Comic Book Guy: Thunderbolts

In the comic book world there are staple story arcs that just continue to work, whether this may be a cross-over event featuring two favourite characters coming together or good guys turning heel. Thunderbolts #144 continues its run centring on a similar concept, the struggle of the villain trying to be a hero.

The Thunderbolt programme exists in the Marvel universe as a parole programme for Villains wanting to go straight. This issue sees a changing of the guard to coincide with Marvels’ Heroic Age as a new team is assembled. #144 is essentially the recruitment issue as Luke Cage visits Marvels Prison Island, The Raft and begins to individually invite each new member to the team. The premise of the rounding up the team issue is normally one taken as an accepted stepping stone before any real action kicks in. Told both in present tense and exposition flash backs by writer Jeff Parker, this issue serves for a much fresher take on the set up. Cameos from Charles Xavier and Hank Pym also provide an essential embedding within Marvel lore.

The ex-villainous line-up consists of such characters as the unstoppable Juggernaut and the sociopath Moonstone among others; even Crossbones, the guy who shot Captain America, is recruited. The final pages of the issue show the team walking to a training session where, as a team, they look frankly badass. The artwork of Kevin Walker pops right off the page by using his style of exaggerated anatomy to place the characters firmly in the more surrealist comic book manner. With the exception of the Juggernaut looking like the Blob stole his armour, this punk-infused sketching of the team marks the epitome of superhumans walking the line.

The issue concludes with a trademark Thunderbolts twist that, although you may guess the outcome before the next issue, is a perfect reminder of the series format. If you want to forget the do-gooders, Thunderbolts will give you the edge you crave.

Sometimes it’s just plain good to be bad.