Thunderbolts #134 – Review

by Andy Diggle (writer), Miguel Sepulveda (art), Frank Martin (colors), and Albert Deschesne (letters)

The Story: Mr. X and Headsman butt heads and the Thunderbolts hunt down Songbird, but not before she makes contact with a couple of old friends.

What’s Good: After not being present last month, I’m glad to see Mr. X establish a place for himself on the team. Not only is he a powerhouse, but his sophisticated sadism and arrogance is a good fit, shown here in how it bounces off the “rough around the edges” Headsman. X is as much fun to read as he was a couple of months ago.

Meanwhile, seeing Songbird meet up with a couple of teammates serves as something of a nostalgia trip.  Diggle shows an admirable display of logic in having one former teammate balk at helping Songbird: they earned their clean slates, why would they give that up to help her? Still, it’s a nice, warm moment that also serves to make the new Thunderbolts look pretty ugly in comparison.

The real star this month, however, is Miguel Sepulveda.  Last issue, I believe I said that Sepulveda was doing his best Roberto de la Torre impersonation. This month, he truly comes into his own, bringing his own, unique “painted” Gene Colan-esque style to the book– well, in a dark, gritty, and digital Colan anyway. Either way, it looks great and Songbird’s powers are rendered gorgeously in bright contrast to the darkness of the rest of the book, much like her place in the current storyarc. While it’s clear that Sepulveda is using photo references here and there, it’s not at all static or overbearing.

What’s Not So Good: Unfortunately, this issue hedges on its shocking twist ending which is just flat-out ludicrous. It’s a twist that has been suggested on various message boards but has been continually dismissed for being groan-worthy and flat-out stupid. Well, logic be damned, Diggle actually goes for it.  Who cares if certain things will never add up? It’s “shock for shock’s sake.” And “genetic camouflage?”  Seriously?

I’m also feeling increasingly bad for Headsman. First, Deadpool makes a fool out of him for an entire crossover and now it’s Mr. X’s turn. As if that wasn’t enough, Ant-Man then basically goes on to point out how much of a fool he’s been for Diggle’s entire run… and it’s true. After the Deadpool crossover, Diggle’s team of unknowns has needed legitimacy; since continuing to undermine a guy who should be one of its more menacing members just isn’t a good idea.

I also have to point out that, while it’s not necessarily fair to the book itself, it’s hard not to read this without thinking about Diggle’s impending departure. This month once again feels like a writer establishing his characters and settling in for a long run. In reality, he’s setting up what’ll probably be his team’s final conflict, which means that this is about as good as it’s gonna get.

Conclusion: A book that’s a beginning that feels like an end. A fun read with fantastic art, great action, and solid character moments but a terrible ending.

Grade: C+

-Alex Evans

Thunderbolts #133 – Review

by Andy Diggle (writer), Miguel Sepulveda (art), Frank Martin (colors), and Albert Deschesne (letters)

The Story: All is not as it seems with Black Widow, nor is Ant-Man quite what he claims to be.  Meanwhile, a mysterious new team member is introduced.

What’s Good: Andy Diggle gives us more of what this series needs: character development.  When a team is made up entirely of C-listers and veritable unknowns, it’s a tall order for the writer to make us care about the book, but Diggle is definitely putting in a solid effort here.

Once again, Ghost is becoming a fantastic character and is incredibly fun to read.  I remember him being a non-presence when Diggle took over but now I get legitimately excited when I see him appear in a frame.  From his paranoia to his speech patterns, he’s exactly what this comic, and this book, needs.

That said, Diggle’s character-work this month isn’t limited to Ghost.  Ant-Man also sees some very interesting developments which demonstrate that Diggle is far from a lazy writer.  Ant-Man, the clear comic relief element on the team, could easily be taken no further.  The fact that Diggle is also carving him out as a fraudulent character filled with self-doubt is admirable, promising, and enjoyable.

Of course, it’s impossible not to touch on the hammer-blow ending of the issue.  It’s hard to discuss it spoiler-free, so all that I’ll say is that this has vast potential in redefining the team dynamic, or lack thereof.  It’s a highly unstable element that adds a lot to Black Widow II as a character, perhaps even adding a grain of vulnerability to her.  The fact that this ties her closer to Ghost makes me a happy camper.  Anyway, if the ending doesn’t make you let out an audible “holy crap,” you aren’t human.

On art, Sepulveda seems to be doing his best Roberto de la Torre impression, and the comic doesn’t miss a step.  The book looks great, and in fact I quite enjoyed Sepulveda’s more clear, painted feel.

What’s Not-so-Good: A character-development issue also means an issue without action sequences and given the way Diggle’s run has worked out so far, Thunderbolts fans have been a bit spoiled in this regard thus far, so they may be taken a little aback.

Also,despite being added just last issue, we never even see Mr. X this month.  What’s worse, the team sees a new addition in Scourge which, considering Mr. X’s non-presence, can’t help but make you wonder why bother with X in the first place.  I’ll just trust Diggle for now.

I’m just not sure how I feel about this new team member.  With Diggle only just starting to develop his other team members (and finding great success), is now really the time to add TWO new members?  I understand Scourge’s role as Osborn’s “trusted man” and watchdog, especially given the revelation about Widow and Mr. X’s place as the team’s “heavy hitter,” but couldn’t these two functions be combined in one character?  The fact we learn nothing of Scourge isn’t encouraging and he feels a little bland.

Conclusion: A solid character issue and a satisfying book overall, Diggle is recovering well from the Deadpool-crossover fiasco.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

Thunderbolts #132 (Dark Reign) – Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Robert De La Torre (Artist), and Frank Martin (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: It’s about time that the Thunderbolts got back to business after being treated as fodder for Deadpool for a few months.  The whole “Magnum Opus” thing definitely hurt the credibility of the new Tbolts team.  Andy Diggle and Robert De La Torre have some work to do in order to re-establish their team as deadly and efficient.

The Story: The latest issue of Thunderbolts is sort of divided into two parts.  The first deals with the mysterious and paranoid Ghost.  He’s a wild card on a team of wild cards and his teammates are a bit uncomfortable with both his personality and his abilities.  The second part deals with the Thunderbolts going after their latest target, the dangerous Mister X.

What’s Good: Thunderbolts #132 is gritty, dark, sarcastic, mean, and surprisingly clever.  In other words, it’s exactly the way the series is supposed to be.  Andy Diggle and Robert De La Torre get the series back on track in a big way and I for one, couldn’t be much more pleased.  The visuals capture the action and the tone of the book extremely well (the assassination plan plays out in a very entertaining way). The character work does a solid job of bringing out the personalities that make up the covert-ops team (it’s been a long time coming), and last but not least, the story develops in a way that creates some intriguing possibilities.  Also, the Ghost segments are almost worth the cover price alone.  There’s some great stuff there.

What’s Not So Good: A few panels look unclear or rushed in Thunderbolts #132, though it’s tough to place blame.  Sometimes De La Torre’s gritty style, while a very good fit for the series,  is occasionally a bit too rough.  Other times, it’s Frank Martin’s moody, dark coloring that’s the cause of the clarity issues. Another thing I must mention is that the twist ending is a bit predictable and, as a result somewhat disappointing.

Conclusion: It’s great to see Thunderbolts return to form. Now it just has to remain in that form and all will be well.

Grade:  B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Thunderbolts #131 (Magnum Opus Chapter 4) – Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Frank Martin & Giovanni Kosoki (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: For as much fun as I’ve had with the “Magnum Opus” crossover, I’m disappointed by how heavily the story has leaned in favor of Deadpool. While there’s nothing wrong with that in particular, it’s done no favors for a new Thunderbolts team that has yet to escape the (massive) shadow of the Warren Ellis team. Let’s face it; Ghost, Paladin, Ant-Man, Headsman, and Black Widow II have looked rather incompetent for about 2 1/2 chapters out of 3. I wonder if they can turn things around in the final chapter of “Magnum Opus.”

The Story: The conclusion of the Deadpool and Thunderbolts crossover largely brings more of the same to the table. With Deadpool finally captured by the Thunderbolts last issue, Thunderbolts #131 is mostly about how Wade deals with the situation. As it turns out, dealing with it involves lots of action, violence, and various types of humor.

What’s Good: The latest issue of Thunderbolts succeeds almost entirely because of the energy that drives it forward. The pace is frantic, the action is pretty wild, and as a cool bonus, you get two Deadpools for the price of one. In addition, the humor hits more often than not and Bong Dazo’s kinetic visuals prove to be a great compliment to the style of story being told.

What’s Not So Good: As a conclusion to what’s come before, I don’t have a whole lot of complaints about the fourth chapter of “Magnum Opus.” That’s mostly because I had an idea as to what to expect out of it. Some of the visuals look either confusing or far too cluttered and a few attempts at humor are just lame, but that’s pretty much been par for the course no matter what creative team was in charge of things.

However, I do have complaints about the crossover as a whole. In short, it is just one big lost opportunity. It should have played up the distinct difference between the wacky, yet capable Deadpool and the cold, efficient team that the Thunderbolts is supposed to be. The darker aspects of all the characters involved weren’t highlighted enough and far too often the whole crossover felt like little more than a violent cartoon. Entertaining, yes, but not all that it could be.

Conclusion: A capable conclusion to a fairly disappointing (but still entertaining) crossover, Thunderbolts #131 works about as well as I expected it to. No more, no less.  I’m looking forward to seeing Thunderbolts get back to its regular business.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Thunderbolts #130 (Magnum Opus Pt. 2) – Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Bong Dazo (Pencils), Joe Pimentel (Inks), and Frank Martin (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: So far, I’ve had a fair share of conflicting emotions regarding Andy Diggle’s Thunderbolts run. On one hand, the author carries on the mean streak and dark tone that made the Warren Ellis run such a critical success. On the other, I have yet to find Diggle’s new Thunderbolts team all that appealing. The characters have their moments, but the team as a whole lacks the turmoil and dysfunction that made the Ellis bunch so appealing. Thankfully, I have a feeling most of my conflicting emotion will be quickly forgotten as Deadpool brings his unique brand of humor and chaos to a series that currently needs just a little extra jolt of electricity.

The Story: “Magnum Opus” continues as Deadpool, in an effort to reach Norman Osborn for payment (and a bit of revenge), squares off against the Thunderbolts inside Avengers Tower. But all is not as it seems since Osborn has the Thunderbolts pulling punches in order to keep their target alive. Action, violence, and humor are the name of the game in Thunderbolts #130.

What’s Good: It figures that it’d take Deadpool to finally bring out the personality in the Thunderbolts team and make (almost) everything click. Long story short, Andy Diggle does quite a good job handling both his team and the guest of honor. Regarding the T-bolts, for the first time I actually find myself really looking forward to the next issue so that I can learn more about the cast of characters that I am fairly unfamiliar with thanks to the interesting team dynamics on display. As for Deadpool, Diggle effectively picks up where Daniel Way left off and doesn’t really miss a beat in handling the more unique aspects of the crazy mercenary.

Also worth mentioning about the latest issue of Thunderbolts is how damn nice it looks. The creative team does a fantastic job of handling the non-stop, explosive action without ever really letting it get too out of hand. From Bong Dazo’s kinetic scenes and stylish character work to the complimentary inks and vibrant colors that help the work jump off the page, the second chapter of “Magnum Opus” is a lot of fun to look at.

What’s Not So Good: Two key things hold Thunderbolts #130 from earning a higher grade. The first thing is that, while Diggle makes solid strides in bringing out the personality of his team, it still consists of characters that I have little, to no attachment to. While I understand that time is needed for them to grow on me, I had hoped for at least a character or two to really stand out by this point. I highly doubt I’m the only one feeling this way.

The second thing that needs to be mentioned is that from time to time the action gets a little bit too crazy. Either too much is going on, or character positioning leads to a bit of confusion. It doesn’t really detract from the strong visuals a whole lot, but it proves distracting at times.

Conclusion: The latest issue of Thunderbolts restores my faith in the series. I had thought about dropping it following the Deadpool crossover, but now I feel that the new team definitely has the potential to be quite memorable. You’ve got the ball back Diggle, now is the time to run with it.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

Second Opinion

Fanboys take note: when somebody asks whether or not you dig the Bong, I promise you it’s okay to say “YES!”  This was my first introduction to artist Bong Dazo’s work, and I was incredibly impressed.  Although I believe his style is a bit to cartoonish and illustrative to be the regular artist for a dark and gritty title like Thunderbolts, it nicely complements Deadpool’s appearance here.  Dazo’s art is loose and flowing, yet incredibly detailed when the moment calls for it, and I hope the industry takes note and sends more work his way!  As for the story itself, I was surprised by how easily Deadpool took down the Thunderbolts, and disappointed by how utterly inept they came off looking.  I enjoyed this issue, don’t get me wrong, but when I finished it the first thing  I said to myself was “wow, why is it I’m reading this title?”  The ease with which Deadpool laid the smackdown on Osborn’s team of covert cutthroats is embarassing, and it makes them look like far less of a threat than Diggle was building them up to be in previous issues.  I hate to say it, but Diggle actually succeeded in making me want to drop this title and resume collecting Deadpool, and that was the last thing I expected to get from this issue.

Grade: C+

-Tony Rakittke

Thunderbolts #128 – Review

By Andy Diggle (writer), Roberto De La Torre (artist), Frank Martin (colorist), Francesco Mattina (cover artist)

“You’re a warrior without a war,” Norman Osborn growls from the shadows to Russian secret agent Yelena Belova.  “But I can give you one. You see, I’m assembling a new covert assassination squad. Off the books…unlimited resources…no rules.” Although the means by which Osborn came to power are utterly ridiculous, I’ll be the first to admit he sure as hell knows what to do with it.

Since its release in 1997, Thunderbolts has been a series that takes pride in telling unconventional stories, but with this issue Diggle and crew have taken the team in a decidedly darker direction, one that’s darker than Ellis’s now infamous run in fact; and I am in complete support of that decision.  For now, Osborn’s team of assassins are a thoroughly wicked bunch of bastards, like the Dirty Dozen on crack.  They are Osborn’s shadow executioners, stalking the Marvel Universe with a grim determination to make sure that their master’s will gets done.  If Busiek’s original run on this title was about villains unknowingly fighting for redemption, and Ellis’s run was a political commentary on life after “Civil War,” Diggle’s interpretation of the team is pure nihilistic bliss, taking full advantage of Osborn’s new found power to tell tales of bad people behaving very badly.

Which brings up an interesting question: why aren’t there more comics about villains out there?  Why do companies feel they need to tell us safe stories about the heroes all the time?  Why can’t we cut loose and take delight in the dark side every now and then?  Thunderbolts now fully embraces this ideology, and I think that will make for some outstanding storytelling.

I should tell you about this issue specifically, shouldn’t I?  Well, Francesco Mattina’s covers are dark and unforgiving, and I hope Marvel releases them as posters as soon as possible.  Roberto De La Torre refuses to draw Osborn to look like Tommy Lee Jones, and for this I am grateful.  And Andy Diggle?  He has put this title in a choke hold and made it his own.  This is one of Marvel’s finest titles, and you’d be wise to give it a chance.

Grade: B+

-Tony Rakittke

Thunderbolts #127- Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Roberto De La Torre (Artist), and Frank Martin & Giovanni Kosoki (Colorists)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While I had my qualms with the last issue of Thunderbolts, it did a nice job of establishing both the new creative team and the method by which they would “clean house” in order to usher in the new status quo. I look forward to seeing how the transitional period plays out. And of course, how the new Thunderbolts team will be put together.

The Story: With Swordsman missing, Radioactive Man en route to China, and Penance confined to a high security mental facility, Songbird seems to be all of options as she is hunted through Thunderbolts Mountain by the remaining team members. As expected, Moonstone, Bullseye, and Venom make for quite the team as they try to take down Songbird for Norman Osborn. An action-packed book all around, Andy Diggle’s restructuring of the Thunderbolts continues to prepare the series for a star turn as part of Dark Reign.

What’s Good: Thunderbolts #127 is a marked improvement over the last issue in almost every way. The reason being because it delivers the chaos surrounding the team in a much more focused and satisfying manner. A lot of the credit for that has to go to Andy Diggle for the way he handles the interaction between the characters. He clearly understands the appeal of the team and some of the venomous dialogue stands up well next to some of the best character moments from Warren Ellis’ fantastic run. The rest of the credit goes to the art team’s handling of the kinetic, well-choreographed action sequences throughout the book. Roberto De La Torre’s pencils, while a bit rough at times, do a great job of capturing Songbird’s desperation and the destruction caused by the hunt.

What’s Not So Good: Considering that the series is in something of a transitional period, Diggle does little to really move things forward all that much. In other words, the issue is all about dismantling some of the old without any real time spent on constructing the new. That aspect of the story really doesn’t change my opinion of the overall quality of the book too much, but it does leave me feeling as though it is a tiny bit lacking.

Conclusion: Some books struggle through transitional periods, but Thunderbolts clearly is not one of them. The action is intense, the dialogue is a blast to read, and Marvel’s least heroic team continues to be a source of great, edgy entertainment. Thunderbolts #127 is well worth checking out for a good time, especially if you are interested in seeing how the groundwork for Dark Reign is being laid out.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Thunderbolts #126 – Review

By Andy Diggle (Writer), Robert De La Torre (Art), and Frank Martin (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The Thunderbolts: Secret Invasion arc, while definitely (and surprisingly) entertaining, put the series in a perfect spot for a new creative team to take the ball and run with it. Now the question is whether Andy Diggle and Robert De La Torre can capture the same manic energy that made the Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato Jr. run such a success. I have high hopes.

The Story: While Norman Osborne plays politics and soaks up some post-Secret Invasion praise in Washington, the rest of the team tries to sort out what the future holds in store. To say much more would really ruin the issue, as most of it consists of short segments that go a long way towards establishing the new status quo that Andy Diggle will be working from. However, I will say that it looks as though the team is in for one hell of a shakeup.

What’s Good: I really like the position of the team in this issue. Each character is given time to shine (Norman Osborn in particular) and, for the most part, prove why he or she was placed on the Thunderbolts in the first place. Writer Andy Diggle clearly understands the dark, conflicting nature of team and uses it to great effect. As such, the issue is almost as unpredictable as the team, itself and that, readers, is a good thing.

What’s Not So Good: My biggest complaint is that a few of the characterizations just feel a bit off. The Radioactive Man segment is slightly confusing and I feel that Songbird comes across as a bit too vulnerable. Also, the artwork seems to be in need of an extra layer of polish. Everything looks nice enough, but there is an inconsistency to the work in regards to the level of detail used in each panel.

Conclusion: The new creative team is off to a good, yet slightly flawed start. That said, I am really looking forward to where they’re planning to take the Thunderbolts in the near future. If you have been waiting for a chance to check out Marvel’s team of anti-heroes, now’s the time to jump aboard. It looks like this is going to be a crazy ride!

Grade: B-

-Kyle Posluszny

A Second Opinion

I largely agree with what Kyle’s saying here.  As Thunderbolts picks up a new creative team, this is the perfect spot for new readers to check out what is easily Marvel’s most mean-spirited and vicious team to date.  I was disappointed to learn that Warren Ellis was leaving the title, but having enjoyed his work on The Losers and Green Arrow: Year One, I remained optimistic when I read that Andy Diggle would take over.  I’m pleased to say that he does not disappoint.  I was not as bothered by Diggle’s characterizations of Radioactive Man and Songbird, feeling that the focus of the issue was to introduce the cast to readers who would not have been familiar with Ellis’ take on them.

Also, I loved Robert De La Torre’s art;  although I would agree that the quality of his inks seemed inconsistent.  Like Kyle, I’m excited to see where Diggle and De La Torre go from here.  I felt this was a solid start from a worthy creative team, and would strongly encourage any undecided Thunderbolts readers to pick up this issue and give it a try!

Grade: B

-Tony Rakittke