Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Hawkeye contemplates his aim and whether he can make an impossible shot with an arrow. Commenting that's it's his fault and "If he misses, a good man dies. And if he makes it...a monster lives." while we see how everything built up to this point.
Gayle Rogers reports on the thunderbolts in a television program that leaves the question for the audience whether the thunderbolts are heroes or villains. This serves as a recap of the first 33 issues while showing Man-Killer finally figuring out that Erik Josten (Atlas) has been coming to the bar she works at. At the end of the television program Hawkeye makes a statement that the Thunderbolts are going to track down and take down the Incredible Hulk.
In the small town of Isolation New Mexico Bruce Banner watches on while people that the thunderbolts are going to take down the Hulk. He also notices someone from years back called Clay Brickford that the Hulk ruined his life and is talking about a new Roxxon project in the town for new jobs. Bruce vows he can't change into the Hulk in this town so he doesn't hurt the Brickfords anymore then he already has as the Hulk.
At the Thunderbolts base the team isn't overjoyed that Hawkeye has said there were going to track down the take down the Hulk thinking it will be a big risk. Jolt says it will be fun but Hawkeye reminds her that she and Charcoal have to attend school as that comes first. Hawkeye intends to kick-start the whole "Redemption Campaign" by taking down the Hulk the public will take notice since he's a real threat out there they really are concerned about. The Ogre disguised as Techno installs a gamma-radiation detector in the T-bird and thinks about why he's doing it. He's just happy that he has such a daily diversity of technological challenges and he's not exactly sure why he's doing it.
Meanwhile the Beetle shows up at a Roxxon Energy research lab outside of Denver Colorado and steals something that has just been completed from the facility called Omega-32 while proclaiming if anyone asks about who stole from Roxxon to say tell them it was the Beetle.
Back to just outside Isolation, new Mexico where Clay Brickford is concerned that the Roxxon project in the area is going to be suspended because the hulk is in the area and that the hulk is going to ruin his life yet again.
Later in town Moonstone confronts Bruce Banner in civilian clothes and tries to talk to him instead of getting into a fight, Hawkeye's plan A. It doesn't have a chance of succeeding as Bruce Banner runs bumps into Clay Brickford while attempting to leave. Clay ends up punching Banner, which ends up turning him into the Hulk.
 | The Thunderbolts engage the Hulk in battle while using a tactic of Hawkeye shooting an anaesthetic arrow at the Hulks head, Songbird surrounds Hulk's head with a sonic bubble and moonstone wedges two incendiary arrows into the sonic bubble in front of Hulk's face. The result being that the little oxygen left in the bubble depletes itself and the napalm gel ignites. Its not intended to burn the hulk but rather the oxygen remaining within the sonic bubble. |
This angers the Hulk quite a bit as he's been weakened and he lashes out in a desperate attack and knocks Atlas into moonstone which causes them to crash into the Roxxon Facility effectively turning the facility into rubble. Next the Hulk knocks out Songbird in another fit out rage only leaving hawkeye in a pile of rubble where he can't free himself.
The Hulk wanders off to higher ground on a near by building and finally turns back into Bruce Banner just as an enraged Clay Brickford arrives with a gun ready to kill Banner.
This brings scene brings everything back to the beginning of the story where Hawkeye has to make an impossible shot and decides on shooting Banner with an arrow to save him.
Clay tells Banner he's ruined the lives of thousands and Banner has nothing left to say except that Clay is right.
Hawkeye shoots off the arrow just as Clay fires the gun resulting in Banner getting the arrow in the shoulder knocking him off balance just out of the line of fire. He falls off the building and onto a truck headed out of the city as Clay watches and screams in either anger of guilt.
Moonstone recovers and rescues Hawkeye from where he is stuck as they take a look at the how bad shape they are in. Hawkey has a swollen wrist and maybe broken ribs while Songbird has a concussion. The thunderbolts don't peruse the Hulk thinking the cops are probably on their way, they have suffered enough in the battle and Hawkeye finally admits they failed.
The last scene is in a Coffee House in Burton Canyon where Charcoal has brought Jolt to talk with friends since Jolt still isn't into liking school that much and is still angry. Jolt's actually enjoying herself, as none of them know that someone has their target on them from outside with a gun. First aimed at one the others with Jolt and Charcoal, then at Jolts head, then at Charcoal.
"Rifle feels a little awkward not used to it. Which one do I choose? No choice really. When in doubt always go for the heart!"
Comments: There's a new writer on this series? It was that seamless the transition with writers between this issue and the last. All the plots that were going on before and still continuing and the series continues to move forward. Always nice when a writer does totally forget about almost everything that occurred in the previous writers run. They even have Kurt Busiek as Reading nervously in the credits but with this enjoyable issue there's nothing to be nervous about. There's even something from old continuity in the series with Clay Brickford with a reference to his appearance in the Hulk back in The Incredible Hulk #179. More obscure stuff I don't know what the series has always had and will still be continuing is great.
The recap at the beginning that was done wasn't long at all; not even full two pages but gave the basics on the first 33 issues. Now that Man-killer knows that has Atlas has been going to the bar where she works it should be interesting to see what happens the next time they meet up.
There was plenty on the Hulk in this issue almost like the Thunderbolts shared the title with him but it worked quite well and was enjoyable.
I guess a Techno with a sinister plan to bring down the Thunderbolts is out the picture now, as he doesn't have a clue why he's helping them in disguise. Two Thunderbolts who don't know why they're being so heroic I wonder if there's an another story to this. Techno did still act pretty evil impersonating Ogre though so will have to see where this goes.
Can the beetle look anyone like a big tank that is clunky and moves very slow? The design looks worst than the last issue but I can live with it. I guess the new Beetle outfit must be very strong otherwise it wouldn't be that big and would be a sleeker design, which would be nicer to see. Just who is in the Beetle armor though doesn't sound like Abe, and there always making a point to say I'm the Beetle or something similar. If it is him, he's stealing stuff from Roxxon for the Commission now? What would the Commission need him to steal for them? Maybe there's building something?
The tactics the Thunderbolts were using against the Hulk was interesting and much better than when they fought him better and more original.
Hawkeye finally fails, looks like its not going to be quite so easy for him as it has been in the past.
The last page was quite a shock where a letters page should have been, but one extra page of story is good. I guess its either Jolt, Charcoal or their friends that are going to be killed or put in the hospital next issue. If it is Jolt or Charcoal I'll be glad since they're the least interesting of the Thunderbolts to me. I look forward to next issue.
Thunderbolts and all associated characters are the property of MARVEL COMICS TM&©2003.