Thunderbolts #110
Faith in Monsters, Part 1
Earlier
At a government black site, the assassin known as Bullseye is being interrogated following his recent capture.[1] He tells his interrogator how the last person he killed was not his last target, but a father and son who happened to cross paths with him as he made his get away. He boasts that he did it because he felt like it. His interrogator tells him that from now on, Bullseye is going to do exactly what he is ordered to do from now on. When the assassin scoffs at this, his captor tells him that he has been injected with nanites that will deliver damaging electrical shocks that will cause permanent damage with each jolt. After the third such jolt, Bullseye will become totally paralyzed. This threat conjures up memories of when Bullseye was paralyzed by Daredevil and left to his mercies.[2] The idea of living like that again puts the proper fear into the assassin and he agrees to do what he is told.
His interrogator tells Bullseye that he will be put on the Thunderbolts and be part of the team’s mandate of bringing in those who have not registered under the Super Human Registration Act (SHRA).[3] However, he will be kept in reserve to act covertly on missions that are incredibly sensitive. If Bullseye behaves himself, he will be given a new identity, millions of dollars, and a ticket out of the USA once his tour is over. When Bullseye asks what will happen if he decides to stay in America, his captor tells him that he’ll be quickly and quietly executed. Seeing Bullseye sweat gives the man interrogating him joy and he takes a moment to taste the assassin’s nervous sweat.[4] When Bullseye says he wants to kill Daredevil, his new handler says he’ll get his chance soon enough. That’s when he introduces himself, Bullseye’s new boss is none other than Norman Osborn.
Now
In Cleveland, Ohio, Jack Harrison is relaxing in his living room. That is until his girlfriend Lucy finds his old Jack Flagg costume. She is very upset to see it out in the open because hasn’t registered with the government. Jack says that he hasn’t registered because it is un-American, but assures her that he’s not going out on regular patrol. Lucy thinks he’s being insane none the less, because its not like his old mentor, Captain America, is going to come recruit him any time soon.[5] Their argument is interrupted by something going outside. Looking out their apartment window, they see a woman being surrounded by a gang of thugs. While Lucy calls the police, Jack decides he can’t just sit back and do nothing. Lucy offers a weak protest but he convinces her that this is the right thing to do before leaping out the window to help the woman outside.
Later, the media machine is ramping up following Tony Stark’s appointment as the new Director of SHIELD.[6] While many on both the left and the right are concerned about Stark’s new powers and vision for the future, the media is also focused on the Thunderbolts who are the media’s darlings following the passage of the SHRA. Norman Osborn uses this media buzz to hype up the team’s first mission under his command. While news cameras watch the spectacle from outside Thunderbolts Mountain, their Colorado headquarters, the pomp and celebration outside betrays the reality going on inside. The Thunderbolts — Songbird (Melissa Gold), Moonstone (Karla Sofen), Radioactive Man (Chen Lu, now forced to wear a radiation suit), Swordsman (Andreas Von Strucker), Bullseye, Venom (Mac Gargan), and Penance (Robbie Baldwin) — are all lead to their ship, the Zeus, in shackles. They are then secured in their seats before the ship takes off on its maiden voyage. After the media captures the launch, the first commercial break is advertising a new line of Thunderbolts action figures where the lead villain of the set is Captain America.
Earlier
Norman Osborn next meets with Karla Sofen, aka Moonstone, she is expecting some kind of psychiatric post but Osborn wants her to be the field leader of the Thunderbolts.[7] When Karla points out that Songbird is the field leader of the team, Osborn says that Melissa has been demoted because he doesn’t like her moralistic attitude. He wants someone as amoral as Sofen, noting that when she was a practicing psychiatrist she intentionally drove eight patients to suicide and another six into hospitalization. She decides to accept the job and goes over the roster that Norman is proposing.[8] The only person she feels she cannot control is Bullseye, but is informed that he will only be used sparingly. When she asks what is in it for her, Osborn offers her a full pardon, a generous payment and retirement package, she will also be the only person on the team not controlled by nanites, and she’ll get to keep her Moon Stones. This is more than enough, and Karla asks for her contract to sign.
Now
Jack Harrison is heading home after a normal day of work. As he calls to check in on Lucy when he spots the hypersonic robot planes that were dispatched ahead of the Thunderbolts’ deployment. Fearing that they might have come looking for him after his escapades the night before, Jack rushes back to his apartment. There he tells Lucy to pack a bag and head to her mother’s house. Jack on the other hand intends on remaining behind because he is confident he can defeat the Thunderbolts.[9][10] Realizing that she can’t talk him out of it, Lucy hugs Jack and tells him not to be stupid about this and get himself killed for being a hero.
Recurring Characters
Thunderbolts (Norman Osborn, Songbird, Moonstone, Radioactive Man, Swordsman, Venom, Penance, Bullseye), Jackflag
Continuity Notes
When asked for his real name, Bullseye says that Bullseye is his real name. As of this writing (November, 2023), the only name attached to this iconic assassin is Lester, as per Bullseye: Greatest Hits #1. If that’s his first name or last name and what his full name may be has yet to be revealed.
Bullseye’s nemesis Daredevil crippled him back in Daredevil #181. While recovering in the hospital, Daredevil came to psyche him out with a game of Russian Roulette in issue #191 of that series. His spine was later repaired by Lord Darkwind in Daredevil #198.
This story follows the events of the passing of the SHRA, a government law that requires superheroes to register with the government. Not everyone complied and they are now outlaws, see Civil War #1-7 for the details. This law will remain in effect until Siege #4.
Osborn brings up how Bullseye once had a brain tumor. See Daredevil #169.
For more on Jack Flag’s origins and his time as Captain America’s partner, see Captain America #434-443. Lucy says Captain America won’t come and recruit him because at the time of this story, Steve Rogers was seemingly killed in Captain America (vol. 5) #25. However, death is never forever for the characters that matter and Cap will be back following the events of Captain America: Reborn #1-6.
Following the end of Civil War, Tony Stark was appointed Director of SHIELD, as seen in Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #15. He will hold this position until Secret Invasion #8.
Osborn mentions Karla’s recent recovery. She was put in a catatonic state following the events of Avengers/Thunderbolts #1-6. She recovered from this condition last issue.
Osborn mentions mentions that Mac Gargan used to be the Scorpion prior to becoming the new Venom. Gargan famously became the Scorpion way back in Amazing Spider-Man #20. At the time of this story, he had recently obtained the Venom symbiote, as seen in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #10.
Jack mentions how Songbird used to be the criminal called Screaming Mimi, this was her name she took when she first appeared in Marvel Two-In-One #54. Here, Jack boasts that Captain America sent her to prison on three different occasions. This might be hyperbole on Jack’s part since, prior to this story, Cap only tangentially encountered Screaming Mimi in Captain America #389-391 and again in #411-412. He did not send her to prison in either encounter so either Jack is exaggerating or he is referring to an as yet untold tale (time of this writing).
He also mentions how Moonstone was once defeated by Doc Samson. In Karla’s own defense, this was during her first outing as Moonstone circa Incredible Hulk #229. She’s gotten a lot better since then.
Topical References
Osborn says that after his tour of duty, Bullseye will be given 10 million dollars and a ticket out of the USA. Adjusting for inflation that would be equivalent to about 14.8 million in 2023. Later on in the story, Osborn offers Karla a million dollars a month (worth 1.4 million in 2023) and $500,000 a month upon completing her tour of duty (or 742 thousand in 2023).
Lucy is afraid that her boyfriend is going to get locked away in what she calls “Super-Guantanamo”. She is referring to the Guantanamo Bay, a US military run prison facility off the coast of Cuba. This story was written in the early years of America’s failed “War on Terror” in Iraq and Afghanistan following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A prison at Guantanamo Bay had been set up to imprison captured combatants that were accused of acts of terrorism against the United States. It gained instant infamy due to the lack of due process given to the prisoners, many being incarcerated without trail, and frequent reports of prison abuse. In more recent years, various politicians have promised to shut the prison down. As of this writing (November, 2023) it still houses about 30 inmates apparently even though the United States pulled out of Afghanistan with its tail between its legs in 2021.
