Justice, Like Lightning

"Justice, like lighting, should ever appear
To few men's ruin, but all men's fear."

A blog dedicated to everyone's favorite team of villains-turned-heroes, the Thunderbolts.

New to the Thunderbolts? We have a reading guide here.

Just saying, Kate Bishop seemed to be a lot more satisfying.

Just saying, Kate Bishop seemed to be a lot more satisfying.

22 hours ago on May 22nd, 2013 | J | 20 notes
VIA | SOURCE
nightwing890: I feel that there is quite a bit of truth to this. #marvel #comics #thunderbolts #change #power #world #better

nightwing890:

I feel that there is quite a bit of truth to this. #marvel #comics #thunderbolts #change #power #world #better

4 days ago on May 19th, 2013 | J | 12 notes
VIA | SOURCE
whittingtonb: Tiny Troll. More Troll! :D

whittingtonb:

Tiny Troll.

More Troll! :D

1 week ago on May 10th, 2013 | J | 9 notes
VIA | SOURCE
knightwing: Thunderbolts #8 It’s like they’re on a date.

knightwing:

Thunderbolts #8

It’s like they’re on a date.

2 weeks ago on May 8th, 2013 | J | 4 notes
VIA | SOURCE

Thunderbolts Writer Daniel Way Exits, Charles Soule to Step In

Daniel Way: Issue #11 will be -- for the foreseeable future, at least -- my final issue of the series. As often happens in this business, another project that I'd been shepherding along for several years finally lined up and, knowing that a second opportunity may never come along, I made the tough decision to step away from "Thunderbolts" in order to pursue it. It wasn't easy, but it had to be done. Thankfully, Jordan has facilitated the transition incredibly well and I couldn't have been happier when he landed Charles for the fill-ins. This "Thunderbolts" series and the themes it set out to explore were always meant to play against a global tapestry, and Charles, with his background, experience and blatantly obvious talent, is one of the few writers out there who can not only keep that going but take it to the next level. Frankly, I hope he sticks around.
In any case, while Jordan is free to pass along any or all of the proposed developments he and I have discussed for the future of the series, it's ultimately up the next writer to do as he or she sees fit -- I'd never presume otherwise. I felt the same way when I handed "Ghost Rider" off to Jason Aaron who, while he did keep some of the elements I'd introduced, basically did his own thing. And that turned out pretty well!
Jordan D. White: Dan has done a great job on the series so far, and I think he's set up the characters, the team and the entire direction of the series in such a great way that there are lots of great directions the series can take from here. Of course I will miss having him on the book and working with him, but I'm also pumped to see what happens when the baton gets passed. We're going to reveal the new ongoing creative team with issue 14, but for now, I am really glad to have Charles coming aboard for two issues. He's written some really terrific books at other comic companies, and it's good to have him joining the Marvel family.
Charles, how does it feel to be on your first Marvel book? What made "Thunderbolts" a compelling assignment for you?
Charles Soule: Well, obviously it feels pretty fantastic. Marvel has an amazing library of characters, and it's hard not to get excited about taking a few of them out for a spin. "Thunderbolts" in particular is fun for a few reasons: First, it's a team book, so I get to play with a bunch of toys at once. Second, Punisher and Elektra! They're both stone-cold killers, but each arrived at that point along a different path, and the way they approach their "callings" is almost in total opposition to each other. Elektra's an assassin, Frank's on a crusade. There are plenty of cool Thunderbolts right now (Deadpool and Friendly Leader are also pretty great), but it was the chance to write Punisher and Elektra that perked me up right away.
Before we get to what Charles has planned, let's talk about some recent developments in the book and Dan's final issues. The revelations at the end of the first arc about the Leader's brain and all the knowledge it held suggest that Samuel Sterns is going to be a big part of "Thunderbolts." Dan, what made you want to explore the character in such a big way?
Way: Basically, my fascination with the character stems from a question I asked myself about him early on: If Leader is no longer an evil genius, is he also no longer evil? Immediately, before I had an answer for the first question, a second occurred to me: "What would happen if he were to get the genius part back?"
Since I'm handing the book off to another writer, I think that's really all I can say on the subject. But I'd be shocked, frankly, if Leader didn't play a large part in the future of this team of Thunderbolts.
So let's talk a little bit about the Leader's current state. He seems eager to please the other members of the Thunderbolts and make connections with them. So he's not his old arrogant self, and the more he concentrates on things, the more his nose bleeds. This suggests to me that something is wrong with his brain and that Ross dosing him with gamma radiation did not completely undo the damage the Punisher's shot to the head in the series first arc had wrought --
Way: Think about it: He's been kidnapped, operated upon, murdered, reborn and now has a gamma-irradiated brain that's seemingly taken on a life of its own. Taking all of that into consideration, is the onset of Stockholm Syndrome really all that surprising, especially with this group of Thunderbolts as his captors? I mean, seriously -- what's he gonna do?
In issue #7, we learn that some of the Leader's knowledge of gamma radiation was used to create a gamma-powered battery, and on the final page, we saw that the battery was being used to power a legion of Crimson Dynamo suits. How much more dangerous are these suits with that power source?
Way: The shortest and best way to answer that question is with another question: How much more dangerous did gamma radiation make Bruce Banner?
Those suits and their mysterious boss appear to be the antagonists for this second arc of "Thunderbolts," but the solicits suggest that when the Thunderbolts aren't battling outside forces, they'll be battling each other.
Way: It's a war on all fronts. External developments of the present aside, there were things that happened on Kata Jaya that have fractured basically all relations within the team -- and I'm not just talking about the Punisher/Elektra/Deadpool "love triangle." Mercy, whom no one but Red Hulk (and, possibly, Leader) knows is a member of the team, slaughtered a group of innocent freedom fighters right in front of Venom. That's not something he's gonna let slide. Thematically, this arc explores the thin line between "crusader" and "terrorist."
"Red Menace," the second arc, comes to a close in issue #11, and then Dan hands things off to Charles. Charles, what's it like picking up this book? What's your initial goal with your debut issue?
Soule: One good thing here is that I was already reading "Thunderbolts" -- it's a great title. That bit you referenced earlier -- the "shot to the head" moment (and Deadpool's reaction to it) -- was an absolute favorite of mine. I do believe I laughed out loud. So, I was already familiar with the cool stuff Dan's been doing. One neat thing about the assignment is that I got to read everything in advance, so I know where "Red Menace" is going (and you're going to like it).
There are a few threads to pursue when "Red Menace" ends, and my particular goal in my first issue will be to follow one of them to its end. I don't want to say to much about it, but it's a perfect opportunity for a done-in-one issue where a character gets to do what he (or she) does best. Mostly, I want to tell a fun story that's true to the groundwork Dan's already laid down and the characters as he's developed them. I want to make a good comic, in other words.
The solicit info I receive suggests that your "Thunderbolts" issues will spotlight various members of the team, starting with the Punisher. Which aspects of his character are you especially interested in exploring?
Soule: So much for my attempts at mystery in my last answer! You're right -- my issues will delve a little deeper into individual members of the team, and the first one's focused on Punisher. I love Frank. I think he's one of the most deeply developed characters in the Marvel U, especially after what Garth Ennis and Jason Aaron have done with him. First of all, he's old. He's not one of these young characters still getting used to having their powers. Whether your personal version of Frank Castle is a Vietnam veteran or not, he's clearly meant to have been on his crusade against crime for a long time -- decades. Doing something for that long, especially vigilante murder (not to put too fine a point on it) means your initial reason for starting along that path has become almost irrelevant. Frank doesn't kill criminals for revenge -- he does it because he has to. He's got what I see as a classic case of OCD, except, instead of washing his hands over and over again, he has to find bad guys to murder.
I wanted to play with that a little bit. His target in the story is someone with a lot of finesse and subterfuge, and seeing that type of approach go up against the brute force that is the Punisher seemed like it would be neat to see. 

In issue #13, you put the focus on Mercy, one of the team's more mysterious members. Will we see things from her perspective in this issue? And if so, what's it like writing things from her perspective? Is Mercy as simple and direct as her stated motivations of helping people die? Or do you think she's driven by something more complex?
Soule: Mercy is very interesting. There's a lot of room to move with her, because very little is written in stone. Her origin, power levels, motivations -- all open to debate. In fact, we don't even know how Red Hulk has managed to get her on the Thunderbolts in the first place. Mercy is a nuclear bomb-level threat. She doesn't have to do anything she doesn't want to do. That being the case, why is she working for/with Red Hulk at all? What does being on the Thunderbolts provide her that she couldn't get for herself? Answering some of those questions is exactly what I plan to do with my second issue. I won't give you everything, though. Mercy definitely seems like one of those characters that would be diminished if we knew all there was to know about her backstory. She should be Vader, not Anakin.
Will you get a chance to focus on any other team members?
Soule: That's still a bit up in the air at the moment, but I've always loved Deadpool (in no small part thanks to Dan's killer run on the main "DP" title). He's more than just comic relief -- although he's very good at being comic relief. I see him a bit like a really fantastic bass player in a city with a big music scene. He gets to play shows with bands all over town, but he rarely gets to be the frontman. I'm pushing this metaphor past its breaking point, but let me just say that I think the second-stringers are always a little more interesting than the guy at the front of the stage.
The current version of the Leader is truly fascinating as well -- eventually, he's going to have to come to terms with what he was versus what he is -- and that should make for one hell of a story.
Will your issues feature an arc in the traditional sense? Or are they more interconnected one-offs?
Soule: They're one-offs that directly call back to plot elements from the first two arcs of the title. They're designed so that you don't have to know anything that's happened previously in "Thunderbolts" to understand what's going on, but you might get a bit more out of the stories if you have. You can do a lot with twenty pages, and I'm trying to pack as much into each issue as I can. Books ain't cheap these days, you know?
What kind of antagonists are you interested in pitting the Thunderbolts against?
Soule: Ultimately, the Thunderbolts biggest enemies are themselves. These are all people who have a habit of getting in their own way due to their particular obsessions or trauma. That's why it's so fun to throw them against each other and see the sparks fly. To use a Star Trek analogy (since I already used up my Star Wars allowance), the Mirror Universe version of the T-bolts would be a group of well-adjusted, happy guys and gals who just want to do their jobs and do them well. Hmm, now that I mention it, having them tangle with a team like that could be a blast.
Who will be handling art for your issues?
Soule: You know, I'm still busy scripting away, but Marvel has such an amazing stable of artists that I have no doubt whoever brings the pictures to my issues is going to make them sing. As with any comic story, it's the pencillers, inkers, colorists and letterers who really make it all work. If anything, we writers just get in the way.
White: Actually we're very happy that our original artist for the series, Steve Dillon, will be back to draw the Punisher issue. Steve did a great job setting the tone on the series, and the Punisher is a character he is so closely associated with, it seemed like a no-brainer to give him this issue.
We've talked about the current and immediate future of "Thunderbolts," so let's close by looking further down the line. Jordan, Dan and Charles -- can you offer up any hints or teases as to what awaits the team at the end of summer and perhaps the beginning of fall?
Soule: Thrills, chills, spills and (at least in the Punisher issue) kills!
White: Surprises, betrayals, new members--there's going to be a lot to look forward to.
Way: I've read Charles' first script, and you won't be disappointed.
For my part, I'd like to simply thank everyone for picking up the book, and I encourage you to keep reading -- I know I will!
3 weeks ago on April 27th, 2013 | J | 5 notes
VIA | SOURCE

alittlekreeinme:

Do you remember that one time…

When Moonstone used Hawkeye’s underwear to get teleported into HELL?
(I didn’t get those from the Mansion storage.)

When Moonstone ate lunch with the Scarlet Witch and ASKED her for help?
(She told me I sounded kind of heroic.)

When the Thunderbolts traded favors to get Amora AND Pluto to get help?
(But I didn’t get to meet my crush Amora.)

image

Yep. That happened. Wanda’s hair looks lovely.

I’ve never read this one. I really ought to.

3 months ago on January 26th, 2013 | J | 4 notes
VIA | SOURCE
Blondes… “Man, I hate this guy.” Agreed.

Blondes…

“Man, I hate this guy.”

Agreed.

3 months ago on January 26th, 2013 | J | 3 notes
VIA | SOURCE

theairtightgarage:

Today is apparently Colorist Appreciation Day, according the comics internet. In case there were any questions about creative legitimacy concerning the role of the colorist in comics, look at this comparison above. The first image is from the original release of Jodorowsky and Moebius’ The Incal, colored by Isabelle Beaumenay-Joannet. The second is from the atrocious recoloring for a 2003 re-release, which was also released in the states under a partnership with DC Comics.

Beaumenay-Joannet’s colors are simple and elegant, allowing the fullness of Moebius’ line to come through, and the space and loneliness to be felt. The recolored page, with all of its gaudy textures and gradients, destroy all of that. My eyes are way too busy processing all that muck to notice the line and composition of the page, and it all falls apart on me. You can see more examples in this post by Joe McCulloch, where he breaks down a bit the coloring history for The Incal(I had no idea that Yves Chaland only colored the first chapter of until I first read this).

The value of colorists: sort of a no-brainer.

The clouds seem particularly amateurish in the second version; their mottled coloring has nothing to do with the shape created by the line art, and appear to be included because “clouds are supposed to be lumpy, right?” The additional clouds added to the sky background clutter the emptiness of the first panel, and give the effect of a ceiling, rather than an endless expanse.

Here’s another example of what I found to be poor coloring which I noticed recently, in issue #1 of the new Thunderbolts.

Ignoring, for once, my own personal distaste for Dillon’s style, consider the gradient used for the wall behind Ross, which is brightest at the top and then uniformly diffuse towards the bottom. This gives the setting — the site of a very recent assassination — an oddly domestic feeling, as if we were in an apartment with fluorescent ceiling lights (my own walls look very similar).

The colors chosen for the wall and the characters’ skin are also very close, making them look like they blend into their surroundings despite the heaviness of the lines in which they’re inked. Thematically, these are characters that don’t belong here and who travel to dark places; they should stand out as the bright points of interest in this panel. This is sitcom lighting.

Meanwhile, here’s a good job of coloring.

I didn’t really appreciate until I began color-sampling this for a doodle, but Mel’s blue outfit here isn’t actually blue — it’s green, to give her the warmth she needs to stand out against the cool slate palette of the background of this dream. Her gold carapace also has very little gold; its shadows are a warm mauve. Abe, who is also part of the dream, wears a suit that has a palette much closer to that of the background.

The gradients take their cue from the direction of the light implied by both the background and the inking, and the shadow of Abe’s head cuts a clean, but not jarring, line against the curves of Mel’s face. The lines added by the colorist on Abe’s cheeks and Mel’s jaw give definition while still making their skin look natural, while the first example emphasizes features already indicated by the line work, making Ross and Elektra appear lumpy.

3 months ago on January 24th, 2013 | J | 162 notes
VIA | SOURCE
rexsploded: Best of Comics 2012: Thunderbolts/Dark Avenger “Breakfast Club” moment

rexsploded:

Best of Comics 2012: Thunderbolts/Dark Avenger

“Breakfast Club” moment

4 months ago on January 17th, 2013 | J | 11 notes
VIA | SOURCE
comicsnapshots: Deadpool asking all the important questions as usual. The man knows where his priorities lie.

comicsnapshots:

Deadpool asking all the important questions as usual.

The man knows where his priorities lie.

4 months ago on January 12th, 2013 | J | 23 notes
VIA | SOURCE