. She says that if he behaves contradictory that it will create political leverage for the US in other matters. Seth says that people want to give other people second chances, and that they like their heroes to struggle. He says that defines the Thunderbolts. Schoolcroft says that he is talking of something deeper. He says that the Thunderbolts are fragile people and that how they handle success will be as great a challenge as how the handled failure. Seth says that he agrees, but that it is dependant on how each Thunderbolts sees themselves. He says that they started saying that they couldn’t generalize, and that he stands by that. He says that he predicts that the truths they learn about themselves will be very personal.

Songbird packs her bags. In the hallway, Gill calls out to her, but when she turns to him he says that it is nothing. Genis is training with Joystick. He asks if she doesn’t mind while he is trying to attune his coherent light bursts. Joystick says that it gives her a chance to outfox light and to hang out with a pure fox. She lands in Genis’ arms. Genis says that Joystick’s truncheon in poking him, but Joystick says that she was going to say the same thing. Melissa turns to see Erik standing there. Erik says, “He really is a jerk.” Melissa just looks at him.

In tech-bay, Abe greets Mel. He says that he is almost done, and that Warbird was able to get him some of the parts he needed. He says that he can’t wait to ditch his Beetle armor. He says that saving Manhattan will make things easier for them. Mel holds up her clipboard telling Abe that she is leaving. Abe asks if it is about the money. He says that he knows it was wrong and that he will figure something else out. He swears that it was just to start up. Mel writes that it is everything and that it all just feels wrong. Abe says that he knows he put it together on the fly and that some of them don’t get it yet, but that is why he needs her. He says that he can’t make it right without her. Mel hands Abe the clipboard and walks out. It reads, “Sorry, but it won’t ever be right with you. Goodbye.”

Traitor’s rating: 4 out of 10

Review by the Leader

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