Justice, Like Lightning: THUNDERBOLTS Appreciation

[Kieran_Frost]

An APPRECIATION of Everything THUNDERBOLTS

[FROM WIKIPEDIA] The Thunderbolts were first presented as a group of superheroes like the Avengers, both to readers and to the Marvel Universe, who became heroes to help protect the world when the Avengers were declared dead after the events of the 1996 "Onslaught" crossover. However the final page of the first issue of their comic book revealed that the Thunderbolts were the Masters of Evil in disguise, a surprise twist carefully guarded by Marvel.

FOUNDING THUNDERBOLTS
LEADER: Citizen V [Baron Helmut Zemo]
[SUB]: Meteorite [Dr. Karla Soften, M.D.]
Atlas [Erik Josten]
Fixer [P. Norbert Ebersol]
Mach-1 [Abner 'Abe' Jenkins]
Songbird [Melissa Gold]

[FROM WIKIPEDIA] Themes of redemption and the nature of heroism are often featured in Thunderbolts comics. In subsequent storylines, the group rejects their leader Baron Zemo and attempts to become heroes in their own right, eventually under the leadership of the Avenger Hawkeye. The book has also garnered critical praise for its use of secondary characters from other Marvel Comics and its use of continuity-themed storytelling.

The Thunderbolts was an original concept created for Marvel Comics by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. Most of the characters used in the final concept were reimagined versions of existing Marvel characters, with additional original characters for the series developed by Busiek and designed by Bagley. The pair also created the new heroic identities for the Masters of Evil. Busiek recalled:

The actual origin of Thunderbolts came when I used to live in New Jersey and drive to New England to visit my parents. To keep myself awake, I'd give myself books to write, and work out about two to three years of continuity. One trip, I assigned myself Avengers, and came up with the plan that the Masters of Evil would ultimately conquer them by posing as new heroes and slowly replacing them. At the time, I thought it was a neat idea, and filed it away.

The Thunderbolts first appeared as a team in The Incredible Hulk #449 (January 1997), written by Peter David and illustrated by Mike Deodato. Originally intended to be a similar team known as the "Echelon," the synchronization of the plans led to the Thunderbolts being used instead as a "teaser" for their own series. No mention was made of the connection between the Thunderbolts and the Masters of Evil in this appearance, save perhaps for the Hulk almost recognizing Meteorite's voice (having fought Moonstone before). The twist would not be revealed until the first issue of their own series.

THUNDERBOLTS #1


[FROM WIKIPEDIA] While the Thunderbolts (now on the run from the law after being unmasked as Masters of Evil) Val Cooper had gathered her own army of heroes she named the Redeemers.

REDEEMERS
LEADER: Citizen V [John Watkins III]
the Beetle [Leila Davis]
Fixer [P. Norbert Ebersol]
Scream [Angar the Screamer]
Smuggler [Conrad Josten]

[FROM WIKIPEDIA] The Redeemers helped the Thunderbolts battle Henry Peter Gyrich (the "mastermind" behind Scourge), who had acquired experimental nanite technology. Gyrich wanted to use the nanites to kill off all heroes and villains on Earth. Gyrich's scheme was foiled. It was soon revealed that he had been infected with nanites, and had been secretly manipulated by Baron Strucker of the terrorist group HYDRA. Hawkeye tried to use this information as blackmail to get the Thunderbolts pardoned. Gyrich countered that he would tell the public himself about HYDRA's scheme. Ultimately, Gyrich agreed to stay quiet and give the Thunderbolts their pardon. In return, Hawkeye turned himself in for aiding the fugitive heroes. Hawkeye went to prison, and the team disbanded.

THUNDERBOLTS #50


"TIMEBOLTS"
LEADER: Fixer [P. Norbert Ebersol]
[SUB]: Centurius [Dr. Noah Black]
Boomerang [Frederick "Fred" Myers]
Man-Thing [Dr. Theodore 'Ted' Sallis]
Mister Hyde [Dr. Calvin Zabo]
Moonstone [Dr. Karla Sofen]
Satana Hellstrom
Troll [Gunna Sijurvald]

THUNDERBOLTS #163


LEADER: Red Hulk [Gen. Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross]
Deadpool [Wade Wilson]
Elektra [Elektra Natchios]
Ghost Rider [Johnny Blaze]
Punisher [Frank Castle]
Red Leader [Samuel Sterns]

N.B. this is NOT an Appreciation thread for the "Fightbolts"; who have little to nothing to do with the series, and who all true Tbolts fans ignore with disdain and disgust!