Thunderbolts #106-109

BobMM · Post by **BobMM** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 6:06 am

THUNDERBOLTS #106-109 are the final issues of Fabian Nicieza's long run on the title. #106-108 take place over a few hours; #109 occurs a short time later (with a possibly significant gap prior to the final scene). The stories happen during Civil War, after Cap has formed his Secret Avengers and before his capture.

Issues #107-108 feature the Thunderbolts Army. I've done my best to identify the characters as they appear, but many of them are obscure and the drawings are sometimes vague. According to Nicieza himself, the Thunderbolts Army consists of:

Ajaxis, Aqueduct, Asylum, Atlas, Batroc, Beetle 1, Beetle 2, Beetle 3, Blacklash, Blizzard, Bloodstrike, Boomerang, Bushmaster, Coronary, Death Adder, Doctor Octopus, Eel, Fixer, Ironclad, Joystick, Killer Shrike, King Cobra, Machete, Mach IV, Mongoose, Moonstone, Over-Mind, Ox, Porcupine, Pretty Persuasions, Primus, Quicksand, Radioactive Man, Rattler, Red Ronin, Slyde, Smiling Tiger, Smuggler, "Snake" Marston, Songbird, Swordsman, Tatterdemalion, Texas Twister, Unicorn, Vapor, Vector, Vermin, Whiplash, Whirlwind, X-Ray, Zaran, and Baron Zemo.

Any of these characters who aren't seen explicitly depicted in one or the other of the two issues might be considered BTS.

Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Penciler: Tom Grummett

===

THUNDERBOLTS #106 (November 2006)

"Power Hungry"

Appearances -
Helmut Zemo
Swordsman
Joystick
Radioactive Man
Atlas
Smuggler
Fixer
Blizzard
Songbird
MACH IV

Hyperion
Nightwing
Dr. Spectrum
Speed Demon
Wong

Guardians of the Galaxy (unnamed individuals, seen in a representative scene only, of Shi'ar, Kree, Badoon, Skrull and one race I cannot identify).

Notes -

* The Guardians of the Galaxy described by Zemo are a celestial band of heroes unique to the Thunderbolts and tied to the moonstones.

Summary -

China, the Church of the Universal Wellspring: Hyperion, Nighthawk and Dr. Spectrum battle the super-powered monks who protect one of the conduits of the Wellspring of Power. As the monks die, their power leaves them to return to the last remaining open conduit.

Manhattan: Speed Demon (in a wheelchair) visits the Greenwich Village home of Dr. Strange. Strange is not present, but Wong serves as librarian to help Speed Demon sort through exotic scrolls that identify the location of the final conduit.

"Two hours later", at a bar and grill, Speed Demon meets with MACH IV to turn over the information. He does not want the Grandmaster to have access to the Wellspring's power, and MACH IV has agreed to help him get his own powers back.

The folding castle: MACH IV gives the data to Zemo, Swordsman, Joystick, Radioactive Man, Atlas, Smuggler, Fixer, Blizzard and Songbird are present. Zemo recounts his time spent [between A/TB 6 and TB2 1] working with the moonstones, during which he learned about the Wellspring of Power -- and about the Grandmaster's interest in it. Zemo describes the Guardian Protocols, "an ancient, intergalactic pact between species" conceived and enforced by the Guardians of the Galaxy. Zemo opens a portal to the Wellspring conduit's location and...

"Moments later..." The Thunderbolts tear through the monks guarding the conduit. They discover Supreme Power (Nighthawk, Dr. Spectrum, Hyperion) already on the scene and tear through them as well. As Zemo prepares to touch the power output of the Wellspring, Grandmaster manifests and they struggle. Zemo uses the moonstone's energies to dissapate Grandmaster. Joystick, Grandmaster's secret pawn, drops her energy truncheon down the well. As she explains, "my staff was never designed to absorb the Wellspring's power...it was designed to disperse it!" BOOM!

===

THUNDERBOLTS #107 (December 2006)

"Power Full"

Appearances -
Swordsman
Helmut Zemo
Songbird
Radioactive Man
Fixer (off panel)
MACH IV
Atlas
Smuggler
Joystick
Swordsman
Blizzard

Overmind
Dr. Octopus
Unicorn
X-Ray
Quicksand
Boomerang
Whirlwind
Eel
Porcupine
Coronary
Bloodstrike
Pretty Persuasions
Texas Twister
Smiling Tiger
icy kind of guy
Beetle (classic)
Beetle (new)
Beetle (tank)
Mongoose
Ironclad
Red Ronin
Batroc
Tatterdemalion
Blacklash
Whiplash
Bushmaster
Zaran
Killer Shrike
Aqueduct
Slyde

Captain America
Iron Man
Mr. Fantastic
Daredevil
Yellowjacket (Skrull?)
Wonder Man
Grandmaster

Cable
Professor X
Dr. Strange
Mentallo

Notes -

* It's not clear whether the Moonstone who appears in Zemo's mindscape is an actual manifestation of Karla Sofen (somehow "inside the gemstones") or just an avatar representing Zemo's id.

* Fixer is not drawn into any panels of this issue, but he is definitely on the scene with the rest of the Thunderbolts

* The four telepaths are seen symbolically as Overmind references them. These might be considered BTS appearances. I've seen posts that point out that Professor X was depowered during this period; if so, the character who looks like him could actually be Gamesmaster.

Summary -

The action begins a short time after the end of TB 106.

The citizenry of the entire world is empowered by the released energies of the Wellspring, and they run amok. Overmind keeps the various teams of Thunderbolts in telepathic contact as they try to control the populace:
* Alpha Squad, Chicago: Dr. Octopus, Unicorn, X-Ray, Quicksand, Boomerang, Whirlwind,Eel, Porcupine
* Beta Squad, Los Angeles: Coronary, Bloodstrike, Pretty Persuasions, Texas Twister, Smiling Tiger
* Delta Squad, Dallas: Three Beetles, Mongoose, Ironclad, Red Ronin
* Epsilon Squad, Tokyo: Batroc, King Cobra, Tatterdemalion, Blacklash, Whiplash, Bushmaster, Zaran
* Omega Squad, Sydney: Killer Shrike, Aqueduct, Slyde

In Germany, where the Wellspring exploded, Swordsman moves through the rubble. He is attacked by Joystick, who drives him towards the crazed populace. The rest of the team hangs suspended in midair, Joystick's prisoners: Radioactive Man, Zemo, Songbird, MACH IV, Atlas, Smuggler, Blizzard and (unseen) Fixer.

Overmind telepathically contacts Songbird, showing her images of the ongoing battles between super-hero and empowered civilians. Captain America, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Daredevil, Yellowjacket, and Wonder Man are shown. Images of Cable, Professor X (or possibly Gamesmaster; see note), Dr. Strange and Mentallo, using their powers to "dampen the rampant panic." Songbird and Overmind agree that only Grandmaster is powerful enough to fully stop the madness. They determine that they have to awaken Zemo so that he, in turn, can use the moonstones to recover Grandmaster's dispersed form. Shifting Overmind's attention to Zemo causes a new surge of power into the populace -- including some members of Zemo's army, who turn on their teammates.

In New York, Speed Demon, wheelchair bound, is suddenly struck with a bolt of energy.

In Germany, Swordsman allows the energy to strike his sword and, using his mutant power to channel the energy, comes back for a second round with Joystick.

In Zemo's mindscape, he and Melissa lounge naked in a field. A manifestation of Moonstone appears and reveals "the real" Helmut, scarred face and all.

As Swordsman shatters Joystick's energy-channeling truncheon, Zemo awakens, remanifests the Grandmaster, and prepares for the showdown...

===

THUNDERBOLTS #108 (January 2007)

"Power Full"

Appearances -
Helmut Zemo
Atlas
Radioactive Man
Songbird
MACH IV
Smuggler
Joystick
Swordsman
Fixer
Blizzard

Speed Demon
Overmind
Dr. Octopus
Beetle (classic)
Pretty Persuasions
Eel
Whirlwind
Mongoose
Hercules
Quicksand
Ironclad
Killer Shrike
Boomerang
Porcupine
Batroc
Tatterdemalion
X-Ray
unidentified grey faced man
unidentified man with no mask
unidentified blond woman in glasses

Daredevil
Captain America
Hercules
Falcon
Mr. Fantastic
Iron Man
Ms. Marvel
Yellowjacket (Skrull)

Grandmaster

Notes -

* Members of the Thunderbolts Army who do not appear directly may be considered to be operating in the background

Summary -

Picking up immediately after TB 107, Zemo and the reconstituted Grandmaster start trading punches while Atlas, Radioactive Man, Songbird, MACH IV, Smuggler, Joystick, Swordsman, Blizzard and Fixer watch. Songbird and R-Man agree to "stick to the plan"...

In Chicago, Overmind contacts the fleeing Dr. Octopus to keep him at his job of keeping the empowered civilians under control.

In New York, Daredevil, Captain America, Hercules, Falcon, Mr. Fantastic, Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, and Yellowjacket battle the crazed populace. Overmind informs Cap and Iron Man that "to save this planet, you will have to place your faith in Helmut Zemo!"

In battle with the Grandmaster, Zemo tells Overmind to make his move. Overmind links his mind to "every single breathing human being on Earth." A montage scene shows the faces of classic Beetle, an unidentified blond woman in glasses, Pretty Persuasions, Daredevil, Iron Man, Eel, Whirlwind, a man with no mask, Mongoose, Hercules, Quicksand, Ironclad, Killer Shrike, Captain America, Boomerang, Porpupine, Dr. Octopus, a grey faced man, Batroc, Suggler, Tatterdemalion, and X-Ray. Everyone surrenders their powers to Zemo, and it flows through the rampant Wellspring energy to strike the ground like lightning.

The Thunderbolts' tech starts to fry. Atlas' ionic energies go wonky. Grandmaster sneers at Zemo's ploy to attract enough energy to overpower him, but Zemo has another tactic. Just as the Wellspring energies have taken everyone else's powers, they have taken the Grandmaster's, too. Zemo shoots him!

As Zemo tries to manage the huge energies now available to him, Joystick sneaks up behind. But Speed Demon is back, repowered and pissed. He snatches her truncheon and beats her with it.

Zemo's power flares up. Songbird reminds him that, according to Zemo's own visions, if he keeps the Wellspring powers the Guardian Protocols will be activated and "an alien armada" will "incinerate the planet" to stop him. Zemo accuses Songbird: "And now is when your betrayal would have come -- except that you are powerless."

Melissa disagress. She sings, hitting a coloratua soprano note that shatters both moonstones. Without the stones, Zemo cannot contain the energies and they are sucked back into the Wellspring, and Zemo with them. Atlas grows enormous, using his gigantic body to seal the conduit like a cork. But the Wellspring begins to suck his ionic energies...

===

THUNDERBOLTS #109 (February 2007)

"Beyond Redemption"

Appearances -
Songbird
Moonstone
Radioactive Man
Blizzard
Smuggler
Atlas
Fixer
MACH IV

Dallas Riordan

Helmut Zemo (dreamscape manifestation and television image only)
Hawkeye (dreamscape manifestation only)
five unnamed Guardians of the Galaxy (dreamscape manifestation only)

unidentified newswoman
unnamed CSA technician

Notes -

* The Guardians of the Galaxy shown in the dreamscape scenes are a celestial band of heroes unique to the Thunderbolts and tied to the moonstones.

* Speed Demon does not appear, but is noted to have "run off before SHIELD showed up."

Summary -

Songbird, in a dreamscape, encounters the Guardians of the Galaxy, empowered heroes of multiple races including Skrull, Kree, Shi'ar, Badoon, and one I can't identify. As Songbird is on the verge of being overwhelmed, Moonstone appears to help out.

In a CSA facility in the real world, Fixer and Josten determine that the MACH IV armor is beyond repair. They work under the watchful eye of Dallas Riordan. She describes how, as Atlas was plugging the Wellspring conduit, he sent a packet of ionic energy to her to heal her legs and free her from her wheelchair.

Germany: Atlas is still hundreds of feet tall, but all traces of ionic energy are gone from his body. He can breathe, but otherwise is immobile. Conrad Josten and various SHIELD agents review the problem: Atlas can't shrink himself and Pym Particles won't shrink him. Conrad confirms that the Smuggler costume is inoperable.

At the CSA facility, Radioactive Man watches a television broadcast of an unidentified newswoman who reports on Atlas, then speculates about the whereabouts of Zemo (an image is shown). Chen recalls the aftermath of the Wellspring collapse, how Songbird awoke covered with fragments of the shattered moonstones and how, simultaneously, Moonstone awoke from her coma. Both women are now physically present in the CSA facility and Chen is examining them.

Within the dreamscape, Moonstone explains that Songbird has tapped into the communal archive of the moonstones -- they are in Karla's subconcious mind. They realize that it's up to Songbird to save them.

CSA facility: Swordsman watches the newscast. Donnie Gill talks with him, confirming that his Blizzard suit is ruined. Gill mentions that Speed Demon "ran away before SHIELD showed up." They walk past Joystick's cell. Meanwhile, Dallas offers jobs with the CSA to Abe and Fixer. Chen continues monitoring Songbird and Moonstone, and observes that the gemstone fragments are being activated.

In the mindscape, Moonstone and Songbird encounter images of Zemo and Hawkeye, then begin fighting each other. The fight erupts into the real world, where the framents leave Songbird's body and return to Moonstone. After a dramatic explosion, both women return to consciousness within the CSA facility.

"Days later..." Joystick remains in captivity. Gill, fully pardoned, says goodbye. Abe and Songbird say goodbye to one another, then Songbird goes outside to join the core of the new team -- Moonstone, Radioactive Man and Swordsman -- as they prepare to go to work for Norman Osborn.

Flashback I -

Dallas Riordan gets a jolt of ionic power from Erik as he plugs the Wellspring conduit.

Riordan
TB 109 FB
TB 109

Flashback II -

Following the collapse of the Wellspring, Songbird awakens to discover herself covered with fragements of the shattered moonstones. Simultaneously, Moonstone awakens from her coma.

Appearances: Joystick, Swordsman, Songbird, Moonstone, unidentified nurse

TB 108
TB 109 FB
TB 109