Lockdown

The Thunderbolts just foiled a world ransom plan orchestrated by the Masters of Evil. This has led to the arrest of 25 super criminals. Although this poses problems following the destruction of the Vault, the Thunderbolts’ actions are praised by law enforcement, the media, and even late night talk show hosts.[1]

Meanwhile, the Thunderbolts have returned to the Masters’ former headquarters, a secret complex hidden inside Mount Charteris in Colorado. This is because Hawkeye figured they’d take it over as their own headquarters since they are in need of one. In the aftermath of the battle, Clint is still impressed with the facility.

While Hawkeye is cheerful, Songbird has nothing but scorn for him. She thinks he has a smug attitude and is being insensitive toward the team. Particularly after the Crimson Cowl was unmasked and revealed to be Dallas Riordan, a woman that Atlas cared for deeply.[2] This also reinforces her resentment toward the archer after he insisted that her lover, Mach-1, turn himself in and serve jail time for murder in order to show the public that they have reformed.[3] Thoughts of her beloved Abner make her wonder what he is doing right at that moment.

Abner Jenkins, aka Mach-1, aka the Beetle, is dreaming. He’s dreaming of soaring high in the air in his Mach-1 suit. He is hailed as a hero and has adoring fans. However, like all dreams, this one ends when he wakes up and finds himself back in the prison cell he has been living in for the past few weeks. Because of the destruction of the Vault, super-villains have been transferred to other facilities across the country. Jenkins found himself in one of the worst, Seagate prison.

During lunch, Abner is surprised when the Human Cannonball — a member of the Circus of Crime — approaches him and engaged in friendly conversation.[4] However, not everyone is happy to see him. Particularly Abner’s former partner in crime, Boomerang.[5] As he fiddles with his lunch utensils, he asks Samuel Smithers, aka Plantman, what he knows about how they are containing their ally, the Rhino. Smithers explains that, following his recent defeat that the hands of Captain America, the Rhino has been drugged and contained in the Alpha Security Wing of the prison under high security and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon on his own.[6] When some of the guards notice the crooks whispering among themselves they ask Boomerang what they’re talking about. While they are distracted, he tosses his knife — folded into the shape of his trademark weapon — at Abner. When Jenkin instinctively catches it, the guards accuse him of brandishing a weapon and take Abner down hard.

Abner finds himself tossed into solitary confinement and is unsurprised because he figured it was only a matter of time. He wonders if this was what Hawkeye intended for him when he turned himself in. His thoughts then turn to Songbird and how she has always needed someone by her side and hopes that she can get by without him.[7] Later, Abner is woken up when he is telepathically contacted by crooked industrialist Justin Hammer vis-a-vie Mentallo, another prisoner who has established a mental connection with Hammer so he can contact his criminal hires while they are incarcerated without anyone knowing. Hammer wants to hire Jenkins for a job, but Abe declines it out right since he is trying to reform.

Down in the Alpha Security Wing, the guards talk about the Rhino and what got him incarcerated.[8] One of them is nervous about him getting out, but is assured that the Rhino is too drugged up to notice. With their backs turned to the criminal, they don’t see the scowl on his face that would suggest otherwise. At that same time, a guard under Hammer’s payroll comes by to see if Jenkins is taking a job. While in Boomerang’s cell, he is planning to help the Rhino break out with Plantman and Whirlwind, as Hammer arranged for Rhino’s sedation to be diluted. When asked about the Beetle’s potential involvement, Boomerang says that hiring Jenkins is Justin Hammers’ prerogative but accidents do happen. That evening, Boomerang and his gang.

Later that evening, Boomerange and the others are released from their cells. When they go to let Abner out of solitary he attacks them rather than joining them. It’s at that moment that the Rhino shakes off the effects of the drugs and breaks free from his cell and goes on the rampage. This result in a full on prison riot. As the guards try to contain the prisoners, Jenkins fights his way up to one of the security centers. There, he uses his electronics skills to rig up a sonic device that he can pump through the prison’s PA system. When activate the device unleashes a powerful sonic blast that knocks out all of the prisoners, including the Rhino. With that, Jenkins returns to his solitary cell and locks himself back in as though nothing happen. Unaware of who was responsible for stopping the riot, the guards quickly retake control of Seagate and contain all the prisoners.

However, it doesn’t take long for authorities to figure out what happened. A report is sent to the Commission on Superhuman Activities. They look over the designs of the sonic device used to quell the riot is based on the technology used by Screaming Mimi. Henry Gyrich figures that this could only have been the work of Abner Jenkins. Val Cooper decides that, despite the fact that Jenkins is a murderer, he is the only one suitable for the mission that needs to be undertaken and suggests that they go and make him a deal.[9]

Recurring Characters

Thunderbolts (Hawkeye, Songbird, Atlas, Jolt, Charcoal), Mach-1, Blizzard, Boomerang, Human Cannonball, Mentallo, Plant Man, Rhino, Whirlwind, Henry Gyrich, Val Cooper, Gayle Rogers, Megan McLaren

Continuity Notes

1. The Vault was destroyed back in Heroes for Hire #1. The Thunderbolts busted the Masters of Evil last issue.

2. Dallas Riordan was unmasked as the Crimson Cowl last issue, but this is a fake out. In reality, Riordan has been masquerading as the new Citizen V. While in this identity she was knocked out by the real Cowl in Thunderbolts #24. When the Masters of Evil went down last issue, the Cowl swapped herself out with Riordan to frame her. See Thunderbolts #38. The true identity of the Crimson Cowl, that she’s Justine Hammer, will be revealed in Thunderbolts #67. Prior to becoming Citizen V, she was the government liaison with the Thunderbolts starting in issue #2. She began a romance with Atlas in issue #5. After the team was outed as former members of the Masters of Evil in Thunderbolts #10, Dallas found herself out of a job five issues later. Atlas has felt guilt about it this entire time.

3. When Hawkeye took over as leader of the Thunderbolts (over the course of issues #20-22) he insisted that Mach-1 serve time for murder (he killed a scientist back when he was the Beetle circa Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #3). Abe surrendered to authorities in Thunderbolts #23. Songbird and Mach-1 have been lovers since Thunderbolts #3.

4. The Human Cannonball says there are no hard feelings between them, he is referring to how the Thunderbolts busted him and the rest of the Circus of Crime in Thunderbolts #2. He also mentions how he was screwed over by his teammate the Clown. He is referring to the events of Incredible Hulk #470-471 when the Circus broke away from their original leader, the Ringmaster, and ran afoul of the Hulk.

5. The Beetle and Boomerang were founding members of the Sinister Syndicate together, starting in Amazing Spider-Man #280. I guess it’s also pertinent to mention that the Rhino was yet another member. Whereas Boomerang still has respect for the Rhino, he doesn’t have any for the Beetle/Mach-1. This predates Abner becoming a hero, as the Beetle had a falling out with Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #1-4.

6. The Rhino was working one-man demolitions until he was busted by Cap in Captain America (vol. 3) #9-10. Boomerang and Plantman also mention how Captain America lost his trademark shield. It sank to the ocean floor in Captain America (vol. 3) #2. After some time with various replacements, Captain America will get it back in issue #22 of that series.

7. As explained in Thunderbolts #21, Songbird had grown dependent on others after running away from home. These dependencies always ended badly. More recently, the death of Angar the Screamer, he partner in crime circa Thunderbolts Annual 1997, made her especially dependent on others.

8. When one of the guards asks what the Rhino’s real name is, the other guard doesn’t know. FYI his real name is Aleksei Sytsevich. I could be wrong but this wasn’t revealed until the Rhino profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk 2004 #1.

9. The CSA is seeking Abe’s assistance to take down Justin Hammer. See Thunderbolts #33-36.

Topical References

• The late night talk show host featured in this story is Jay Leno, who was at the height of his popularity. That said, his appearance here should be considered topical as Leno retired from The Late Show for good in 2014.

• One of Leno’s jokes is about Hawkeye being in a “I’m going to Disney World!” commercials. This was the slogan to an old Disney advertising campaign where a camera crew would approach a sports star after some big win and ask them what they are doing. To which they’d say “I’m going to Disney World!” These ad spots would usually play during a major sporting event like the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, or the World Series. They began in 1987 and continue to this day, time of this writing. Although this is a hack joke and would usually be considered topical, since Marvel is now owned by Disney, a reference to one of their theme parks would no longer be considered topical due to brand synergy.

• When hearing how Captain America took down the Rhino, one of the guards quips that Cap must have used the “Jedi mind trick on him”. This is reference to the Star Wars franchise, particularly the original 1977 film, wherein one of the characters uses his Jedi skills to cloud the mind of some enemy Storm Troopers in order to get past a check point. This would also typically be considered a topical reference, but since Lucasfilm is also now owned by Disney, this would not, due to brand synergy.