Random Happenstance

I didn't read these when they came out, and I'm not really running them down now, but another random one from the quarter boxes: from 2007, Thunderbolts #113, "Faith in Monsters, part four" Written by Warren Ellis, art by Mike Deodato.

Hmm, we saw the next issue some time back, and this really feels like a slow burn--or writing for the trade a bit. The post-Civil War Thunderbolts were the government sponsored answer to superheroes and unsanctioned vigilantes, and today their boss, Norman Osborn, checks in on "Penance," the former Speedball, Robbie Baldwin. He had survived the disaster that set off the War, and had lost his team and seemingly his will to live. Osborn almost seems to be trying to reach him, although that's likely because he doesn't want a suicide on his watch. His next meeting is with the Swordsman, former half of Fenris, currently pitching a little fit since he was waiting for a clone of his dead sister. (I didn't think his identity was revealed that soon; I thought it was teased out longer: Penance too.) Osborn shuts that down, not taking any crap from Eurotrash. Moonstone is unexpectedly more understanding with Swordsman, and maybe even Osborn: "...he's on quite a lot of medication, you know."

Moonstone had arranged for Norman's meds to be either combined for adverse reactions, or outright placebos; and figured it was just a matter of time until he lost the reality knob. They might have to kill Songbird, though; to make sure Moonstone be put in charge, and thus be in place to keep Swordman's clone-sister project going. But short-term, the T-Bolts had a new mission: bring in Oliver Osnick, aka the Steel Spider. Who longtime readers might have remembered as the spectacular Spider-Kid! He had lost some weight and was pretty hardcore now; although he doesn't seem like he was going to be anywhere near a match for the team. Osborn wants the T-Bolts to go in broad daylight and kick the teeth out of Spider-Man on live TV...I mean, Steel Spider. A slip of the tongue, that Norman keeps making. Songbird briefly questions where Bullseye was; and is told he gets a separate briefing: he wasn't a T-Bolt, he was their "safety net." Meanwhile, in his apartment, watching the news about the unmasked Peter Parker, Oliver works on his arms, which seems to be the addition of a revolver. That seems a little low-end, but maybe it'll work out for him. (Nope!)