Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Eventually the Fixer locks onto Barnes location using some of Dr. Doom's technology. The fixer then recalls having his neck snapped by one of the Elements of Doom. He later awoke in his bionutrient gel tank thanks to Baron Zemo's help. The tank had restored the Fixer's health and Gyrich met him when the tank was opened. Now Fixer has to be a hero or his tech-harness will shut down his own neural net.
Once the Rikki discovers that four of the Redeemers have found them, Rikki gets another member of the Young Allies, Toro to cause an avalanche.
In Burton Canyon, Abe goes to his first day of work at Kingman Elektroniks, while Melissa looks for a job of her own. She finds a store that is hiring and wonders what she should do, and ends up stealing a necklace.
Back in Latveria, four of the Redeemers recover from the avalanche and attack Toro and Rikki. Toro covers for Rikki as she tries to set up the biochemical weapon. Captain America stops Rikki before she gets the chance.
In the capital of Latveria, Doomstadt, Dallas kidnapped talks to Dr. Doom about politics.
At Seagate Prison, other prisoners shout comments to Clint Barton as he goes to meet someone. Dum Dum Dugan, an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D meets with Clint on unofficial business.
In Latveria, Captain America tries to convince Rikki to surrender. She doesn't and ends up using Captain America's shield to break the seal on the gas canister. Rebel tries force a resolution to the conflict by shooting Toro. The bullet doesn't phase him as Captain America says the he doesn't remember Rikki from Counter Earth but if he ever taught her, he would have never taught her to do something like releasing a deadly gas. Rikki doesn't take kindly to Cap's lecture. Rikki tells Cap about Counter Earth and what happened after all the heroes left. She has to blackmail Doom into giving medical supplies and food to the people of Counter Earth.
Rikki finally releases the container of gas but it is inert. Cap is surprised but Rikki knows she wouldn't do something like that and only wanted to make Doom think she would. Rikki and Toro leave through a portal created by one of their other members on Counter Earth and says that because Cap called her bluff now Doom wins.
Captain America rethinks what has just happened and he reports to Doom what happened with Rikki. Cap lies saying that there are other hidden canisters that are ready to go off if he doesn't give the people of Counter Earth basic necessities. Doom wonders if Rikki would do that, and if he can really risk his country on Earth.
The Redeemers fly off in a helicopter as Jolt and Charcoal ask Captain America about lying to Dr. Doom
"Something even worse than lying, Hallie...playing politics...and making hard choices."
Comments: A conclusion to the first Redeemers adventure led by Cap. There's a lot of focus on the Redeemers, the Young Allies from Heroes Reborn, and a bit of Dr. Doom.
This was another solid issue. Much like the previous issue, with hints and things being dropped all over this issue. The Thunderbolts continue their regular lives in snippets. This time three panels on Clint instead of a focus on Karla. One sacrificed for the other, as space is a little tight.
I liked the Redeemers more this issue than the last issue as I become more familiar with them but they still need to be fleshed out more, plus they can't compete with the Thunderbolts. Jolt and Charcoal are okay but they were the least interesting of the Thunderbolts.
I enjoyed the appearance by the Young Allies this issue probably more so because I picked up their Heroes Reborn one-shot. I don't think they will really show up anywhere again, and that doesn't bother me. My interest level is just average for Counter Earth. I like hearing about Doom ruling a world and the concept of it more than anything.
Captain America has served as an okay leader for the Redeemers so far. The team still doesn't seem all that well together, and some are really there against their will, but there isn't any serious conflict. Cap hasn't done much to mould them into a good fighting unit usually he's the one bringing the team up to par. Things became a little sloppy with the seal of the canister being broken open, Rebel shooting a bullet into Toro, and gas from the canister being released. I'm glad that Rikki made Cap rethink his actions and he came up with a solution. A solution involving him having to lie to Doom, something I usually don't see him doing to solve anything.
Now that this 'tying up old Thunderbolts business' is out of the way maybe they can get into a few of their own adventures, or some of their characters will be explored. Maybe after that the Redeemers can deal with some of the ramifications of what the Thunderbolts did before. I'm not quite sure, the Redeemers are not as interesting as the Thunderbolts so maybe they need time to be explored to bring their interest level up. This adventure wasn't absolutely amazing so maybe I don't want to see them tackle more Thunderbolts business because I'll get the same feeling. I would rather that the Thunderbolts tackled some left over threads some how; they are doing great on their own though. It will have to the right mix for the Redeemers that are still getting settled in. I hope Citizen V will add a little bit of a spark too.
One thing that is dropped this issue in the background is Jolt thinking about a house in Symkaria that borders Latveria. She wonders if its one of Silver Sable's bases. The house is out in the open hanging over the river but I guess there have been no strange happenings there for anyone in Symkaria to become suspicious.
As soon as Jolt thought about it, I took a look at the house and didn't really recognize it, but why would the she mention something like this? Locations are not mentioned for any reason at all. So I was curious what the title would be doing with Silver Sable, until it hit me when I looked at the house again. There was the same outstretched platform from the base. I knew it had to be from the Crimson Cowl. Better idea where Citizen V fought the Crimson Cowl now and could be signalling more Crimson Cowl appearances. I didn't think the house would be touched on.
What happened to the Fixer is revealed. Nothing is ever left hanging as its revealed the Fixer's body was put in a bionutrient gel tank. The way things are shown in this panel it's looking more likely that the footprint discovered by Techno was the Fixer's. Funny, Techno found his own footprint. It's quite a bit of time between the scrub of Zemo's castle and when the Fixer is introduced as the last member though so maybe the mysterious footprint or what happened to the Fixer is not entirely tied up yet.
Fixer's character has also changed instead of being the cocky person he once was now he just pretends to be that way. It's an interesting change that will go along with knowing that Techno, a robotic version of himself could learn to do something heroic. Fixer is not exactly on the team because he wants to though and if he could he would get far away from them I'm sure. Looks like the idea of fixing his soul will follow a different path but with the human Fixer instead of a robotic version this time, if it will be as interesting it will be worthwhile to watch.
Charcoal's bizarre behaviour continues again this issue. He keeps on doing strange things but this issue its not evident in his actions but in what he says. He likes the Young Allies methods so he wants to switch sides? Uh...okay, instead of being more violent now he does this, something has really got to him switching from one extreme to the other. All these little bits about him have been building for some time and I hope the pay off is better the when the first time the Imperial forces of America/Secret Empire appeared.
I was a little surprised to see Hawkeye in prison at Seagate. Abe went there but I thought a former avenger would be in nicer place and not with super villains that might want to get even. The similarities are definitely evident between Abe's deal in prison and Hawkeye meeting with Dum Dum Dugan of S.H.I.E.L.D. Is he going to get a deal as well? I hope not. If he does get something I want it to be really different than what happened to Abe. With Hawkeye at least there wasn't publicity about his arrest so he wouldn't have to hide in the outside world if he was released on a deal.
Gyrich catches wind of a deal and its game over. Dugan could have just been there to ask Hawkeye about something on official business but there's not much evidence at this point.
I do wonder what would happen if the media finds out Hawkeye being in prison. There are inmates and staff at the prison that could get word out that Hawkeye is there. That would leave the media wondering why an Avenger was put in jail so secretly, maybe the CSA would provide enough reasons, something for a future story perhaps.
Doom is a joy when written right, and his scene with Dallas was good. Doom always deals with politics. Where will Dallas go from here now the Redeemers have rescued Dallas? Will the CSA care for her awhile? Will she look around the Mt. Charteris and discover Ogre or other secrets that no one has been able too. Does Dallas know what the V-battalion has been up to, and that she has been replaced in her role as Citizen V. Her character will continue to evolve.
I'm really looking forward to Thunderbolts: Life sentences more than anything else. A whole issue to focus on the Thunderbolts personal lives instead of just getting snippets in their own title. Since I've enjoyed their small bits a lot this should be great, and I can't wait to see more of Karla with her new client Graviton.
For now the Redeemers are a weaker team. The original fixer being brought back to the team is a plus but he's exactly the same as he was before, and I was used to Techno. I just can't help but remember how many characters have been killed and resurrected in the title recently when I see the Fixer. Atlas being an Ionic being doesn't help that and will make this out to be a further joke. The identity of who is the Beetle armor looks promising. One of these days plenty of characters will have to get together and exchange facts if they don't find out through other channels.
Thunderbolts and all associated characters are the property of MARVEL COMICS TM&©2003.