“Don’t worry, kids. It’s the abandoned district of New York. Because there totally is one.”
Thunderbolts #5
Marvel Comics (August, 1997)
“Growing Pains”
WRITER: Kurt Busiek
PENCILER: Mark Bagley
INKER: Vice Russell
COLORIST: Joe Rosas
LETTERER: Dave Lanphear
EDITOR: Tom Brevoort
The Thunderbolts decide to take a day off, which doesn’t last long when the benefactor of the “new” Masters Of Evil launches the Growing Man on New York to destroy them. The robot is a servant of Kang, which it is determined to find no matter how much death and destruction it causes. “Citizen V” tries to use this opportunity to gain immediate access to the Avengers files under SHIELD custody but that doesn’t work out when the others are able to stop the Growing Man, sending out a huge burst of light or energy before vanishing. Meanwhile, one of the Fixer’s pals may be thinking something is up and Citizen V confronts the mastermind of all this, Baron Von Strucker of Hydra, warning him not to attack the Thunderbolts again or suffer the consequences, which also gives Von Strucker some hints of who the Thunderbolts might be.
What they got right: I like how Jolt handles being recognized on the street and watching Meteorite’s manipulations. MACH-1 and Songbird make a cute couple and I have to feel sorry for Atlas knowing what’s coming with his relationship with Dallas.
What they got wrong: Making Jolt an Avengers fangirl works for the situation, but then why go to the Fantastic Four for help instead of her favorite heroes? She didn’t know any of them had “died” (or a fate worse than death–Rob Liefeld). I’m probably just nitpicking.
Recommendation: I still very much enjoy this series. It’s really worth checking out.
BW Media Spotlight 