Writer: John Arcudi
On a late night sports radio show Rey Trueno is the special guest. Through this interview on the show some of his history. Trueno had successful sporting goods store, eventually ending up the Camden City Council and successfully promoted a failing New Jersey Franchise. When something possibility shady is brought up in Trueno's history, Trueno says what really happened or things it's a shame what happened after he left.
In a gym Daniel is training as Coach Cady gives him advice and talks about him being in the world championship. Daniel has improved him skills and stamina with the assistance of the coach but still doesn't like him for what happened at the tavern before when they fought. Daniel leaves the gym with Lydia who's just arrived so they can go out and have a drink together.
When at home Daniel plays with boy while his mother asks what he going to do when his boy wonders about what Daniel does for a living. Daniel then gets into a discussion over the way he makes his money and that there are other ways to make money. Daniel tells his mother that he has his self respect back and that he's in control.
The phone rings and its Rey Trueno he wants Daniel to come down to the Limbo tavern right away since he needs to talk to him because its important. Daniel says his son is more important and he will go the tavern in an hour when his ex-wife will pick up his boy. Trueno is annoyed but still knows how to correct the problem.
Arriving at the Limbo tavern Trueno gives Daniel his advance money for the world championship fight and then asks him to quit his job so he can be completely committed to the underground fighting league. Daniel is reluctant to do that mentioning his parole officer and early release program that he has with Griswold Construction who he works for. Trueno isn't impressed with what he hears and talks the advance money from Daniel back and leaves.
Coach Cady talks to Daniel as he prepares for his world championship-fighting match. Trueno walks in to see him and mentions that Daniel quit his job and that there's a hundred thousand if he wins the fight. As Daniel leaves to go ring he meets his parole officer. Daniel starts trying to explain things but Trueno mentions, "Every man he's got his vices -- and he's got his prices."
Daniel then questions coach Cady about the games Trueno has been playing with him like quitting his job. Cady says to see if Daniel would take the risk and as a show of loyalty. Daniel wonders about that and makes his way to the ring surrounding by a big and rowdy crowd.
In the ring Daniel faces a tall and large opponent called Slag who is announced as the Ultimate Brawling Champion of the World. Daniel avoids his opponent's attacks and slows wears him down attacking when he can eventually winning the fight.
Later with Lydia in his car he stops to get his cell phone in the locker room. In the alley near the door there's someone huddled in a cloak asking for spare change. Daniels holds out some money as they congratulate and Daniel notices its Armadillo among the trash cans.
Comments: Much like Thunderbolts #78 I found this to be better than the first two issues of the new direction. I have to laugh at the introduction page now when I see it. First it said, "Welcome to the new Thunderbolts." Where were the new Thunderbolts? I didn't see a group, character, or even place named Thunderbolts. That name is so totally unrelated. Then this issue the introduction page has changed to "Who are the real Thunderbolts?" No one is going to find that out in this issue that's for sure. Or maybe there's supposed to be something in this issue that is the "real" Thunderbolts and the first seventy-five issues were just the 'fake' Thunderbolts a jab at the old readers. Nothing like that here in this issue either. Even if a reader didn't know the past of the title and found out who the real Thunderbolts were it wouldn't help them with the way the title is now. It's so silly with the totally unrelated things put on that page. If there's one thing I can hope for next issue to look forward to it's if the introduction page is changed to something else silly next month. < p> There's some information this issue about Rey Trueno. Finally some background on this guy that's in the beginning of this issue in a talk show segment so the reader will know where he's coming from. If there was going to be some history on any of these characters I kind of expected the name of the title to show up here but that's all right that it didn't do that. At least some background was given.
Daniel decides to quit his job for the underground fighting league and then there's the problem of his parole officer. It's a situation that's easily handled. I'm not entirely sure I liked how it was done. It was an easy way to wrap it up but at least that's tied up. There won't be any trouble coming from him.
Daniel still thinks he controls things and the fact that he still thinks about things if they are good or bad makes him more a likeable character then he was when he was first introduced. He tells Trueno to wait for an hour because he's with his son and later questions is there's anyone good left in the world. He hasn't completely gone to one extreme or the other.
This issue concludes the first storyline of the new direction and I think I've finally become used to the title. The characters, the locations, and other things about the title seem familiar and I know what's going on. The stories are certainly okay I enjoy them to a certain degree but I'm not that interested. I never feel the need to know what's going to happen next. I don't look forward to the each new issue so I'm just waiting until the end at this point since the title is getting cancelled. There are plenty of other better titles that I would rather read so it's a blessing. I must admit that I'm a bit interested with Spider-man being in next issue but that's just because I like the character. I wouldn't go out of my way to get the next issue if I wasn't already reading it just for Spider-man though.
Thunderbolts and all associated characters are the property of MARVEL COMICS TM&©2003.