Post by goldenfist on Mar 13, 2008 8:31:15 GMT -5
After a thunderously good last issue (sorry, bad pun), it stands to reason that Thunderbolts would cool down just a bit. But I'm putting heavy emphasis on that "just a bit," because issue #119 uses its page space to set the rest of the story arc up to be absolutely spectacular and, more importantly, continues to prove why Warren Ellis's Thunderbolts is the single best team book on the stands.
The imprisoned incarnations of old Scourge of the Underworld victims Mindwave, Mirage, Caprice, and Bluestreak continue their mental assault on the Thunderbolts, which has been one of the juicier subplots lurking around the title in recent issues. As with last issue, there's a fun air of suspicion around each character concerning their actions and whether or not they're being controlled. This issue has some pretty kinetic action scenes and they're rendered beautifully. This could be some of the best work I've ever seen out of Mike Deodato, Jr. And best of all, there's also enough evidence in this issue to suggest that - without directly giving it away - we'll see Norman do more than sit behind a desk in the coming issues. A note to all comic creators, this is how you capitalize on slow-burn subplots.
I find it amusing how skillfully Ellis switches character roles and exploits readers' emotions. It's established that roughly half of the Thunderbolts are ugly, hardened criminals, and the other half began their superhuman careers that way, aside from Penance. Even in this issue, readers could rightfully be disgusted by Swordsman, Venom, and Moonstone. But yet, I find myself simultaneously rooting for the Thunderbolts as the Scourge prisoners prey on them, and I'd really like nothing more than for one of the T-Bolts to figure them out and brutally murder them. That is the beauty of this book at its core, it's the sociopathic cousin at the Marvel Thanksgiving dinner table that the other straight-laced titles can't stop staring at.
I'm really searching for things to say about Thunderbolts that I haven't already. It occupies a very unique and important spot in the Marvel publishing catalog and it's easily in the top two or three best books that they currently put out. At this rate, the Ellis/Deodato Thunderbolts should show up on many favorites lists for years to come.
Review Score: 9.4 Outstanding
The imprisoned incarnations of old Scourge of the Underworld victims Mindwave, Mirage, Caprice, and Bluestreak continue their mental assault on the Thunderbolts, which has been one of the juicier subplots lurking around the title in recent issues. As with last issue, there's a fun air of suspicion around each character concerning their actions and whether or not they're being controlled. This issue has some pretty kinetic action scenes and they're rendered beautifully. This could be some of the best work I've ever seen out of Mike Deodato, Jr. And best of all, there's also enough evidence in this issue to suggest that - without directly giving it away - we'll see Norman do more than sit behind a desk in the coming issues. A note to all comic creators, this is how you capitalize on slow-burn subplots.
I find it amusing how skillfully Ellis switches character roles and exploits readers' emotions. It's established that roughly half of the Thunderbolts are ugly, hardened criminals, and the other half began their superhuman careers that way, aside from Penance. Even in this issue, readers could rightfully be disgusted by Swordsman, Venom, and Moonstone. But yet, I find myself simultaneously rooting for the Thunderbolts as the Scourge prisoners prey on them, and I'd really like nothing more than for one of the T-Bolts to figure them out and brutally murder them. That is the beauty of this book at its core, it's the sociopathic cousin at the Marvel Thanksgiving dinner table that the other straight-laced titles can't stop staring at.
I'm really searching for things to say about Thunderbolts that I haven't already. It occupies a very unique and important spot in the Marvel publishing catalog and it's easily in the top two or three best books that they currently put out. At this rate, the Ellis/Deodato Thunderbolts should show up on many favorites lists for years to come.
Review Score: 9.4 Outstanding
