News Archive

December 16, 2001

November 14, 2001

November 6, 2001

August 13, 2001

August 10, 2001

July 20, 2001

July 14, 2001

June 2, 2001

May 25, 2001

May 22, 2001

May 15, 2001

May 14, 2001

May 12, 2001

May 7, 2001

April 29, 2001

April 15, 2001

March 31, 2001

March 18, 2001

February 19, 2001

Thunderbolts #49 is featured in the Marvel Spotlight for this week.

February 17, 2001

February 13, 2001

Thunderbolts fans best sock away a few extra pennies in preparation for May. In addition to issue #52 of the series, that month there’ll also be a special 48-page one-shot ("flowing out of and back in to the monthly title, but self-contained as well") entitled Thunderbolts: Life Sentences, by regular series writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Charlie (Double Image) Adlard.

Explained Nicieza, "Without being able to give too much away, since there is a very specific reason the special focuses on the characters it does - and to tell you who the characters are would give away some important surprises for the coming months - I will say that the special is something lots of readers have been asking for - a breather. We focus on the civilian lives of four characters and the deceptively simple choices they have to make for their futures. But even simple choices could have longer-term ramifications."

"Four individual story vignettes centered around one theme: small choices, big decisions," the writer continued. And Charlie Adlard does a really nice job telling the story and capturing the mood. I think regular T-bolts readers will love the story`s tone and curious new readers will look at four very interesting people making some interesting character choices."

January 29, 2001

"That being said, the silent month device fits perfectly into a story and climax of a subplot development I had already planned to do in the title featuring Songbird.

"And it will be -- as I hope are all issues of the book(s) I write -- an 'important' story. Which will be recapped the following month should you choose to skip it."

December 20, 2000

December 15, 2000

December 14, 2000

December 9, 2000

Thunderbolts writer Fabian Nicieza provided a few details about Thunderbolts #50, the double-sized issue shipping in March.

"Well, we will resolve all of the issues surrounding the secrets of Scourge, who his bosses were and why they wanted him to kill the T-Bolts," Nicieza said. "Said revelations will create a whole new host of problems for our happy cast of characters, and some of the answers require further investigation, which will be conducted by Citizen V in the CVB Limited Series starting a few weeks after T-Bolts #50! Nice when a plan comes together, isn't it?"

Thunderbolts #50 will be the last issue for artist Mark Bagley, who will focus on Ultimate Spider-Man. Nicieza said that Patrick Zircher, who drew Thunderbolts #45 and #49, will become the regular artist as of Thunderbolts #51.

The mini-series Nicieza referred to is Citizen V and the V-Battalion, a three-issue series that starts in April and will be drawn by Cable artist Matt Ryan. "The first batch of pages have come in and they look really, really slick," Nicieza said. "Should be a fun series."

The mini-series' hook?

"When someone is trying to take over the world, what's the best alternative, stopping them, or usurping the methods being employed so that YOU can take over the world yourself?" Nicieza said.

"Or, to put it another way, let's say you've been fighting the good fight for 50 years, what would you do if a ready-made solution to creating peace on Earth presented itself to you - and all it required is... compromising your ethics... just... a... little... ?"

November 22, 2000

- Moonstone/Spirit possession
- Hawkeye`s lies about the Commission on Superhuman Activities
- The truth about Jolt`s death
- Techno`s reasons for staying hidden among the TBOLTS
- What happened to Ogre?
- More hints about who (or what) is in the 1st Biocontainment Chamber (this is a subplot carryover from Kurt`s run that I have gone on record as saying NO ONE will EVER guess who it is!)
- Who is SCOURGE?
- Why is SCOURGE?
- And who is behind SCOURGE!
- Who did the V-BATALLION want CITIZEN V to assassinate
- What happened to DALLAS RIORDAN (CITIZEN V)?
- What will the TBOLTS have to do in order to gain redemption?
- Who are the REDEEMERS?"

There is also quite a long list of things to be dealt with after issue #50 in Thunderbolts dealing with a lot of character related material, things such as biocontainment chamber #1, a trip to Latveria to try to rescue Dallas Riordan and more.
The news concludes with information on the upcoming Citizen V and the V-battalion that comes out in April with Michael Ryan as the artist.

October 20, 2000

October 17, 2000

October 1, 2000

September 17, 2000

As reported in the last edition of the Comic Wire, penciller Mark Bagley won't be leaving Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Spider-Man" after six issues after all.

He went into a bit more detail after the story went to press as to why he hadn't initially committed to a longer run.

"The project was first presented to me as a six issue limited series, and I was planning on leaving at the end of that run," Bagley told the Comic Wire on Thursday. "Once they started talking about making it ongoing series I was ambivalent about staying on. After all, I've done a lot of Spidey over the years. But I've since reconsidered and I'm going to stay on for awhile.

"One thing I want to say is that I'm not crazy about the 'Ultimate' tag line, I don't have that big an ego. I'm willing to admit that I am getting a guilty pleasure out of redesigning all these classic characters, it's fun to put my take on these guys. It's a real compliment to have been given this job and I'm really trying to do the best that I can at it."

A small article on Thunderbolts and future issues at the Comic Reader

A limited series called Avataars that starts in July mixes the marvel universe with fantasy it has a particular villain that looks familiar, its on the cover of Avataars #2 for August. You will see what I mean by familiar taking a look at the cover.

Information detailing another between the Avengers and the Thunderbolts with spoilers for future issues at anotheruniverse.com

6 pages of Thunderbolts # 39 in black and white are on-line for viewing at Comics Continuum.com

A small review of Thunderbolts # 39 the 100 page monster from black and white previews at Psycomic.com

According to Avengers writer Kurt Busiek Hawkeye and Songbird will indeed be in the Avengers annual that comes out in May. While in June, a 4-part story begins in Avengers that will crossover with Thunderbolts by its end. Here's what Marvel.com had about the Avengers annual.

From yourman@marvel: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST... CORPSE?! I told you a couple of months ago about Hawkeye's quest in March's THUNDERBOLTS 2000 Annual, and that the story would continue into the Annual of the Earth's Mightiest Heroes... but now I can tell you how! May 10 will see the release of AVENGERS 2000, which will be written by ongoing AVENGERS writer Kurt Busiek and penciled by Norm Breyfogle, who penciled THUNDERBOLTS 2000 (see how it all fits together?). Picking up from the T-Bolts adventure, an Avenger has returned from the realm of the dead... but it also looks like they brought a supernatural evil along with them! Who has the angry archer brought back to life? And how is it all related to AVENGERS #11? Both Hawkeye and the T-Bolt known as Songbird will be on hand with the answers. Hey, if AVENGERS FOREVER revealed that Songbird would become an Avenger in the future, is this the first step? And will this plant the seeds to this year's rumored AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS crossover? We'll all find out in May when we snag the Annual with the sweet cover by AVENGER FOREVER's Carlos Pacheco!

Marvel: THUNDERBOLTS # 39 is 100 pages! That's a lot of T-Bolts. How much of that is yours?
Fabian Nicieza: The lead story is the standard 22 pages. But there's a bunch of backup stories-reprints that tie in to the events of the storyline, or showcase the major characters. There's Hawkeye's first three appearances-as a villain-which have hardly ever been reprinted. There's a story from LUKE CAGE where Luke and Erik Josten (a.k.a. Atlas) fight for the name of Power Man-really mature way to handle things!

M: So tell us about the main event.
FN: The main event is our mystery villain revealed, and a fight with Baron Zemo to the death! It should be a sheer pleasure for [penciler] Mark Bagley to draw, because it's two characters slugging it out in Zemo's stronghold for just about an entire issue! The mystery villain pulls out all the stops in the battle and fans will see a much more physical Zemo than what they're used to. It seems that his time as Citizen V has taught him a lot about being a better fighter.

M: So how do the other Thunderbolts fit in?
FN: Just long enough to titillate and infuriate the readers for one more month after the cliffhanger we're leaving them in #38!
M: SO by the end of the following issue (#40), I understand there will be a few big mysteries resolved?
FN: Well, at the end of #38, we reveal who Citizen V is... and the readers will either be thrilled or furious that they don't get the full story behind it in #39. But then, what happens at the end of #39 will only whet their appetite even more for #40, where the full, true story may or may not be told. But fans should rest assured, that identity of the second Citizen V-which has been a long-running subplot in the book-will be resolved once and for all.

M: You've been reunited on THUNDERBOLTS with your old NEW WARRIORS cohort Mark Bagley. Is it like old home week, or is there a different working dynamic this time around?
FN: It's old home week in a really good way. Mark's always been one of my favorite artists to work with; he's a total professional, an incredibly gifted, underrated storyteller. When Mark's drawing a book, a writer never has to worry about covering up lots of art with word balloons. He's also an excellent costume designer-wait'll you see the look for the new mystery villain!

From yourman@marvel: THE 100-PAGE MONSTER STRIKES THE THUNDERBOLTS! Recently, I told you about the new 100-Page Monster format to be introduced in AVENGERS #27), and promised that it would romp its way through the Marvel Universe. I can now reveal that the Monster will appear next in THUNDERBOLTS #39! First up in this bargain-priced bonanza is an all-new 22-page story by the regular creative team of Fabian Nicieza, Mark Bagley, and Scott Hanna... but nothing's regular about the tale itself! The mysterious shooter who killed a T-Bolt back in issue #34 at last stands revealed and his next target is Baron Zemo! Meanwhile, the team grapples with another shocking twist concerning the true identity of Citizen V! Then, in keeping with the 100-Page Monster package, we're adding four complete reprints directly related to the characters of the title. In this case it's the entire criminal career of Hawkeye! Almost thirty years since they've last been printed, we're dusting off the Iron Man stories from TALES OF SUSPENSE #57, #60, and #64 (by the truly talented team of Stan Lee and Don Heck), which feature the first three appearances by the arrogant archer back during his days as the Black Widow's villainous partner! For all those fight-fans out there, we're also including the battle for the "Power Man" codename that was waged between Luke Cage and Erik Josten in POWER MAN #21! It's new twists and turns for the team and a look back at classic moments in the lives of Hawkeye and Atlas as the Monster strikes again April 19!

There is a commentary on Fabian Nicieza's first issue of the Thunderbolts as writer for # 34 at Comic Book Resources for the Pipeline column on 12-17-99.

Fabian's Secret Mission
New 'Thunderbolts' writer Nicieza promises espionage, surprises

Can you keep a secret? New Thunderbolts writer Fabian Nicieza sure can, and it's a trend he promises to continue on the book that has readers on the edge of their seats with a fine mixture of deception, espionage and surpise.
"In the first few issues we'll have a couple of goodbyes, a return hello and a double cross," Nicieza said. "We'll also have a funeral."
The T-Bolts scribe admits a team member's gonna bite the dust at the end of November's issue # 34, but in keeping with the tone and style established by creator Kurt Busiek, the identity of the victim-and the motives behind the death-will remain a mystery.
"The entire book is predicated on surprises, disguises and revelations," Nicieza said. "A lot of it involves juggling several subplots, mysteries and identity secrets all at once."
One such secret involves the new Beetle, who made a brief cameo in issue # 33.
"By issue # 37, all questions of who is in the armor, how, why, when, where...the questions regarding the Beetle, Abner Jenkins and the Commission on Superhuman Activities-a lot of them will be answered," Nicieza said.
And while he pledges to continue "every single subplot" Busiek had going in the book, Nicieza promises to bring more new twists to the title to introduce new sources of conflict to the team.
I want Hawkeye to make a mistake that calls into question his leadership," he said. "And in my first few issues, a secret will be revealed to one member the will also go a long way to putting Hawkeye in a little bit of hot water with the team."
Those issues involving the ex-Avenger will create a sense of uncertainty among his teammates, a situation made even more perilous by the possibility that someone's trying to hunt the T-Bolts down.
"We've also got a very important decision for Citizen V," Nicieza said, hinting the hero's choice could have far reaching ramifications for the team.
"All that'll be in the first few months," Nicieza said. "But I can't go too far without giving things away."
Sound like he's got that T-Bolts mystique down pat.

From Yourman@marvel: THUNDERBOLTS FACE HELLISH QUESTIONS! The observant among you will recall the mysterious message that the briefly resurrected Mockingbird had for her husband Hawkeye in AVENGERS #11. Writer Fabian Nicieza is among those who remembers, and he will use that as the kick-off question as Clint Barton and Hellstorm launch an assault on the Netherworld of Mephisto in THUNDERBOLTS 2000. At risk in this 48-page Annual is the soul of the brash bowman's dead wife, but will the T-Bolts brave eternal damnation to help their leader? And if they do, what bargain will they have to make to obtain passage across the threshold between life and death? And if that's not enough high-stakes drama for you, then pick up THUNDERBOLTS # 38, which will finally reveal the true face of Citizen V! We've teased it before, but this time the mask comes off for real! This installment kicks off the "three-issues, three gun-shots" story arc that will rock you not once, not twice, but three months in a row!

Yourman@marvel From YOUR MAN @ MARVEL: A NEW THUNDERBOLT STRIKES! Many readers have been wondering what Fabian Nicieza, who will soon take over the writing reigns of THUNDERBOLTS, has up his sleeves. Remembering the twists and turns that made his run on NEW WARRIORS such a treat, I would bet that he's not going to make life easy for Marvel's most misunderstood team. Not only will the group face a turning point in THUNDERBOLTS # 37, they'll also meet a fresh face! It seems that the only hope the squad has in helping their former teammate Abe Jenkins is to bring down the new Beetle and blackmail the Commission. But will Hawkeye compromise his morals to save his friend -- and will his partners discover that he lied about the Commission's pardon? And just who is the new T-Bolt that's introduced. Answers -- and more questions -- await us on February 16!

An Interview with the new writer of the Thunderbolts Fabian Nicieza about his future plans for the title is at Psylum, Inc.

New Thunderbolts writer Fabian Nicieza promises that the story of Zemo and the, female Citizen V will not soon go away. And what connection does a mysterious new T-Bolts villain have to Zemo? "The running villain through the first year [of Nicieza's run] will mark the return of one of the most requested villains in the Marvel Universe-and one of the most logical to have an interest in the T-bolts," says Nicieza. "But it is a new version of that villain."

An Interview with Mark Bagley current artist of the Thunderbolts is at Collectortimes

Thunderbolts: Good news for Thunderbolts fans:A fan is writing the book. "I've loved the book right from #1!" exclaimed Gambit veteran Fabian Nicieza, who takes over with November's Thunderbolts#34. Nicieza will be reunited with artist Mark Bagley, his old New Warriors partner, who remains on the book. "I have many ideas of what I'd like to do based on what Kurt has already done."
Following up those ideas should be easy, as Busiek is handing Nicieza extensive notes of where the book was heading. "I'll probably follow 80 to 99 percent of what Kurt was up to, because I really like most of it," Nicieza promised. But he'll also carve his own path. "I'm going to increase the tension factor a bit," Nicieza said. "Hawkeye-much as I love the character-has been too perfect. He's been batting 1.000, but he'll strike out with the bases loaded and shake the team's confidence in him as a leader."
Nicieza also promises the gradual return of an old villain in a story arc that bridges almost all the way to Thunderbolts#50. "So I'm in long-haul," he said. "There's no shortage of stuff here. Kurt had a thousand things percolating."

What's Gonna Happen:The current storyarc sees Archangel and Machine Man guest star as the 'Bolts take on Graviton. When last we saw him, the Thunderbolts convinced Graviton he was a loser, a villain without a purpose. Well, he went out and got one, and the team ain't happy about it! It's a stroyline chock full o' subplots and secrets.

Down The Road:Come Augest and September, Busiek will reveal more about new 'Bolts memeber Charcoal's origin, as the villains who set him up on the wrong side of the law become central to the story. It's all part of a cool conspiracy that'll spell troubvle for the team. And in October, Abe Jenkins(a.k.a. Mach 1) returns in a way fans ain't expecting.

The Inside Scoop:Busiek and company have been dropping hints that something weird's going on-things ain't what they seem at Thunderbolts headquarters. Look for all that to get addressed in Thunderbolts#33. Plus, rumors are a-flyin' that Toy Biz may be hard at work on Thunderbolts action figures. Unfortunately, nothing has been offically announced as of yet.

"Ultron, Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil, Kang, Attuma and the Zodiac Gang are among the villains, and a continuing Wonder Man story arc will be featured in the first season of The Avengers animated series on Fox Kids."
The summary for the third episode with the Masters of Evil is just below.

COMMAND DECISION
"Assigned to guard a shipment of highly dangerous government weapons, the Avengers' mission is complicated when Baron Zemo and his Masters of Evil try to steal the cargo. To make matters more difficult, Captain America comes on the scene, leaving Ant Man to work out his leadership issues while still focusing on the job at hand."

Espisode Guide from Comicbook Continuum

The Cover for Masters of Evil #1 one is now in the previews section along with the short preview on it from down below.

When Marvel revists the Heros Reborn Universe this November in a 3-week long "publishing event" entiled Heros Reborn: Doomsday, one of the one shots to appear will be Masters of Evil#1. Which I thought deserved mention here because of the Masters of Evil connection with the Thunderbolts even though this event might not have anything to do with them.
On sale the second week of November on 11/10/99 Masters of Evil #1 - Joe Casey/Charlie Adlard.
Not merely a story about a team of super-villains, but instead a moody crime noir tale that exposes readers to the new Chicago...a city that has responded to the tumultuous world around it by letting the criminals run the show. Chicago is their town.
But it's not enough. In a tale of back-stabbing ambition and darkly comedic twists and turns, the book follows the Black Knight and his criminal cadre as plans are set in motion that will ensure them a prominent position in the new world order alongside its "savior", Doctor Doom.
How do super-villains interact when there are no heroes to oppose them? And can this small cast of crooks, lowlifes and con-men truly become Masters of Evil?

An article on Kurt Busiek leaving and Fabian Nicieza as the new writer at Comicbookresources

Another article on Kurt Busiek leaving the Thunderbolts with Thunderbolts # 33 in November at Mania

Contest of Champions II # 2 (of 5) Chris Claremont/Oscar Jimenez Let's get ready to...hey, don't sue us, Michael Buffer, but our heroes are about to rumble! The Human Torch faces off against the brand-new Spider-Woman! Atlas, of Thunderbolt fame, takes on Storm! Plus: Iron Man is trapped in the wasteland-like bowels of the alien's arena ship-- where he uncovers the fate of the heroes that lose their battles! As the champions square off, the plot unfolds--and things are revealed to be not what they seem!