Thunderbolts #25
Saving the World!
The Masters of Evil have developed a weather control device that is now creating powerful storms all across the globe. In New York City, Thor and Scarlet Witch are trying to use their powers to get the storm under control as the other Avengers get people to safety.[1] Similar efforts are being carried out all over the globe: The New Warriors are aiding the people of Stamford, Connecticuit, X-Force are helping people in San Francisco, while the Union Jack works alone in London. In Irkutsk, Russia, the Winter Guard work to protect people from blinding sandstorms. While in Japan, Big Hero Six help people evacuate from torrential snowfall. Back in the United States the Lightning Rods help the citizens of Medina, Ohio get clear of massive tornados cutting through the region.
Meanwhile, the Thunderbolts have tracked down the Masters of Evil to their hideout, a facility hidden in Mount Charteris. There they are shocked to discover that the Masters of Evil have expanded their roster to a total of 25 super-villains including: the Crimson Cowl, Aqueduct, the Bison, Blackwing, Boomerang, Cardinal, Constrictor, Cyclone, Dragonfly, the Eel, Flying Tiger, Icemaster, Joystick, Klaw, Lodestone, Man-Ape, Man-Killer, Quicksand, Scorcher, Shatterfist, Shockwave, Slyde, Sunstroke, Supercharger, and Tiger Shark![2] The Crimson Cowl commends the group that she personally gathered, and recounts how they constructed weather control devices all over the world to pull off this stunt. Soon, she tells them, they will become masters of the world.
Not far away, the Thunderbolts are still astonished by the turn out of villains. Although the Crimson Cowl also tried to recruit them, they had no idea of the scope of her master plan.[3] Hawkeye figures their best bet at stopping the Masters is to destroy the central computer operating all the weather control devices. He quickly comes up with a plan: He instructs Moonstone to present herself to the Masters of Evil, claiming that she left the Thunderbolts to join up with them. Clint chose her because Karla is one of the least trustworthy members of the group. Moonstone takes offense to this, but she is more upset that Hawkeye pegged her correctly. Since they don’t have any better ideas, she decides to go through with it.
As Moonstone circles back to go in through the front entry, she wonders how she get into a position where she needs to save the world. She thought being a Thunderbolt would only involve taking down small time crooks. Putting her life on the line for the entire world is not what she signed up for. Karla then thinks back to her childhood, remembering how her parents worked as servants for Charles Stockbridge, an Oscar award winning actor. Karla’s days were spent entertaining Stockbridge’s daughter, Deanna. Karla resented the Stockbridge’s and their wealth and Deanna in particular because she never wanted for anything. However, Deanna was stupid and easily manipulated, which Karla took full advantage of. Tragically, Karla’s life changed drastically after her father dropped dead of a heart attack at age 42. When offered a home on the Stockbridge estate, Karla’s mother refused to accept any charity and they moved out on their own. Over the years, Karla’s mother slaved away at three jobs at a time in order to save up enough money to make sure her daughter had everything she wanted and went to the best schools. When Karla graduated with a degree in psychology, her mother was so proud. Karla on the other hand saw everyone with nothing but contempt from that day on.
However, now she has made a strong connection with the Thunderbolts, she doesn’t exactly want to leave them either. She then phases back into the Masters of Evil’s headquarters where she announces her intention to join. The Crimson Cowl is surprised that she was able to find them but orders Moonstone shackled and locked in a cell while they decide to accept her or not. Soon, the Bison, Quicksand, Constrictor and Shockwave are escorting Moonstone down to her cell. Along the way, the four villains bicker with one another over what they will do when their plan succeeds.[4] Karla smiles knowing that there is dissention in the ranks, something she might be able to exploit later.
Elsewhere, Man-Ape has wandered off and is fuming over his current inactivity. All he wants to do is return to Wakanda and destroy his eternal enemy, the Black Panther. That’s when Atlas reaches out and grabs him from the shadows and beats the Man-Ape into unconsciousness.
Locked in her cell, Moonstone continues thinking about her past. She recounts how after she graduated she began a private practice but deemed it not enough.[5] She then studied under the criminal psychologist Doctor Faustus, learning every under handed trick he knew.[6] From there, she used her psychology skills to steal the Moonstone from Lloyd Bloch and usurp his identity. This led to a clash with the Hulk, a battle that she lost.[7] Realizing that she was better off being part of criminal organizations, Moonstone had stints with the Corporation, and on two rosters of the Masters of Evil.[8] The last time she was arrested an incarcerated in the Vault, Moonstone decided that she was going to serve out her sentence so she could restart her criminal career with a fresh slate. This was denied to her when Baron Zemo orchestrated her breakout from the Vault. Now a fugitive facing a longer sentence, Sofen had no choice but to join up with Zemo when he reformed the Masters of Evil and reinvented them as the Thunderbolts, a new team of superheroes secretly bent on world domination.[9] Still thinking she needs to work for an organization, she questions if that should be the Thunderbolts. That’s when she noticed that someone left the keys to her power dampening shackles on the ground and wonders if this is some kind of test.[10]
Meanwhile, the Thunderbolts take out Shatterfist, the Constrictor, Lodestone, and Joystick so they can steal their costumes and blend in with the other Masters of Evil.[11] Their disguises aren’t entirely perfect, but good enough if they keep their distance. The Thunderbolts then join the rest of the Masters of Evil in the central control room. That’s when the Crimson Cowl launches the entire room — actually a massive ship — so they can continually change their position until their demands are met. That’s when the Cowl opens a communications channel with the President of the United States, the Secretary General, and an Ambassador. She tells them that she will only stop the powerful storms if the governments of the world agree to pay her massive ransom amount.
This prompts the Thunderbolts to try to find a way to shut things down. However, they are spotted by Moonstone who recognizes her teammates even though they are disguised. She decides to use this to her advantage and calls Flying Tiger over to her cell and asks to speak with the Crimson Cowl. She then rats out her teammates, leading to a battle between the Thunderbolts and the entire Masters of Evil. Fearing that her control computer will be destroyed in the ensuing battle, the Cowl takes measures to prevent this. Ordering Sunstroke and Dragonfly to guard her, she launches the computer in a smaller escape ship. She takes Moonstone with her as ratting out the Thunderbolts convinced the Cowl that Karla is trustworthy. However, Sofen is still struggling with who she wants to be and who she was in the past. Remembering Deanna Stockbridge and all the innocent people who are in danger right now, Karla decides that she wants to stay with the Thunderbolts after all. She doesn’t know why she is suddenly concerned for others, but feels that it is the right thing to do. Using the key to unlock her shackles, Moonstone then ambushes Sunstroke and Dragonfly, then blasts the control computer, destroying it.
By the time Moonstone has landed the escape ship, the Thunderbolts have just finished putting down every last member of the Masters of Evil. With the battle now over, the team then unmasks the Crimson Cowl and are shocked to discover that it is their former ally, Dallas Riordan![12] When Atlas tries to question her, Dallas tells him that she has nothing to say and tells them to call the cops.
Later, the Thunderbolts set up shop in a new rented cabin for the night. That evening they watch the news reports about how they stopped the Masters of Evil. Clint is pleased to see that the media is presenting them a little better and with less suspicion. He commends the team on a job well done and proposes a toast. While everyone else is celebrating, Karla is deeply concerned about why she felt compelled to save the world and who left the key for her to find.[13]
Recurring Characters
Thunderbolts (Hawkeye, Moonstone, Songbird, Atlas, Jolt, Charcoal), Citizen V, Masters of Evil (Crimson Cowl, Aqueduct, Bison, Blackwing, Boomerang, Cardinal, Constrictor, Cyclone, Dragonfly, Eel, Flying Tiger, Icemaster, Joystick, Klaw, Lodestone, Man-Ape, Man-Killer, Quicksand, Scorcher, Shatterfist, Shockwave, Slyde, Sunstroke, Supercharger, Tiger Shark), Deanna Stockbridge, Union Jack, Avengers (Thor, Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man), New Warriors (Night Thrasher, Nova, Turbo), X-Force (Domino, Cannonball, Sunspot, Warpath, Siryn), Winter Guard (Steel Guardian, Darkstar, Vanguard, Powersurge), Big Hero Six (Silver Samurai, Baymax, Hiro Takachiho), Lightning Rods (Mister Immortal, Flatman, Doorman, Dinah Soar)
Continuity Notes
The Scarlet Witch mentions how she just recently learned to control a new aspect of her hex powers. She is referring to Avengers (vol. 3) #10-11 when she used her powers to will Wonder Man back to life.
A footnote offers a prize to the first reader who can name the first appearances of all 25 supervillains in the Masters of Evil. So why don’t we do that?
Crimson Cowl: The new Crimson Cowl first appeared in Thunderbolts #3.
Aqueduct: Originally the Water Wizard, Aqueduct first appeared in Ghost Rider (vol. 2) #23. He started calling himself Aqueduct in New Warriors #7-9.
Bison: Made his first appearance in Thunderstrike #13.
Blackwing: Debuted in Daredevil #118.
Boomerang: Got his start way back in Tales to Astonish #81.
Cardinal: First appeared in New Warriors #28.
Constrictor: Slithered his way onto the scene in Incredible Hulk #212.
Cyclone: The third individual to take on the Cyclone name, he also first appeared in Thunderbolts #3.
Dragonfly: Made her first appearance as part of the Ani-Men back in X-Men #94.
Eel: The second man to carry on this mantle, the Eel first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #92.
Flying Tiger: FT got his start in Spider-Woman #40.
Icemaster: Now this is an interesting one. Icemaster was originally featured in a Hostess Fruit Pie commercial in the 1970s. At the time, Marvel licensed their characters to advertise the product in comics. In a story titled “The Icemaster Cometh”, the villain fought the Human Torch. The ad first appeared in Avengers #191. However, per Spider-Verse #1 and the Spider-Geddon Handbook #1, these ads took place in an alternate reality designated Earth-51914. That makes Icemaster’s first appearance on Earth-616 being last issue.
Joystick: Made her first appearance in Amazing Scarlet Spider #2.
Klaw: First sounded off in Fantastic Four #53.
Lodestone: First came on the scene in Darkhawk #7.
Man-Ape: Debuted in Avengers #62.
Man-Killer: Started man hating in Marvel Team-Up #8
Quicksand: First appeared in Thor #392.
Scorcher: Made his first appearance in Untold Tales of Spider-Man #1.
Shatterfist: Fist appeared on the scene in Thor #440.
Shockwave: Came from Cybertro— no, not that one… He actually appeared in Master of Kung Fu #42.
Slyde: Slipped his way into our hearts in Amazing Spider-Man #272.
Sunstroke: First cropped up in West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #17.
Supercharger: Is chronologically Spider-Man’s first super-villain, appearing in Amazing Fantasy #17.
Tiger Shark: First appeared in Sub-Mariner #5.
3. The Thunderbolts were propositioned in Thunderbolts #18 and turned down the offer in issue #20.
4. The Bison states that all he wants to do is make enough money to be restored to his human form so he can be a good husband to his wife Shamari. Per Thunderstrike #13-14, Billy Kitson was a pro-basketball player who was injured during and retired out after only one national game. He allowed Seth to mutate him in to the Bison in an attempt to steal SHIELD’s supply of Inferno 42 in exchange for having his humanity restored. The Bison later turned on his comrades Quicksand and Mongoose and helped Thunderstrike and Luke Cage foil that plot. Shamari was his girlfriend prior to being mutated and the pair reconnected after the Inferno 42 was secured.
5. For more on Karla Sofen’s unsatisfying career as a psychologist see Thunderbolts #-1.
6. Karla worked for Doctor Faustus in Captain America #192.
7. She tricked Bloch into giving up the Moonstone, stole his identity, and fought the Hulk in Incredible Hulk #228-229.
8. Moonstone went on to work for the Corporation in Incredible Hulk #231-232 and Captain America #230, she served on Egghead’s Masters of Evil in Avengers #222 and 228-230, and later on Baron Zemo’s incarnation of the team in Avengers #273-277.
9. Moonstone was liberated from the Vault in Thunderbolts Annual 1997.
10. In Thunderbolts #33 we’ll discover that the person who left the key for Karla is the former super-villain known as the Ogre. Who lives in the secret passages in this hideout dating back to his days as a member of Factor Three in X-Men #28.
11. Songbird reminds everyone how swapping costumes worked with the Lightning Rods. After the Thunderbolts defeated them, they stole their costumes in order avoid being apprehended by SHIELD. See Thunderbolts #16.
12. Dallas was originally the Thunderbolts’ liaison for New York City’s mayor’s office back in Thunderbolts #2. When the team was outed as former criminal in issue #10, Dallas took the fall and found herself out of a job by issue #15. Although this story presents her as the Crimson Cowl, this is actually a fake out. Dallas has secretly been masquerading as the new Citizen V, as we’ll learn in Thunderbolts #38. Citizen V was knocked out last issue and the real Crimson Cowl swapped places with Dallas at the end of this battle. The true identity of the Crimson Cowl, that she’s Justine Hammer, will be revealed in Thunderbolts #67.
13. Karla is being influenced to do the right thing by her Moonstone as it channels the memories of the heroic warrior Ajes'ha, who previously weilded the Moonstone centuries earlier. See Thunderbolts #45-46.
Topical References
The original twin towers of the World Trade Center are depicted as part of the New York City skyline in this story. This should be considered a topical reference due to the fact that they were destroyed in a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 and subsequently replaced with the Freedom Tower.
The Crimson Cowl’s ransom is for 1 trillion dollars. Adjusting for inflation, this would be worth 1.7 trillion in 2022 money.
The televisions in this story are depicted as CRT models. This should be considered topical as this is an obsolete technology.
