Cream of the Comics – 1/10/2007

Thunderbolts #110
written by Warren Ellis, art by Mike Deodato

As Civil War trudges along, it’s finally time for the much-hyped new Thunderbolts lineup launch! While I’m a longtime fan of the group under Fabian Nicieza’s excellent pen (and I question the decision of taking the book out from under him – again), I won’t deny that the different approach Warren Ellis is bringing to the table has caught my interest.

In the new lineup we have cold-blooded killers mixed in with former, more heroic Thunderbolts. With the psychotics being controlled by nanites, and unwilling holdovers being forced on the team for yet unexplained reasons, things are no doubt going to be tense and violent, and with the ever-brilliant Mike Deodato (ever-famous for his work on the Hulk – where he even drew the Thunderbolts’ first appearance, in Incredible Hulk #449) on pencils, they should also look fantastic. Keep on reading after the jump for 5 preview pages – you really don’t want to miss it; Bullseye show off the different facets of his crazy while never lifting a finger – and also for our quick ‘n dirty rundown on the characters involved.

The new lineup:

Venom – One-half alien symbiote that was formerly Spider-Man’s black costume. Spider-Man from with it, and the thing’s on its second host since then. The other half is Mac Gargan, the former Scorpion (meaning that he’s literally wearing two bad-guy suits at once – must get sweaty in there). It’s a little convoluted, but keep in mind Gargan’s a bad guy on his own, prior to getting the suit. Based on his recent appearance in Civil War: Choosing Sides, he’s extremely deadly with it. I hope he’s got some nanites keeping him in line.

Bullseye – Old, bitter enemy of Daredevil. His pinpoint accuracy with just about anything makes just about anything a deadly projectile in his hands. Also, most of his bones – and especially his spine – have been reinforced with unbreakable adamantium. You get a good glimpse of him in the preview pages there.

Green Goblin – You know who he is. And as seen in the preview pages, he’s running the team. It’s not clear how or why yet. What does he get out of this? Just to hunt Spider-Man? Allegedly, he’s part of the public face of the team, dedicated to reforming and redeeming criminals like him. Not that you or I should buy that, mind you.

Penance – Go read Civil War: Frontline #10, before someone (namely, me) spoils Penance’s identity for you!

Moonstone – Formerly comatose member of the Thunderbolts. She’s super-powerful, and as a former psychiatrist, she has a history of messing with people’s heads to get what she wants. Her moonstones are supposed to give her poorly-defined reality-altering powers. I wonder if she’ll say “No more mutants!”

Radioactive Man – Easily the best member of the new bunch from the relaunch, this character got some major rehab from being a generic guy for heroes to beat up on when they’re feeling down. In addition to expanding the uses of his powers (He can stop fish men cold in their tracks!), his scientific prowess and his character depth have both stepped up as well, making him one of the characters I’m most pleased to see still around. Even if he is in the radioactive suit now. (Guys, just because Squadron Supreme did it, that doesn’t mean everyone has to.)

Swordsman – Formerly the brother of the brother-sister duo “Fenris” who had to have skin contact to activate their powers. While this was used to great extent to put them in all sorts of creepy incestuous contact, his sister was killed, apparently putting an end to his super-powered career. But no! Instead, he can always have skin contact, because the hilt of his sword is wrapped with HIS DEAD SISTER’S TANNED, LEATHERED SKIN. Wow. Awesome, right?

Songbird – Pretty much consistently the most heroic of the Thunderbolts (she even lead them for a while), Songbird can make solid constructs out of sound, using technology originally stolen from Klaw. She and Moonstone are the only two original Thunderbolts left on the team here, and it’s hard to figure why she’s been kept onboard. I mean, she’s cool and another of my old favorites, but she’s a poor fit with just about everyone else here.

So that’s it! Oh, and the timeline of the book starts during Civil War – so they’re initially hunting down the unregistered. But after that… We’ll see, I guess. So give the book a shot – It seems like it’s going to be pretty great!