New Thunderbolts #1 — Nick Peron

Jul 5

Jul 5 New Thunderbolts #1

One Step Forward

Two months ago, Abner Jenkins — formerly known as the criminal Beetle and the hero Mach-3 — was released from prison after serving out his sentence.[1] At the time, he told the gathered press that he intends to reform the Thunderbolts. Now, months later, and with the Avengers disbanded, the same media is wondering where these new Thunderbolts are now that the world is in need of heroes.

It just so happens that Abe — now calling himself Mach-IV — is in the process of recruiting for his new team. He pays a visit to Melissa Gold — his former girlfriend and teammate — to ask if she wants to rejoin the group. Melissa has been trying to go back to school and keep a low profile, however she has swung into action on occasion when she was needed.[3] When she accepts the job, she decides to check things out.[4]

The following day Melissa — as Songbird — goes to the address Abe gave her, an old warehouse located at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. She resists the urge to turn back and when she lands outside the security system kicks in. Melissa quickly disables it with her hard-sound powers. This new security was the work of Erik Josten, formerly known as Atlas. Even though he gave up his Pym Particles and is now powerless, he joined up with the Thunderbolts, particularly since he and Dallas Riordan broke up when she joined up with the Department of Homeland Security.[5] When Melissa asks who is funding the Thunderbolts this time, Erik doesn’t know the specifics but says Abe told him he got the backing of some investors while in prison who were doing time for white collar crimes.

Heading into the next room, Songbird sees that Mach-IV is in a training session with a new recruit. She is unimpressed to see that it is the Blizzard (Donny Gill). She is unimpressed to see him and has doubts about his desire to reform and become a hero.[6] When Erik shows her the breakroom, he mentions how hard she was being on Donny. Melissa admits that she doesn’t know how long she is going to stick around. She says she doesn’t have the same passion for the Thunderbolts after the death of their former leader, Hawkeye (Clint Barton).[7] That’s when Abe walks into the room and reveals he has been listening in on their conversation. He tells Melissa that his intentions for her being on the team is to be the guiding light they lost when Clint died. When Abe leaves, Erik tells her that she and Abe are going to be the glue that keeps the team together.

Melissa is going to offer more protests but is interrupted when the NYPD scanners pick up a 911 call that is of interest to the team. Songbird joins the other as they are prepping to head to the scene, which is at the site of the World Trade Center. Songbird is surprised to see how well set up Mach-IV’s new team is as they are hooked into a police scanner and already have a ship.[8] When Mel asks Abe about how he is able to get these things, he is cagey about giving straight answers.

When they arrie on the scene, they discover that the area is under attack by the Fathom Five (Llyron, Bloodtide, Manowar, Dragonrider, and Sea Leopard) super-powered warriors of At’La’Tique, an Atlantean terrorist group. As the Thunderbolts approach, Songbird looks up the records they have on the villains below and wonders if this is an attack directly from the nation of Atlantis.[9] It’s then that their ship is spotted and destroyed by a torrent of water commanded by Bloodtide. Luckily, the Thunderbolts manage to bail out, but they don’t fare very well in battle, particularly due to the fact that Blizzard is not prepared for this kind of fight.[10] As the team becomes overwhealmed, Songbird suggests that they retreat before they get themselves killed. That’s when Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell) arrives on the scene to help. He explains that he is still keeping an eye on Melissa and is there to help. That Genis and Melissa appear to be attracted to one another is obvious to everybody else on the team.[11]

Genis uses his Nega-Bands to dehydrate Llyron, the leader of Fathom Five. By this time, news helicopters have showed up on the scene. By this point, Fathom Five have been trying to retreat. Incapacitating Bloodtide, Genis is more interested in propping her in front of TV cameras to boost the Thunderbolt’s profile, believing that this is what Melissa needs. Erik tries to get Genis to follow Mach-IV’s orders, but when the Captain refuses to listen, Erik suddenly activates his seemingly lost size changing powers and begins pummeling Genis while Bloodtide escapes.[12]

Meanwhile, the rest of the Thunderbolts regroup and Mach-IV reveals to his teammates that he tagged Fathom Five with a tracking device so they can go after them later. For now, he tells his team to stay and report to the arriving authorities so they know the Thunderbolts are there to help. When Abe radios Erik to see where they are, Josten lies and says that Genis-Vell took off after the battle ended. He then tosses Genis out into the ocean before resuming his normal size and wandering off. Little does he know that someone is observing him from the shadows.[13] When Erik returns to base with the others, Melissa demands to know why he let Genis go after Fathom Five alone. Erik points out that the terrorists fled underwater so it wasn’t like he could follow after them. Abe reminds them all that he has a tracking device on Llyron and his people and they can track them down soon. He then orders the others to going on recon while he meets up with their financiers to get a new ship.

Soon, Jenkins arrives at Merovech Investment Group where he meets with the secret backer behind his new Thunderbolts team. This mystery financer is annoyed at the sloppy performance of the team so far. He warns Jenkins that if they don’t do better he will reveal to the world that Abe’s secret backer is none other that Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, the leader of Hydra!

Recurring Characters

Thunderbolts (Mach-IV, Songbird, Atlas, Blizzard), Captain Marvel, Fathom Five (Llyron, Bloodtide, Manowar, Dragonrider, Sea Leopard), Scorpion, Klaw, Baron Strucker

Continuity Notes

Back when he was a criminal, Abner murdered a dude back in Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #3. However, his being in prison is a long and complicated affair. The details:
- As revealed in Thunderbolts Annual 1997, he was later convinced by Baron Zemo to join the original Thunderbolts, whose original mandate was to pose as heroes as part of a complex scheme to take over the world.
- After Zemo’s plot was exposed and foiled in Thunderbolts #10-12, Abe stayed on the team as they tried to reform.
- Later, he was convinced by their new leader, Hawkeye, to surrender to the authorities in Thunderbolts #21. He did so in issue #23, but between issues #26 and 36, he was forced into working with the Commission on Superhuman Activities to help entrap criminal industrialist Justin Hammer
- Hawkeye blackmailed CSA agent Henry Gyrich into releasing Abe in Thunderbolts #37. However, after some time, Abe decided that he needed to serve out the rest of his sentence back in Thunderbolts #75.
This story occurs shortly after the Avengers disbanded after the team was shattered by the Scarlet Witch in Avengers #500-503. A new incarnation of the team will eventually form in New Avengers #1-5.
Here, we see flashbacks of Songbird fighting the Scorpion and Klaw. These are the only references to these battles, the details of which have not been explored as of this writing (October, 2023).
While Melissa appears to be a reluctant recruit onto the team, Thunderbolts #101 reveals that she is secretly working with Baron Zemo. This is all part of a guided plan to prevent the Grandmaster from taking control of the Wellspring of Power.
Atlas and Dallas Riordan have had an on-again/off-again relationship since Thunderbolts #6. His loss of powers and Dallas joining the Department of Homeland Security all follows the events of Avengers/Thunderbolts #1-6.
Blizzard chides Melissa over her original codename. Back when she was a criminal (starting in Marvel Two-In-One #54) she went by Screaming Mimi.
Hawkeye was killed by the Scarlet Witch in Avengers #502. His death will prove short-lived as Clint will be resurrected following the events of House of M #1-8. Prior to his death, Clint was a leader of the Thunderbolts from Thunderbolts #21 through 75.
Melissa remarks that it took a while for the original Thunderbolts to get their own ship. She is referring to the T-Bird, which was a repurposed Champscraft that Hawkeye was able to procure for the team in Thunderbolts #27.
Songbird mentions some of the Fathom Five’s past exploits:
- How Dragonrider attacked the United Nations in the past, as seen in Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4.
- That Sea Leopard fought the Sub-Mariner in the past. That was in Namor, the Sub-Mariner #52-53.
- She also says the same about Llyron, but his connection to Namor is much deeper. He was created using some of Namor’s own DNA. See Namor the Sub-Mariner #54-57.
The narrative here states that Blizzard inherited his freon suit. He did so after the original Blizzard (George Shapanka) was killed in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20. Donny Gill was set up as the new Blizzard by Justin Hammer, as seen in Iron Man #223.
Genis-Vell promised to keep an eye out for Melissa back in Thunderbolts: Life Sentences #1. This is because he has seen visions of the future where he and Mel become Avengers and lovers. We saw this possible future in Avengers Forever #1-12. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5 that future happens in Reality-98120. As of this writing (October, 2023) this possible future has not come to pass on Earth-616. Reference is made of the fact that Genis is the son of the late Captain Mar-Vell, his origins were revealed in Silver Surfer Annual #6. Mar-Vell died in Marvel Graphic Novel #1.
It’s revealed in New Thunderbolts #13 that Atlas’ powers have come at the expense of his ex, Dallas Riordan, losing her mobility.
This mystery man in the shadows is revealed to be the Purple Man next issue.

Topical References

When talking about his lastest upgrade, Mach-IV quips “One more upgrade and I’ll have a hatch to hide a kid and a monkey in my rear hatch.” When Melissa asks what that means, he tells her to forget it, saying she’s too young to get the reference. Abe is making a reference to the Mach GoGoGo a popular manga series from Japan that began 1966. A year later, it was adapted into an anime series. When the cartoon was translated to American markets it was rebranded as Speed Racer. The series focused on the race car driver Go Mifune and his advanced race car, the Mach 5. Abe is referring to Go’s younger brother Kurio and his pet monkey Senpai who would frequently try to tag along on Go’s adventures by stowing away in his trunk. This should be considered a topical reference as a more contemporary example can be used in its place.