Thunderbolts
vol. 2 #10
Thunderbolts
vol. 2 #10
Title: “Purple Reign, part one: Of Mice And Maze”
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciller: Tom Grummett
Inker: Gary Erskine
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Purple Man sends thousands of people after Songbird and Swordsman. Swordsman says that he ran Purple Man through with his sword and asks how all these people can still be under his control. Songbird asks if he wants to stop and ask the people. Swordsman says that he doesn’t, but that he doesn’t think that they have much of a choice. He suggests that she make a “ sonic thing”, but Songbird tells Swordsman that she would if it weren’t for her laryngitis. Swordsman says that he will have to cut them down one at a time then. Songbird says that they are innocents and Swordsman says that he is open to suggestions. Songbird tells Swordsman to cover his ears and then lets out a sub harmonic wave that scrambles the crowd’s inner ears and causes them to fall. She says that she can’t keep up the pitch long. Swordsman fires the blade out of his sword with a rope connected to the handle. The two of them swing out. Songbird tells Swordsman that was a nice save and asks what his part in this story is. Swordsman doesn’t get the chance to answer as Lt. Stone of Code Blue announces from his Hummer like vehicle that the master orders them to surrender. Swordsman asks if the “master” is Bloomberg. Stone says that they are under arrest for murder. Songbird asks if they know about Killgrave. Swordsman says that they couldn’t, and says that he thinks that Killgrave is playing a much more complicated game.
The news reports that at Empire State University thirteen students are dead after a hypersonic assault caused fatal brain seizures. She says that it has been learned that Songbird is also a student at the college. She says that there is no indication at this time why she has reverted to her criminal ways. Purple Man turns off the television. He says that thirteen was a bit excessive, and that he will have to talk to the Tinkerer about how to properly calibrate the sonic disruptor. He tells the three college girls that he would enjoy their post carnal Bugles and diet soda, but that there are mice that warrant his attention.
Songbird says that they have to keep moving, but Swordsman asks where they will go if Purple Man really has control of the entire city. Suddenly the shooting stops and a wall of ice appears around Swordsman and Songbird. Songbird says that she has a bad feeling about this. Purple Man pulls up in his car just as the Thunderbolts appear. Abe tells Mel that he knows she left the team and that she is mad at him, but that they have to know what happened. Swordsman says that it wasn’t them, but Killgrave. Abe says that he doesn’t know who he is, but that the Purple Man’s power only works in close proximity, and that you have to inhale the pheromones, and so how they can explain half the city coming after them. Joystick asks who cares and kicks Swordsman off the top of the building. They both fall over the side and Swordsman says that she is crazy. He says that neither of them can fly. Joystick says that she lands with the best of them. Joystick and Swordsman fall into Atlas’s hand. Atlas says that he was tight with the original Swordsman and so his first inclination is not to squash him like a bug. Swordsman tells Atlas that it is rare for him to have had a thought at all. Swordsman leaps up and slices Erik across the chest. He says that at least knowing it was wrong must have brought some familiar comfort. Atlas wonders out loud how Swordsman cut him. Joystick asks what he is bleeding. Atlas says that it is ionic energy. Joystick asks if he is going to be okay. Atlas says, “I… I don’t know…” Joystick says that is the wrong answer and that she is out of there. Atlas shouts at Swordsman and takes a swing at him. Atlas hits the ground next to him and sends him flying toward Radioactive Man. Radioactive Man says that this ends now. Swordsman takes a swing at Radioactive Man, but Chen Lu traps the blade between his two hands. He recognizes the adamantium alloy sheathing on the sword. Swordsman says that it would take quite an effort to break it. Radioactive Man says that it would take more effort than it will take him to melt it. Swordsman says that radioactivity isn’t the only thing that can be channeled through the blade. Swordsman blasts Radioactive Man with a plasma energy concussive force. MACH-4 asks Genis if he is planning on getting involved anytime soon. Genis says that swooping in and saving the day requires precise timing. MACH-4 says that now is as good a time as any. Genis says that Swordsman is good. MACH-4 says that he is too good and that it is almost as if he were prepared for them. Songbird says that maybe the Thunderbolts are sluggish because they are being controlled by Killgrave. Abe says that it is possible and asks Genis how they would know. Genis says that he would know because he is cosmically aware. Songbird asks why if he is cosmically aware didn’t he know that Atlas was going to beat the crap out of him. Genis doesn’t remember it. Songbird screams at Genis and Abe and asks why they didn’t see this coming. Genis and Abe both fall from the impact of the scream. Blizzard asks if she took both of them out. Atlas says that her voice is back all the way, but to forget her. He says that he needs help and that he can’t keep it in any longer. He tells Blizzard to build up his ice wall and then explodes.
Purple Man watches it all. He says that it couldn’t be going better if he had planned it... which he did.
Speed Demon sword fights Swordsman with a hunk of steel. He says that Swordsman killed Atlas. Swordsman reminds Speed Demon that Atlas was made up of ionic energy and that he will be back as soon as he can pull his energy form together again. MACH-4 asks Songbird how he knows so much and tells her that they have both been set up. Songbird asks if this is Killgrave’s doing. She screams, “HE’S MAKING US DO THIS?!” Speed Demon asks Swordsman if he thinks she is right. Abe asks Genis if any of them are being manipulated. Genis says that he doesn’t know and asks why he doesn’t know. Purple Man stands behind them and says that it is because he doesn’t want him to know. Purple Man says that they all have to do what he tells them. He says that one would think that this would tend to get boring after a while, but it really doesn’t. Abe says that he can’t control this many people. Speed Demon says that Abe is a super bad guy encyclopedia. Abe says that he knows enough and that if Speed Demon ran his brain as much as he did his mouth that he would have figured it out as well. He says that Killgrave must have some kind of outside source. Abe decides that it must be the water. Speed Demon asks what he needs to look for. Abe tells Jim that he is chemist and to look for something affecting the water supply. Abe grabs Songbird. Songbird says that Killgrave should be dead and that she saw Swordsman run him through with his blade. MACH-4 says that Purple Man is only as dead as he wants them to believe he is.
MACH-4 lands with Mel among the other Bolts. He asks why
Purple Man is after her. Songbird says that she was suspicious of things that
had happened before the Bolts were formed. She says that she was digging around
and found out that Killgrave was there when they fought the Fathom Five. She
says that she thinks that made Atlas attack Genis. She says that Killgrave
figured out that she was onto him and came after her. She says that Swordsman
saved her.
Abe
asks how Swordsman would know to warn her, but then suddenly Swordsman’s blade
is sticking through Abe’s sternum. Swordsman says that he is sorry as Abe drops
to his knees. Swordsman says that he can’t stop himself as he holds his blade to
Genis’ neck. Genis says that he has been there before. Mel tells Blizzard to
freeze up Abe’s wounds. Blizzard says that he doesn’t know, but Mel just shouts
for him to do it. Swordsman slices Genis’ throat and says that he is sorry to
all of them. A strange energy fills the air. Purple Man says that everything is
changing. He says that this isn’t fair and that he didn’t write this part.
After the energy fades, a voice tells Private Vell to report. The voice says that he gasped and asks if he is okay. Private Vell says that everything is exactly the way it is supposed to be.
Traitor’s rating: 8 out of 10
I hate House of M!!!! Hey kids the $#!^ is finally hitting the fan! The big reveal is… oh wait let’s take a month off so that people that are sort of like the ones we all buy this book to read about can have a chance to play dress up and act like they’re someone else! WHO CARES? The most non jaded literate seven year old wouldn’t have been tricked into believing that this House of M world would really last any further than it was scheduled to. So adamantium cuts ionic energy now? Okay. I like where the issue was going, but I am just so put off by this House of M crapola. Tom Grummet continues to be super impressive. 4.5 out of 5 for the art. Grummet is to this new Thunderbolts what Bagely was to the old. I can’t really picture the book being the same without him.
Review and picture by the Leader