New Thunderbolts #7-9

[BobMM]

These three issues contain essentially standalone stories, but the finale of #8 segues directly into #9.

NEW THUNDERBOLTS #7 - June 2005 (alternatively THUNDERBOLTS #88)

"Modern Marvels"
Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Artist: Bill Sienkiewicz; Pin-ups by Tom Grummett

Appearances:

Thunderbolts -
Songbird
Radioactive Man
Photon
Atlas
Speed Demon
Blizzard
Joystick
MACH IV

The Shocker
Brie Larmer
Dr. Dennis Schoolcroft
Sidewinder (Seth Voelker)
"Al" of "The Today Show" (presumably Al Roker)
Raymond Kelly, New York City police commissioner
Condoleezza Rice
miscellaneous "Person on the Street" interviewees
members of Chinese consulate

Purple Man
Swordsman

Notes:

* This is a hybrid album issue. Brie Larmer's interview, drawn by Sienkiewicz, serves as a framing sequence for pin-ups drawn by Grummett. The text on these pin-up pages is purportedly from Schoolcroft's book MODERN MARVELS. This conceit intercuts with new scenes in Thunderbolts HQ, drawn by Sienkiewicz.

* The Larmer interviews appear to be a single broadcast. Some of the Thunderbolts scenes are implicitly concurrent with the interviews, but others occur afterwards. While everything feels like it occurs the same day, it's possible that some scenes occur later.

* The Hydra attack from TB2 5-6 occurred "just days ago."

* Photon notes that "it's only been a few days" since he was reborn (TB2 6).

* This issue confirms my supposition that the newswoman on page 1 of TB2 2 is Brie Larmer, as the exact same picture of her is used on page 1 here, and this time she introduces herself.

* Schoolcroft's text provides some new information about Joystick: "Her family moved a lot, the father's nondescript job record attesting to a lifetime spent looking for 'the big score.' ... Under uncertain circumstances, Yanizeski received a scholarship to the University of Arizona. At some point after her sophomore year, something changed in her. She began to take risks. She ran up tremendous gambling debts. Then she disappeared and wasn't heard from for three years."

* Schoolcroft's text tells us this about Blizzard: "As a low-level strongarm employee of...Justin Hammer, Donnie was a foot soldier who followed orders for a paycheck. His education level [was] low..."

* In their conversation, Atlas and Photon introduce themselves to one-another, indicating that they have not had the opportunity to interact since Photon's return in TB2 6.

* Schoolcroft's text says that Radioactive Man is now being called "R-Man...on the Internet."

* When told that his government wants him to stay in the U.S., Chen Lu asks "What about Sinpei Ling?", and is told that "she will be brought to New York." As far as I know, this is the first time the character is referenced.

* Abe notes that "Warbird was able to get me some parts I needed for my MACH IV harness" (between TB2 6 and this issue).

* Melissa uses a whiteboard to communicate because her voice is still injured from the damage incurred in TB2 3.

Summary:

Brie Larmer provides narration for the recap page, summing up TB2 1-6. Brie interviews Dr. Schoolcroft and Seth Voelker about the Thunderbolts' heroic road to redemption. They are later joined by New York City police commissioner Raymond Kelly and U.S. Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice.

At Thunderbolts HQ (identified by narration here as a "hideout"): Radioactive Man analyzes Photon's "new energy spectrum." Atlas and Songbird watch Joystick interviewed on "The Today Show" by a man identified as "Al". Sanders and Gill go to a bar (although Donnie thinks it's a "little early") where they meet Herman Schultz, the Shocker, in civilian clothes (Sanders calls him "Schultzie"). Schultz offers Sanders a cut of a five-million-dollar job that he can't pull off without Speed Demon's help. MACH IV continues repairing his armor. Atlas talks with Photon, hinting around the "attack" from TB2 1 that Photon doesn't remember. Chen Lu visits the Chinese Consulate, whose members inform him that his government expects him to stay in the U.S. Songbird writes to Abe that she is dismayed by his use of von Strucker's money, and that the team "feels wrong." She leaves.

Purple Man listens to the TV interview and plots with the Swordsman.

---

NEW THUNDERBOLTS #8 - July 2005 (alternatively THUNDERBOLTS #89)

"A Shock to the System"
Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Penciler: Tom Grummett

Appearances:

Thunderbolts-
MACH IV (Abe Jenkins, armored as The Beetle)
Atlas
Speed Demon (also appears as the Whizzer)
Blizzard
Joystick
Radioactive Man
Photon (Genis-Vell)

Songbird
Photon (Monica Rambeau)

Batroc's Brigade -
Batroc
Machete (referred to by Batroc as "my new Machete")
Zaran

The Shocker
Dallas Riordan
Namor
two unnamed, uniformed Homeland Security agents
unnamed female hostage
various unnamed TV news reporters

Lt. Stone (voice only)

Notes:

* The action takes place over two days.

* The recap page is presented as a memo from MACH IV to Carol Danvers.

* Included in the recap memo is this new information: "...after [Abe Jenkins'] parole [in A/TB 6, Carol Danvers] and Dallas Riordan told [Abe] the CSA wouldn't be able to fund [his] new team..."

* Machete ("my new Machete," according to Batroc) says that "[Machete's] late brother called [Batroc] a master strategist" -- so this is, presumably, the brother of the previous Machete.

* Abe comments that his MACH IV harness "is still wonky [after being damaged in TB2 3], even with the parts Warbird got me."

* Narration tells us that Melissa "hasn't seen [Dallas Riordan] since the original T-Bolts broke up [in TB 75]. Last time they talked was months ago when Dallas offered her a job [no hard reference, but presumably after A/TB 6]."

* Melissa discovers that Dallas is back in her wheelchair, having lost her Vantage powers. This is revealed to be a side-effect of Atlas reclaiming his ionic energies in TB2 1.

* Shocker looks at a pile of money and observes, "This is better than Constrictor winnin' that lawsuit."

* Speed Demon knows about the Thunderbolts' money problems because "Strucker told [him about it] when he hired [Speed Demon] to spy on [the Thunderbolts]." This occurred some time before TB2 2.

Summary:

The Thunderbolts battle Batroc's Brigade, tripping over each other until Photon just fries the bad guys. One of the rescued hostages gives Speed Demon a kiss of thanks.

Thunderbolts HQ, "morning": Atlas, Joystick and Speed Demon hang out. Abe leaves messages for Melissa and tries to fix his MACH IV harness. Photon and Radioactive Man discuss the change in Photon's powers. Blizzard asks Radioactive Man for help in secretly tracking Speed Demon.

"Hours later", Speed Demon arrives at the Shocker's lower Manhattan apartment and they discuss the heist that Shocker first proposed in TB2 7.

At a Washington DC office of the Department of Homeland Security, Songbird is escorted by a pair of agents to see Dallas Riordan.

In New Orleans, Monica Rambeau overhears a TV report about the Thunderbolts fight with Batroc & co, and is startled to hear the codename "Photon."

Glen Cove, Long Island, "night": The Shocker and Sanders, dressed as the Whizzer, attempt to execute their break-in but are blocked by Blizzard. Speed Demon beats him up and leaves him hanging upside down in his underwear from a bridge.

"Later", at Shocker's apartment, Lt. Stone's voice warns Shocker to come out. Speed Demon zips through, snatching the stolen money -- and all other evidence -- and delivers the cash to the Thunderbolts. As Abe is pondering the source of the money, Radioactive Man is suddenly thrown through a wall -- by Namor!

---

NEW THUNDERBOLTS #9 - August 2005 (alternatively THUNDERBOLTS #90)

"The Count" [No title appears, but per Nicieza this is the title from the script]
Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Penciler: Cliff Richards

Appearances:

Thunderbolts-
MACH IV
Radioactive Man

Songbird
Purple Man
Swordsman
Janet, one of Songbird's classmates at ESU

Notes:

* The action begins at the end of the story, and the bulk of the issue is a flashback. The action appears to occur within a few hours. Oddly, Photon's and Songbird's scenes occur within what are otherwise presented as Chen Lu's memories; it might be fair to consider these scenes "present", and only the Chen Lu scenes as flashbacks.

* Radioactive Man provides large portions of the narration in this issue.

* The recap narration includes this curious exchange:
R-Man: " the original Masters of Evil, the Lethal Legion, the Titanic Three..."
Jenkins: "I didn't know you were with the Lethal Legion."
R-Man: "I very well might NOT have been, Jenkins. It all becomes a blur at times."
As far as I know, Radioactive Man has never been a member of a team that called itself the Lethal Legion.

* Radioactive Man narrates: "After my last...confrontation with Iron Man...I returned to China. I offered my services to the People's Republic."

* According to Chen Lu, Namor's attack at the end of TB2 8 occurred "last night."

* Namor explains how "several days ago, people in Atlantis started to take ill. It is a form of radiation poisoning ... and this plague was brought to Atlantis by Llyron." This occurred after TB2 5.

* When Blizzard comes on the scene (during the extended flashback), he explains that "he got hung up on the Throg's Neck Bridge."

* Monica Rambeau changes her codename to Pulsar.

Summary:

Radioactive Man narrates the recap page, reviewing his history all the way up to joining the Thunderbolts. His conversation with Abe Jenkins (in his repaired MACH IV harness) continues into the story proper. We are at the end of the adventure. Chen Lu explains that his actions (as Jenkins puts it, "the choice you finally made down there") are because of "the count."

A flashback, presented as Radioactive Man's memories, takes us to moments after the end of TB2 8. At HQ, Namor and R-Man fight while Speed Demon and Joystick battle Namor's troops. MACH IV tries to talk everybody down, then Atlas arrives and stops the fight by picking up Namor and Chen Lu. Namor explains that a radioactive plague, planted by Radioactive Man and carried by Llyron, is killing his people. Namor describes Llyron being captured by Atlantean soldiers, and a flashback-within-the-flashback shows this occurring.

Photon, Joystick and Speed Demon stay behind as MACH IV, Atlas and Blizzard join Radioactive Man and Namor in a submersible on its way to Atlantis.

Photon (Genis) spots Photon (Rambeau) on TV and flies off to meeting her. They argue about their conflicting codenames, then go to a bar where Rambeau settles on a new codename: Pulsar.

At Homeland Security, Songbird watches video footage of the scene from TB2 1 where Atlas attacked Genis. The angle does not permit her to see the attack directly, but she does see "a guy standing on the corner near all the commotion." He is identified as the Purple Man and Songbird gets a lead as to his whereabouts.

Arriving at Atlantis, the Thunderbolts meet Tamara Rahn who explains that "hundreds more have taken ill." Chen Lu cures the Atlantis citizens then, learning that Tamara is one of At'La'Tique's leaders (a mole for Namor), he irradiates her arm.

Grammercy Park: Songbird closes in on Purple Man's residence.

Flashback over, R-Man reveals that he sent a new radioactive poison with Tamara to contiminate the At'La'Tique. "The count" -- the number of people killed by R-Man's powers -- continues to grow.

Empire State University, Manhattan: Purple Man forces one of Songbird's dorm-mates, Janet, to call to Melissa. When Songbird opens the door she falls immediately into Purple Man's thrall. He orders her first to stop her line of inquiry, then to strip. While he's being all creepy, Swordsman runs him through from behind.

Flashback (main story)

Thunderbolts-
MACH IV
Atlas
Speed Demon
Blizzard
Joystick
Radioactive Man
Photon (Genis-Vell)

Songbird
Photon (Monica Rambeau)
Namor
Tamara Rahn
Purple Man
unnamed Homeland Security agents
various unnamed Atleanteans

Secondary flashbacks (within main flashback):
Llyron
various Atlantean soldiers

Llyron is manacled and marched by Atlantean soldiers. Occurs after TB2 6.

[metaldragon]

* Machete ("my new Machete," according to Batroc) says that "[Machete's] late brother called [Batroc] a master strategist" -- so this is, presumably, the brother of the previous Machete.

Unless... the new Machete is the brother of the old one, which means the old Machete called Batroc a master stategist?

[BobMM]

Unless... the new Machete is the brother of the old one, which means the old Machete called Batroc a master stategist?

Yes, that's what I was trying to say. Old Machete called Batroc a "master strategist" and current Machete is old Machete's brother.

For his sake, I hope that current Machete has a clearer understanding of the the definition of the phrase "master strategist."