Running the Asylum, Part 1

Secret Invasion continues from New Avengers #43…

The Thunderbolts — Moonstone (Karla Sofen), Songbird (Melissa Gold), Radioactive Man (Chen Lu), Swordsman (Andreas Von Strucker), Venom (Mac Gargan), and Penance (Robbie Baldwin) — have been deployed to Denver, Colorado, which is under attack by the Swarm. Joining them in the field is Norman Osborn, who wants intel on their foe right away. When Moonstone pulls up the data on the Swarm — a former Nazi scientist named Fritz von Meyer who controls bees[1] — Osborn decides that this is not a mission to have Bullseye make his return to the field.[2]

While the rest of the team try to contain the Swarm on the filed, Norman has Karla give her psychological evaluations of the team following their recent run in with a group of telepaths.[3] She notes that Radioactive Man stands the best option at defeating the Swarm,[4] but fears he is too depressed after the recent revelation that his homeland no longer wants him.[5] The Swordsman, she points out, will only be as loyal as it takes for Norman to create a clone of his dead twin sister.[6] When Moonstone orders Songbird to use her sonic scream against the bees, Melissa gets annoyed and reminds her that her sonic powers were burned out a long time ago and she replies on her sonic carapace.[7] Osborn then asks what’s been eating her, and Karla explains that Songbird has been like this since her mother died, believing that either she or Norman were responsible for her death. The two then ask each other if they were indeed responsible, but neither one answers and they get back to focusing on the battle at hand.

Karla then continues her analysis, she suspects that Penance might be capable. After his recent psyche evaluation by Doc Samson and his solo mission to capture Nitro, he is much more mentally stable than he used to be.[8] When Penance blasts the Swarm’s body, he pushes enough of the bees aside to reveal the skeletal remains of Fritz Von Myer. Learning that this is where the Nazi’s essence resides, gives Osborn the idea to dispatch Venom to end the battle. Karla advises against it since Mac has become more and more unstable since bonding with the Venom symbiote, but Osborn assures her that he and Gargan have an understanding.[9] Sure enough, when Venom is deployed, he easily beats through the swarm of bees to reach Myer’s skeleton and consumes it. In doing so, his mental link with the bees is severed and they quickly dissipate.[10]

Still despite the victory, Norman Osborn is furious at the Thunderbolts performance. He wants the team to be able to go after unregistered superhumans like Daredevil and Luke Cage, and instead they have problems stopping a Nazi bee swarm.[11] This annoys Karla who gives Osborn a psychological evaluation as well. She calls his sanity into question and says that he doesn’t have what it takes to make a group of former villains operate like a military unit. She then storms off, saying that she is going to update her resume. This annoys Osborn to no end, but he says nothing in reply.

Several days later, at Thunderbolts Mountain, Norman and Moonstone are called down to handle a situation. The Swordsman is fending off guards to prevent them from apprehending an intruder on the premises. When Norman orders them to stand down, he and Moonstone are shocked to discover that the intruder is none other than Andreas’ dead twin sister, Andrea.[12] Osborn had promised to clone Swordsman’s sister but is not responsible for the woman that he now defends. When Andreas reminds Osborn of his promise and asks if he is reneging on their deal. By this point the other Thunderbolts have arrived and are listening intently. Norman has no choice but to concede, telling Andreas that all he wants to do is run a few tests.

After a full body and brain scan, it is determined that this woman is a genetic copy of Andreas Von Strucker. However, the woman has no idea how she found herself inside Thunderbotls Mountain. Until they figure that out, Norman orders Andrea under guard in quarantine. Andreas, however, refuses to allow them to do such a thing. He assures Norman that he will serve out the rest of his term with the Thunderbolts as he does not want to be a fugitive on the run. Norman concedes but will have guards stationed outside Andreas’ quarters nonetheless. When the twins leave, Moonstone figures this might be the work of Arnim Zola, who the Thunderbolts recently failed to capture. However, creating an adult clone like this in so short a time seems incredible, even for a geneticist like Zola. Regardless, the arrival of this alleged clone makes Swordsman a loose cannon, one that he can’t afford to have so soon after the last insurrection.[13] However, the madman is already thinking up of a plan to eliminate Andreas and his sister without compromising the tenuous hold he has on the others.

At that same time, Andrea is crawling into bed while her brother fumes over Osborn’s arrogance. She agrees with him that Norman is beneath them. As he brushes his sister’s hair, Andreas agrees that they will have to do something about his current situation.

The following morning, Norman calls the team into his office for a meeting about the Strucker twins. Andreas admits that he enlisted the aid of Arnim Zola but insists that he hasn’t been in contact with the geneticist since the team failed to capture him. Osborn is unsatisfied with the lack of answers and insists that Andrea will go nowhere until they find them. However, she will be confined to quarters under guard whenever Andreas not around. Swordsman agrees to these terms but warns them that his sister will not be vulnerable when she’s alone as he has skinned himself — as he did with her when she died — so she can still access her mutant powers when he’s away.[14]

The team then move on to their recent publicity problems when suddenly the power goes out, signaling that the facility has gone on lockdown. Seconds later, the ceiling to Osborn’s office is blasted open by what appears to Captain Marvel![15] Thanks to his knowledge of the Kree Lifestones that empower Moonstone, he is quickly able to disable her powers and take her out.[16] Songbird tries to talk Mar-Vell down, by saying that she knew his son, Genis. However, this confuses the Captain who doesn’t know him.[17]

Although Melissa starts getting through to him, talking sense fails when Bullseye tries to kill Mar-Vell. Luckily for him, Mar-Vell is able to dodge the blade aimed at his neck. He then unleashes a powerful blast that sends Venom flying out of Thunderbolts Mountain. When Radioactive Man unleashes the full force of his powers on the intruder, Chen is shocked to see that Mar-Vell can easily absorb his attacks. After taking down Radioactive Man, Mar-Vell is about to strike Swordsman with a blow powerful enough to kill him, but suddenly can’t bring himself to do it.

By this time, Norman Osborn has figured out that this man isn’t the real Captain Marvel, but an impostor of some kind. Thinking he can work with this, Norman has brought out a bottle of brandy and some drinking glasses and asks “Mar-Vell” to sit and talk with him about what’s going on.

… Secret Invasion continues in Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #3.

Recurring Characters

Thunderbolts (Norman Osborn, Songbird, Moonstone, Radioactive Man, Swordsman, Venom, Penance, Bullseye), Andrea Von Strucker, “Captain Marvel”, Swarm

Continuity Notes

1. For more on how Fritz Von Meyer became the Swarm, see Champions #14.

2. Bullseye had been out of commission after having his neck broken by American Eagle and his brain fried by nanites in Thunderbolts #115. He underwent surgery to restore his functionality last issue.

3. Said telepaths intentionally allowed themselves to be incarcerated so they could use their power to drive the Thunderbolts mad and start killing each other. They would have gotten away with it if it hadn’t been for Bullseye murdering them all. See Thunderbolts #116-121.

4. Moonstone states that the Swarm has had his connection with his bees disrupted with both nuclear and electrical charges in the past. She was referring to how he was defeated by the Runaway’s Victor Mancha in Runaways (vol. 2) #7.

5. Radioactive Man discovered that his homeland of China no longer wanted him to return home out of fear of his powers. This was revealed in Thunderbolts: International Incident #1.

6. Andreas Von Strucker’s twin sister Andrea was killed by Baron Zemo in Citizen V and the V-Battalion #3. Andreas agreed to remain on Norman’s Thunderbolts team in exchange for a clone of his sister being created, as detailed in Thunderbolts #113.

7. Back when she was the villain known as Screaming Mimi, Melissa’s vocal chords were altered to allow her to unleash sonic screams as first seen in Marvel Two-In-One #54. However, in more recent times, she burned out her vocal chords mourning the death of her partner in crime, Angar the Screamer, in Thunderbolts Annual 1997. When she joined up with the Thunderbolts she was given a sonic carapace that allowed her to create solid sound objects. This has been her primary source of powers. However, since Thunderbolts #47 her vocal chords have been healing allowing her to access her old powers once again. Likely Melissa is hiding the truth as an ace-in-the-hole, as we’ll learn in Thunderbolts #125.

8. Formerly the hero known as Speedball, Robbie Baldwin and his fellow New Warriors tried to bust a number of villains — including Nitro — in the town of Stamford. This led to a massive explosion that killed hundreds. It also gave the government justification to pass the Super Human Registration Act in Civil War #1. Robbie was one of the few survivors and was dragged through the mud leading to his becoming Penance to make up for his poor judgement, as seen in Civil War: Front Line #1-10. He was psychologically trated by Samson in Thunderbolts #116-121. He recently captured Nitro in Penance: Relentless #1-5.

9. Mac Gargan was bonded to the Venom symbiote in Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #10. Norman and Venom have reached an understanding with one another in Thunderbolts: Reason in Madness #1.

10. This is not the end of the Swarm, he’ll turn up alive again in Mighty Avengers #24. After the destruction of his skeleton, Von Myer transferred his mind into a queen bee.

11. This story takes place after the passage of the Super Human Registration Act in Civil War #1, which required superhumans to register with the government. Both Luke Cage and Daredevil refused to sign up and are now considered outlaws. This law will eventually get repealed in Siege #4.

12. Andreas recently gave a DNA sample to Arnim Zola in Thunderbolts: International Incident #1. Next issue our “heroes” will suspect her of being a Skrull sleeper agent, which is not the case as we’ll see in Thunderbolts #124.

13. Norman is referring to how the team was driven mad by a quartet of telepaths. The Swordsman in particular convinced some of the security detail to become his loyal followers. See Thunderbolts #116-121.

14. As explained in Uncanny X-Men #200, the Fenris twins needed to be in physical contact with one another in order to unleash their bio-energy blasts. After Andrea’s death, Andreas skinned and tanned a piece of her flesh and wrapped it around the hilt of his sword so he could still access his mutant powers. This gruesome detail was first revealed in New Thunderbolts #17.

15. Until this point, everyone believed that Captain Marvel cheated his death from Marvel Graphic Novel #1 by traveling to the future, as seen in Civil War: The Return #1. In reality, this is a Skrull subversive named Khn’nr as per Captain Marvel (vol. 6) #5. He was sent to attack Thunderbolts Mountain in Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? #1. This story takes place during the Secret Invasion event, specifically around Secret Invasion #3. For more on the reading order for this event, see below.

16. As revealed back in Thunderbolts #45 that Moonstone’s powers derive from a gem that comprised the Lifestone Tree. Centuries earlier it was possessed by a Kree warrior named Ajes’ha.

17. When Songbird mentions Genis-Vell, “Mar-Vell” confuses him with Teddy Altman. Let’s break down Marv’s family tree for a hot minute:

    • Teddy Altman was the son of Mar-Vell and Skrull princess Anelle, the product of a romantic tryst during the Kree/Skrull War (circa Avengers #89-97) as revealed in Young Avengers #10.

    • A few years after Mar-Vell’s death in Marvel Graphic Novel #1, his Eternal lover Elysius used Mar-Vell’s DNA to impregnate herself. Her son was Genis, who was born and aged to adulthood in Silver Surfer Annual #6.

    • Songbird first started associating with Genis in Thunderbolts #45 until his death in Thunderbolts #100. Genis will remain among the deceased until Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel #1-5.

    • The reason that “Mar-Vell” knows about Teddy, but not Genis, is that Skrull infiltrators were imprinted with the memories of the person they were posing as. Since Khn’nr is supposed to be posing as Mar-Vell prior to his death, he wouldn’t have memory of of Genis since he was created after Marv’s death. Khn’nr did meet Teddy Atlman, however, as seen in Young Avengers Presents #2.

Topical References

• When demanding intel on the Swarm, Osborn asks if they are still on “dial-up”. He is referring to early internet technology that required users to use a home phone line to “dial-up” to the internet. This early technology was much slower than contemporary internet connections. While dial-up is still around (mostly in rural and remote areas that have not had high-speed internet lines installed) it has mostly fallen out of common usage. Since Osborn is comparing their internet connection with a slower technology, this wouldn’t necessarily be considered a topical reference.

• When hearing about how the Swarm is comprised of bees, Osborn makes a quip about bees dying off being “hyperbole from Al Gore”. This is in reference to the documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, which was a recording of Al Gore’s environmental efforts by raising the alarm bells around climate change. The film was released two years prior to the publication of this comic. One of the biggest environmental challenges we are facing is bee depopulation due a variety of factors: climate change, pesticides, and the destruction of natural habitats. I really hope — for the sake of the world — that the whole bee thing eventually becomes a topical reference (but don’t hold your breath on that), but the references to Al Gore and his film can be considered topical because (sadly) there are more contemporary examples out there.

• When deciding to not deploy Bullseye, Norman orders they put on his Faces of Death DVDs to placate him until the mission is over. Faces of Death is an infamous series of mondo documentary films that featured real footage of deaths. The first film was released in 1978 and generated 4 official sequels. NGL these films are not for the faint of heart, but I would actually recommend the first film as actually a fascinating documentary about how humans deal with death over the course of recorded history. It’s actually a genuine film and not the salacious schlock it is painted to be. Faces 2 onward are pure trash though.

• DVDs were also the popular video format when this comic was published. While they are still around, they are slowly being phased out over newer video format and streaming video formats. As such their mention here should be considered topical.

Secret Invasion Reading Order

New Avengers #31, Mighty Avengers #7, New Avengers #34, New Avengers: Illuminati (vol. 2) #5, Secret Invasion #1, Mighty Avengers #12, New Avengers #40, Secret Invasion #2, Mighty Avengers #13, Captain Britain and MI-13 #1, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #1, Mighty Avengers #14, Incredible Hercules #117, New Avengers #41, Secret Invasion #3, Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? #1, Captain Britain and MI-13 #2, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #2, Incredible Hercules #118, Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1, Avengers: The Initiative #14, Mighty Avengers #15, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #28, New Avengers #42, Secret Invasion: Front Line #1, Captain Britain and MI-13 #3, Secret Invasion #4, Mighty Avengers #16, X-Factor (vol. 3) #33, Incredible Hercules #119, New Warriors (vol. 4) #14, Avengers: The Initiative #15, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #31, New Avengers #43, Thunderbolts #122, Secret Invasion: Fantastic Four #3, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #29, Black Panther (vol. 4) #39, Secret Invasion: Front Line #2, Secret Invasion: X-Men #1, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1, Secret Invasion: Thor #1, Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #2, Captain Britain and MI-13 #4, Secret Invasion #5, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #4, X-Factor (vol. 3) #34, Incredible Hercules #120, Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #1, New Warriors (vol. 4) #15, Nova (vol. 4) #16, Avengers: The Initiative #16, Mighty Avengers #17, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #32, Black Panther (vol. 4) #40, New Avengers #44, Thunderbolts #123, Secret Invasion: Front Line #3, Deadpool (vol. 4) #1, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #2, Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3, Secret Invasion #6, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #30, Secret Invasion: Thor #2, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #5, Mighty Avengers #18, War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #33, Deadpool (vol. 4) #2, Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #2, Nova (vol. 4) #17, Avengers: The Initiative #17, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #33, Black Panther (vol. 4) #41, New Avengers #45, Thunderbolts #124, Deadpool (vol. 4) #3, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #3, Secret Invasion: Front Line #4, Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 2) #6, Mighty Avengers #19, War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #34, Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #3, Secret Invasion #7, New Avengers #46, Thunderbolts #125, Secret Invasion: X-Men #3, Secret Invasion: Thor #3, Nova (vol. 4) #18, Avengers: The Initiative #18, Punisher: War Journal (vol. 2) #25, War Machine: Weapon of SHIELD #35, Secret Invasion: X-Men #4, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4, Secret Invasion: Front Line #5, Secret Invasion #8, New Avengers #47, Secret Invasion: Dark Reign #1, Avengers: The Initiative #19