Thunderbolts Annual 2000
Under the Surface
Now
Hawkeye (Clint Barton) has made his way into the bowels of Hell on an important mission. As he nears his goal, he is visited by the headless Bailiff of Madness, who states that he has come to escort the rest of the way. When Clint tries to shoot him with an arrow, it passes harmlessly through the gap between his shirt collar and the brim of his hat. The Bailiff apologizes for coming so late, saying that his master was enjoying the progress that Hawkeye was making in his realm. He then invites Cliff to follow him if he wants to save the soul of his wife….[1]
Three Days Ago
Clint is returning to his car after shopping for supplies when he is stopped by Anton Devine. He explains that he works for Daimon Hellstrom who has information concerning Hawkeye’s deceased wife, Mockingbird (Bobbi Morse) and requests his audience at Fire Lake.[2]
Now
Hawkeye is brought before Hellstrom and is surprised to see him wearing a garish costume, which was not what he was expecting.[3]
Two Days Ago
After Hawkeye went off the grid, Songbird (Melissa Gold) and Mach-2 (Abe Jenkins) call a team meeting with the rest of the Thunderbolts — Atlas (Erik Josten), Moonstone (Karla Sofen), Charcoal (Charlie Burlingham), and the Ogre (actually Techno, aka Norbert Erbosol, in disguise).[4] They want to go looking for Hawkeye in Hell, causing laughter from Atlas and Charcoal, who think they are joking. Moonstone tries to act like she doesn’t care, but when she’s pressed about her feelings about Hawkeye possibly freeing his late wife, Karla tells them to mind their own business and flies off.[5] When the Ogre points out that they need an expert in metaphysics to help them, Atlas knows someone he can call on that owes him a favor.
Now
Hellstrom gets a good laugh before assuming his true form, he apologizes for his inability to resist having a laugh. When Hawkeye points out how much Hellstrom has changed, Daimon counters by remarking at how little Clint has. He explains that he has taken over part of the pan-dimensional Hells that exist and in doing so has made at least one part of eternal damnation one with a conscience. He tells Clint that after her death, Bobbi’s soul was taken by Mephisto and now resides in the Arena of Tainted Souls.
This doesn’t make any sense because this all began when Bobbi’s spirit asked the Wasp to send him a message. Hellstrom is well aware as the forces of Mephisto have been banging at his door as soon as word got out that he was brining Clint to his domain. To prove his point, Daimon opens a portal the Arena of Tainted Souls, and from it emerges the Swordsman![7]
Meanwhile, in the mortal world, Erik Josten has gone to New York City to call in his favor. As he heads to the Ash Hotel, he thinks the various women he has been entangled with over the years, particularly Dallas Riordan his former girlfriend and Man-Killer, who is hiding out in Burton Canyon. Lastly, the woman he has come to seek out, the one responsible for originally giving him superpowers, Amora the Enchantress! When he enters the apartment of the Asgardian sorceress, she is happy to see him and asks what she can do for him.[8]
At that same moment, Moonstone is meeting with the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) to discuss Hawkeye. Wanda mentions how when they talked to Clint about their encounter with Bobbi’s spirit, he refused their help. All Wanda could do was infuse one of his arrows with chaos magic before he left to help him on his quest. She is pleased to hear how Karla and the Thunderbolts are going after him. Sofen dismisses the idea that she cares about Clint’s well being, but she knows it is a lie. She is uneasy about the fact that she has been becoming more altruistic and having a strange dreams about a blue-skinner warrior woman who resembles herself.[9]
The Enchantress pulls through for Atlas and arranges a meet with someone who can open a portal to Hell so they can follow Hawkeye. Suiting up, the Thunderbolts head to an underground parking garage on Park Avenue. There they are surprised to find Pluto, the Olympian god of death. He tells them that a portal to Hell is perpetually open in this part of New York due to the presence of a greedy billionaire whose soul he can’t wait to taste. To bring them directly to Hawkeye’s location, Pluto needs one of Clint’s possessions. That’s when Moonstone finally arrives with a pair of underwear that Hawkeye left in storage at Avengers Mansion. This is sufficient to open the doorway and take them to their leader. Moonstone leads the way down into Hell, telling the team to get a move on, as there is no telling what kind of trouble Hawkeye has gotten himself into.
At that moment, Clint is still fighting with the Swordsman. Tackling his opponent the two men are pushed through a portal into the Arena of Tainted Souls. Clint is surprised to see that it is an exact replica of the carnival where both he and the Swordsman worked oh so many year ago. The fight continues and the two combatants find themselves in the hall of mirrors. There, Clint is able to get a chance to nock the arrow charged with chaos energy and fires it into the chest of his opponent. This causes the “Swordsman’s” true form — that of a demon — to be revealed. The mirrors around them shatter revealing Mephisto’s throne room. Clint draws another chaos arrow at Mephisto and demands that the demon release his wife. Mephisto chortles at this, telling him that his domain is vast and that he has claimed many souls. He gestures to a mass of tormented beings — many long dead superhumans — who are locked in perpetual battle.[10]
That’s when Mephisto reveals that the rest of the Thunderbolts have come to rescue him. However, with a wave of a hand, each teammate is transported to their own versions of hell. For Moonstone, she finds herself on an alien world where barbarian Kree are fighting. Off in the distance she sees the strange warrior woman that has haunted her dreams standing on a metal tower. She is surprised to see that she stands guard around what appears to be a number of Moon Stones. Charcoal finds himself at his high school where he is ambushed by his dead teammate and friend, Jolt! Atlas finds himself at the Downslope Sports Bar, where Man-Killer is tending bar in her super-villain outfit. He is shocked to see his brother, Carl, is sitting at the bar. Carl tells Erik that keeping Man-Killer’s location a secret and not telling his teammates about the deal he made with the Enchantress are proof that he’ll never be a hero. Songbird finds herself trapped in the middle of the sonic scream of Angar the Screamer, her former partner in crime. Lastly, Mach-2 finds himself being attacked by someone in his old Beetle armor who accuses Abe of murdering him.[11]
Hawkeye refuses to allow Mephisto to torment his team, and tries to get to them. However, he is soon swarmed by the many lost souls trapped in this domain. Meanwhile, the Thunderbolts manage to stand up to Mephisto’s illusions and break free on their own. For Moonstone, she knocks off the mask of the alien warrior that has haunted her dreams. Seeing that she shares the same fate, she finally accepts that perhaps becoming a true hero is what she is meant to be. Upon making this realization, the alien disappears. Similar revelations come to the others. Charlie admits to Jolt that he blames himself for her death. While Erik refuses to give up trying to become a hero. For Melissa, she comes to terms with the fact that Angar’s death was not her fault. Lastly, Abner stands up to the phantom of Goulding, because he never forgot about the terrible mistake he made and his need to atone for it.
As the Thunderbolts are freed from their nightmares, Hawkeye is tossed one of Mockingbird’s battles staves. It is charged with magical energy which wards off all the souls trying to swarm him. He then ties it to one of his chaos arrows and fires it into Mephisto’s heart. The combined magical power in both weapons causes Mephisto to exploding, destroying him at least for the time being.[12] Behind his throne, they find a woman who has been bound up in ancient wrappings. Thinking this is Bobbi, Hawkeye grabs her and the Thunderbolts flee back to Earth in Pluto’s portal. As they go, a figure watches them from the shadows. Once they are back in the mortal world, Hawkeye removes the wrappings and discovers that he didn’t save his late wife, but Hellstrom’s as the woman underneath it all is Patsy Walker.
Hawkeye and the Thunderbolts then return to Hellstrom’s place at Fire Lake for answers. Meeting with Clint one more time, Damon reveals what Bobbi was trying to warn the Avengers about on that day. She was cut off mid-message after she was returned to the land of the dead, but briefly appeared in Damon’s throne room. There she revealed how Mephisto was plotting to use Patsy in a scheme to take control of Damon’s domain. Hellstrom then manipulated Hawkeye into rescuing Patsy because had he done it himself, it would have caused a devastating war between two realms. He thanks Hawkeye for rescuing Patsy and preventing the conflict. Hawkeye is better that he didn’t get to see his wife, however he points out to Hellstrom that even though he saved Patsy’s life, she wants nothing to do with him.
Returning to his teammates, Hawkeye thanks Karla when she offers her sympathies. He then tells the rest of the team how proud of them he is. They have totally proved themselves in his eyes and he promises to back them every step of the way from now on. With that, the Thunderbolts head for home.
Hellcat’s story continues in Avengers Annual 2000…
Recurring Characters
Thunderbolts (Hawkeye, Moonstone, Atlas, Songbird, Mach-2, Charcoal), Daimon Hellstrom, Bailiff of Madness, Mephisto, “Mockingbird”, Scarlet Witch, Hellcat, Enchantress, Gargoyle, Anton Devine, Pluto, Foolkiller, Thelius, Thunderbird, Captain America, Jaine Cutter
Continuity Notes
The story centers around the alleged death of Mockingbird (aka Bobbi Morse, Hawkeye’s wife). However, this simple mission has been complicated by events that take place after this story. Let me break it down for you.
Hawkeye and Mockingbird had gotten married years earlier in Hawkeye #4. Later, it appeared that Bobbi was killed in action during a mission with the Avengers that brought them into Mephisto’s realm, as seen in Avengers West Coast #100.
However, it is later revealed that this wasn’t the real Mockingbird, but a Skrull spy named H’pra who had taken Bobbi’s place ahead of a planned invasion of Earth. This will be explained in Secret Invasion #8 and New Avengers: The Reunion #2.
So who is the woman who appears to be Mockingbird in this story? In the Legion of the Unliving profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #6 states that those who served in this group may have been impostors as some of its members were still alive when everyone believed they were dead. See below my personal thoughts on this.
Hawkeye first met Daimon Hellstrom back in Defenders #107. Devine has been working with Hellstrom since Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #13-21.
Daimon is depicting a costume that he wore after he lost his powers circa Defenders #122 and had become a paranormal investigator with his wife, Patsy Walker, aka Hellcat. It looked really stupid. If you want to see it in its full glory check out West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #14-16, 41 and Marvel Fanfare #59.
So there are two things here that you shouldn’t take at face value (ha ha ha). They are:
The “Ogre” is actually Techno in disguise, he took the real Ogre’s place back in Thunderbolts #32. He will maintain this cover until it is blown in issue #46.
Mach-2 appears here as African-American, no this is not a new character, this is still Abe Jenkins. He underwent facial reconstruction surgery in Thunderbolts #37. This will remain the status quo until Avengers/Thunderbolts #1.
Moonstone had just recently started a relationship with Hawkeye, see Thunderbolts #29-30 for all the sweaty details.
Here, Hellstrom makes an off hand comment about tricking Reed Richards. He is referring to his then recent encounter with the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four Annual 1999. He appears less demonic in that tale than he does here.
There is a lot of back and forth between Clint and Damon here that goes into some deep cut references if you don’t know shit about shit, so let me break it down:
Hawkeye mentions how Daimon’s wife Patsy Walker is dead. Patsy was driven to suicide in Hellstrom: Prince of Lies #14.
Hellstrom compares Clint’s leadership of the Thunderbolts to his leadership of the Avengers West Coast. Clint was leader of Avengers West from West Coast Avengers #1 through volume 2 issue #45 of that series. At the time of this story, he had been leading the Thunderbolts since Thunderbolts #21.
Hellstrom mentions how he now rules over his own section of hell. He usurped control of the Hell-Realm belonging to his father, the demon known as Marduk Kurios in Hellstrom: Prince of Lies #16. He will maintain control of this domain until Witches #1.
Daimon states that Mockingbird was banished to Hell because she took the life of the Phantom Rider. In her own defense, she left him to die, and really she did it because he used a love potion to force her to love him and basically raped her. See West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #17-24.
A reanimated individual appearing to be Mockingbird was among the Grim Reaper’s recent incarnation of the Legion of the Unliving. See Avengers (vol. 3) #10-11 for the details.
The Swordsman was killed many years ago and is known as the first Avenger to die in the line of duity, as seen in Giant-Size Avengers #2. He and Hawkeye go way back to when Clint was a teenager, as revealed in Avengers #19.
Atlas also goes through a bunch of exposition here about some of his past relationships and things he got involved in. In chronological order, they are:
Erik had gotten his powers from the Enchantress, who ran him through Baron Zemo’s ionic power machine. See Avengers #21.
He also mentions how they still haven’t finished rebuilding the Four Freedoms Plaza. This was the former headquarters of the Fantastic Four starting in Fantastic Four #299. When the FF were believed to have died in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1, the Thunderbolts convinced the powers that be to allow them to move into the headquarters in Thunderbolts #2. When the team were outed as former members of the Masters of Evil, the Four Freedoms was severely damaged in the battle, as seen in Thunderbolts #10-12. The remains of the building were then transported to the Blue Area of the Moon in Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #13. It will soon be replaced with the Baxter Building which will be constructed in Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #38.
Josten also thinks about his relationship with Dallas Riordan. She became the Thunderbolt’s liaison at the New York City’s Mayors Office starting in Thunderbolts #2. Over time, she and Erik developed a romantic relationship until the Thunderbolts were outed and she soon found herself out of a job. Here he mentions how she was recently revealed to be the criminal known as the Crimson Cowl. That happened in Thunderbolts #25. However, this was a ruse by the real Cowl to frame Dallas, as will be explained in issue #40.
Lastly, he thinks about Man-Killer, who has been on the run since the Thunderbolts defeated Crimson Cowl’s Masters of Evil in issue #25. She started tending bar in Burton Canyon, not far from the Thunderbolt’s hideout, in issue #27. Erik discovered this soon after but has been keeping it a secret from his teammates because he hopes that she is trying to reform.
What Karla is experiencing is the memories and personality of AJes’ha a Kree warrior who wielded her Moon Stone centuries earlier. These visions started in Thunderbolts #28. This will all be revealed to her in issue #45.
Here we see a number of characters who were dead, or considered to be dead at the time of this story:
The original Fool-Killer, aka Ross G. Everbest, who died in Man-Thing #4. Time of this writing (July, 2023) he is still considered among the deceased.
An individual appearing to be the original Marvel Boy (Bob Grayson), who was believed to have died in Fantastic Four #165. In reality, this is actually Thelius an Eternal that was created to replace Grayson as will be explained in Agents of Atlas #2-3. Thelius was briefly revived in Quasar #26 until he was trapped in the extradimensional “White Room” in issue #43 of that series. Guess he was eventually cast to Hell. As of this writing, he is still considered among the deceased.
Thunderbird, aka John Proudstar, who died on his second mission with the X-Men, sacrificing his life in order to try and stop Count Nefaria from fleeing, as seen in X-Men #95. He will remain among the deceased until he is resurrected in X-Force (vol. 3) #10.
Lastly, we have a past Captain America, this is likely Jeff Mace who took over as Captain America in What If? #4. He survived into the Modern Age where he died of cancer in Captain America #285. As of this writing, he is still considered among the deceased.
The situations that Mephisto uses to torment the Thunderbolts are not all what they seem at face value. The details:
Karla is misidentifying all the gems as Moon Stones (plural). What she is actually seeing are the various fragments of the Lifestone Tree. Each gem having their own unique properties. See Thunderbolts #45 (again).
Jolt was seemingly killed by an assassin’s bullet in Thunderbolts #34. However, she managed to survive and will be restored to full health in issue #46.
Carl Josten had just recently been killed due to his gambling debts, as seen in Thunderbolts #17. As of this writing he is still considered among the deceased.
As Screaming Mimi, Songbird partnered up with Angar the Screamer starting in Avengers Spotlight #28. However, Angar seemingly died after catching a bullet during a bank robbery, as seen in Thunderbolts Annual 1997. In reality, he still lives as the sonic entity known as Scream, as we’ll see in Thunderbolts #49.
The man wearing the Beetle costume is Doctor Goulding, whom Abe murdered when he was the Beetle, as seen in Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #3. As of this writing, he is still considered among the deceased.
If you don’t think this truly destroyed Mephisto, move to the head of the class. He won’t be gone for long, as he will turn up in Hellcat #1.
Topical References
Hawkeye is said to be coming out of Home Depot. This should be considered a topical reference as this is a real world business.
The billionaire that Pluto is referencing is Donald Trump, who owned some valuable property on Park Avenue at the time of this story. This should be considered a topical reference as Trump is a real world person and some of these properties have changed hands in the time since.
When Pluto is mentioned by name, Charcoal quips “the dog?”, he is referring to Pluto the dog, beloved pet of Mickey Mouse. A reference like this would usually be considered topical however now that Marvel Comics are owned by Disney, this would be a case of brand synergy now.
Jaine Cutter asks Songbird if there is a CD player in the T-Bird. This was a common feature in new cars at the time of this publication. This should be considered a topical reference as CDs have fallen out of popular use. Car manufacturers stopped installing them in vehicles entirely in the year 2020.
Physician, Heal Thyself?
Moonstone is in her quarters examining herself in a 3 way mirror. In her mind she sees herself in three aspects. First, her super-villain identity of Moonstone, her more heroic costume that she has worn since becoming a member of the Thunderbolts, and the third the strange Kree warrior woman who has haunted her dreams. She has found herself in a conflict between who she once was and who she is now. For some reason she is becoming good natured when once she craved power.
She thinks back to how she tried to coerce her way into becoming a super-villain, until the day she managed to physiologically trick the original Moonstone to give up the gem that gave him his powers.[1] This ruthless woman is a far cry from the woman she is becoming now, one who suddenly feels guilt over the way she treated her childhood friend, Deeana Stockwood.[2] As she struggles with the positive feelings she has begun to feel since joining the Thunderbolts she smashes the mirror. She worries about if this new altruism isn’t actually being caused by the Moon Stone, but from within and perhaps actually wants to be a better person.
Recurring Characters
Moonstone
Continuity Notes
Karla Sofen got her start as a minion of Doctor Faustus as seen in Captain America #192. It wasn’t until she convinced Lloyd Bloch (the original Moonstone) to give up his gem that she gained powers, as seen in Incredible Hulk #229.
In Thunderbolts #25 we learned that Karla’s parents were worked for the Stockwood families as their mansion wait staff. Karla befriended their daughter and envying her wealth and privilege, Karla used psychology to gaslight Deeana.
Who is the Mockingbird in This Story?
As stated above, Mockingbird’s death was undone during the Secret Invasion event, revealing that the woman who died was actually a Skrull spy who took her place. That event, and other stories have frequently made characters who appeared dead and in the afterlife appear there even though later stories revealed that they weren’t actually dead at all. Some common examples include the original Green Goblin and Bucky. Starting with the early 2000s editions Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe it has been explained that these these “dead” characters were actually impostors posing as the individuals that their opponents thought were dead. Mockingbird has since been qualified as one of these individuals who had impostors posing as her during periods where she was believed to be dead. That said, who the “dead” impostor could be is never clearly established.
Now there are two possibilities, the first it could be an agent of Mephisto (a demon or something) posing as Mockingbird in order to torment the hero. Another possibility is that, this is the Skrull impostor and she still thinks she’s the genuine Mockingbird, even in death.
If it were up to me, I’d pick the simplest solution to this conundrum. In Secret Invasion, it was revealed that the Skrull infiltrators were so good at their jobs that they literally believed that they were who they were masquerading as until the invasion began. This was a means of fooling telepaths and other mind readers. I think that the Skrull conditioning was so strong that they believed it even in the afterlife. Either that or Mephisto knew and thought it would be funny to trap the Skrull in that form. Why use one of his demons when he could use one of the damned? This would make the most sense to me since the dead “Mockingbird” we see here is still altruistic despite being trapped in Hell.
