Thunderbolts #157 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Kev Walker & Declan Shalvey (pencils), Jason Gorder & Shalvey (inks), Frank Martin, Fabio D’Auria & Simpson (colors), Albert Deschesne (letterer), Rachel Pinnelas (assistant editor) & Tom Brennan (editor)

The Story: The Thunderbolts battle mystical Nazis in Germany with their new (and questionably loyal) team member – Satana – while the “Underbolts” get started on their training.

What’s Good: This issue is typical, romping, 100 mph Jeff Parker story telling goodness.  If you’re read much of Parker’s writing, you know that he is going to keep the story moving along very rapidly and constantly renew his status quo.  This shows a lot of confidence as a writer because he doesn’t seem to let any one idea become so precious that he can’t move on.  It also has the benefit that if you don’t like something in a particular Parker issue…you know it’ll be long gone in a month or so.  It kinda reminds one of comics before the publishers learned about trade paperbacks in that the story is just a constantly running soap opera: even when a story begins or ends, you’re also in the midst of other stories.   He seem to really eschew the traditional 6-issue story arcs.

So what’s cool in this issue: Well, the Thunderbolts fight magical/mystical Nazi zombie-things.  That’s kinda cool.  Along the way they face an enemy who makes them face their worst fears.  That’s kinda cool.  We get to see a bunch of the Thunderbolts being very unsure of themselves and acting all vulnerable and that’s kinda cool too.  Meanwhile, back on the raft…the “Underbolts” B-team of villains is getting ramped up and we get some character development on Gunna, the Troll.  She’s really neat and I want to know more.  And….in typical comics fashion, the Underbolts are going to get sent on a mission before they’re remotely ready and that will be a lot of fun to read about next month.  Cool story stuff all around.

The art is a bit of a mixed bag this month as Walker and Shalvey team up on the issue with Walker handling the mystical Nazi battle and Shalvey doing the action back on the raft.  I really like both of them individually as artists, but think that Walker with Gorder inking really shine in this issue.  Love all the half-tones the duo uses and I’m not sure who is coloring what pages in this issue, but whoever is coloring Moonstone in the Nazi scenes does a wonderful job of making her look soft and lithe compared to characters like Cage, Juggernaut and Ghost.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: FF #3 – So at the end of FF #2, when Valeria says that she has enlisted Dr. Doom to “help defeat Reed Richards” I did a complete “Huh? WTF?”  Well, let’s just say that the story in FF #3 makes it all clear and ties in with Hickman’s opening arc on Fantastic Four with the Council of Reeds.  Turns out that there are a few Reeds loose on our Earth and since they are “greater good” types, are willing to destroy our Earth to return to their Council (and do great things).  The Council of Reeds is so cool and I love how this story promises to drive home why our Reed is different than all the others.  Super!

Most Anticipated: Alpha Flight #0 – Please be good, please be good…  After many years of begging Marvel has decided to let us fanboys have our favorite team of Canadian superheroes back.  As a kid I loved the Byrne run on this title and remember how everyone read Uncanny X-Men, but the really cool kids were reading Alpha Flight.  It should be in very strong hands with Fred Van Lente and Dale Eaglesham.

Other Picks: Batman: Gates of Gotham #1, Drums #1, Last Mortal #1, Avengers Academy #14, Hulk #33

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Birds of Prey #12 – You know, I almost gave this to Journey into Mystery #623.  In fact, I think it was the better comic.  That said, BoP #12 was more important.  I knew Journey into Mystery would be good, and it was exactly as good as I’d hoped it’d be.  Birds of Prey #12, however, completed a return to form, gave me what I’ve been waiting for since the relaunch, and showed that the newly established art team, here to stay this time, is rock solid.  JIM was excellent, but Birds was a comic that I’m sure had fans cheering.

Most Anticipated: Batman: Gates of Gotham #1 – Normally, unless it’s an event the affects titles I’m reading, I trade-wait limited series that I’m interested in.  Not this time.  I simply cannot wait to read Gates of Gotham, and given that it’s related in theme to Detective, which has been amazing, that gives me more than enough reason to pick this up.  It seems like an extension of Snyder’s work in Detective and given that that’s the best Batman book on the stands right now (sorry, Morrison fans), any excuse to get a twice monthly dose of Snyder’s Batman is a good one.

Other Picks: Uncanny X-Force #10, Invincible Iron Man #504, Avengers #13, THUNDER Agents #7, Amazing Spider-Man #661, DMZ #65

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Dejah Thoris #3 – Dynamite has me loving old Barsoom again, in this case, really old Barsoom. I was already hooked on the Princess of Mars story told in the Warlord of Mars series, and it was like taking a new look at a place I’ve been many times and love visiting. But with the Dejah Thoris series, it’s like Nelson, Rafael and Carlos have pulled back a curtain and said: I know you love Barsoom, so I made you *this*. New stories on old Barsoom. You’ve got to pick up this series.

Most Anticipated: X-Men Giant-Sized #1 – There’s nothing that floats my boat more than a pure, classic X-Men story. I’m really looking forward to looking at the simpler time of the original X-Men. There is something very special about a story with only six X-Men on the entire planet, and I’m going to enjoy this one.

Other Picks: X-Factor #219, Uncanny X-Force #10, Thunderbolts #157, Avengers #13, Astonishing X-Men #38, Alpha Flight #0.1