The War at Home

Now

In the aftermath of a massive battle, Songbird (Melissa Gold), leader of the Thunderbolts, mourns the loss of someone important. However, someone with her says that they had no choice in the mater. Despite the assurance, Melissa wonders if they really did the right thing.

Three Days Ago

The Thunderbolts — Songbird, Atlas (Erik Josten), Photon (Genis-Vell), Radioactive Man (Chen Lu), Joystick (Janice Yanizeski), and Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond) — and the Swordsman (Andreas Von Strucker) have been transported to a strange alien world by their former teammate Moonstone (Karla Sofen). This is the work of Barom (Helmut) Zemo, the Thunderbolts former leader, who used his two powerful Moon Stones to send them to this place. Now they are running for cover in a desolate wasteland as lightning hails down on them from the sky.[1] Little do they know that they have been transported the the Microverse.

Back on Earth, at the Richmond Riding Academy, Moonstone stands emotionless over the spot she transported the Thunderbolts away. She is joined by a group of other former Thunderbolts — Mach-IV (Abner Jenkins), Fixer (Norbert Ebersol), Blizzard (Donny Gill), and Man-Killer (Katrina Van Horn) — as well as the newly revived Blackout (Marcus Daniels). Mach-IV demands to know what Karla did to his former friends and teammates. when Abner grabs Moonstone by the arm, she uses her powers to send him crashing into the ground. When the others attack, Karla easily shrugs off the assault until she suddenly collapses motionless to the ground. It becomes clear that this is the work of Baron Zemo, who emerges from a portal from his "Folding Castle” to join them in the field. Mach-IV demands to know why Zemo used Moonstone against the Thunderbolts, and is told that it was for dramatic effect. He also assures Abner that the team is still very much alive because he saved them from Moonstone’s attack.

However, that the Thunderbolts are safe is a relative term, as they are struggling to protect themselves from the harsh elements of the Microverse world they are trapped on.[2] Working together, Radioactive Man and Swordsman are able to cut out some cover from the side of a nearby mountain. Out of immediate danger for the time being, Songbird decides to get some answers from the Swordsman.

At that moment, in Washington, DC, Dallas Riordan of the Department of Homeland Security and Henry Gyrich of the Commission on Superhuman Activities are holding a meeting regarding the Thunderbolts. Gyrich is worried that Zemo has gotten too powerful, particularly in light of the fact that they lost Carol Danvers — aka Ms. Marvel — when they previously used the Thunderbolts to attack the New Avengers.[3] Back at the ranch, Zemo explains that destroying the place and sending the Thunderbolts elsewhere was necessary. When Man-Killer inquires as to where, Zemo says a place that will force the Thunderbolts to work together and re-evaluate their allegiances. Both Mach-IV and Fixer begin to worry that their leader has too much power in his hands. None notice that Blackout — who is mostly braindead — focusing on Moonstone. Despite his impairment, part of his mind still remembers that Karla Sofen is responsible for his current mental state and yearns for revenge![4]

Back in the Microverse, the Thunderbolts are still trying to make sense of what is going on. They all wonder if Moonstone’s attack has something to do with the troubles they have been having with Photon.[5] They noted that Moonstone — who usually flippantly announces her plans and intentions — was strangely silent during her attack on them. They then turn to the Swordsman to fill in the blanks for them since he came to warn them of the coming attack. The Swordsman reintroduced himself as Andreas Von Strucker, son of Hydra leader Wolfgang Von Strucker, and part of the mutant terrorists known as the Fenris. After his sister Andrea died, he was enslaved by the Purple Man (Zebadiah Killgrave) and used as a tool against the Thunderbolts. It was only recently that Andreas discovered that Baron Zemo had been the one pulling the strings from behind the scenes, revealing that Zemo had been manipulating the Thunderbolts since the moment they reformed.[6] Zemo’s master plan seems to be two fold: stopping Photon from destroying the universe, and then fomenting the forces of chaos so he can in turn save the world. Atlas isn’t so sure that Zemo would concoct this type of manipulative scheme, recalling how he once helped save Counter-Earth.[7]

Regardless, Joystick things that Zemo is correct about eliminating Photon and makes a move to kill him. She is stopped by Nighthawk, who points out that heroes don’t contemplate murder. Joystick then knocks him out, which stuns everyone else. Janice doesn’t see what the big deal is, pointing out that they only let Nighthawk on the team because they needed his money.[8] Still, the Thunderbolts all agree that killing Photon might not be the right move. They ask Melissa if her visions of the future felt real, but it could have merely been a possible future.[9]

Back on Earth, Baron Zemo explains that he shunted the Thunderbolts off to another dimension to protect them from Moonstone’s attack and to catch them off guard. Using his Moon Stones, he searches for the team and discovers that they were sent to the Microverse. He reaches into that dimension to capture Photon, who awakens just as Zemo’s massive god-like hand crosses into the micro-dimension. Accepting who and what he is, Genis-Vell refuses to surrender to oblivion, choosing to fight. He then pulls himself and his teammates back to Earth.

As Zemo and Genis match their immense cosmic powers against one another, the two teams of Thunderbolts find themselves in the middle of a stand-off as they try to figure out what to do. Songbird focuses on her ex-boyfriend, Mach-IV, disappointed to see that working with Zemo was Abner’s new job.[10] Abner says that they need to stop Genis before he destroys the universe. Melissa is uncertain of what to do until she looks at Nighthawk and recalls his speech about how they are supposed to be heroes. This helps Songbird make up her mind and she orders her team to protect Genis. Each member of the group pairs off against a member of Zemo’s team. Songbird battles Mach-IV, Joystick takes on Fixer, Radioactive Man deals with Blackout, and Nighthawk fights the Blizzard. This leaves Atlas to battle his former friend, Man-Killer.[11] However, this is no easy task as she reveals that she has been augmented with Pym Particles, allowing her to grow to giant size as well. All the while, Songbird and Mach-IV are having a war of words over the state of Thunderbolts, Melissa’s alleged feelings for Genis-Vell, and betrayals.[12]

Meanwhile, Zemo and Photon continue their battle. The Baron apologizes for having to kill Genis, but it is what is required to spare the universe. Helmut reveals that it was his fault that Genis even found himself in this situation. After Atlas had killed Genis the first time, Zemo used the Moon Stones to help foster his resurrection, binding Genis to the photonic powers that now risk all creation. He had done so, hoping to avert that doomsday future, but his inexperience wielding the Moon Stones instead ensured that the crisis would come to pass. Helmut is deeply sorry for condemning Genis to death, but there is no other way to save all existence.

Ultimately, the Thunderbolts take the advantage against Zemo’s team. However, before they can turn on Zemo, Helmut orders Blackout to open a portal to the Darkforce Dimension. Blackout does as ordered, using his body as the conduit. From within, the Smuggler (Conrad Joster), cries out for rescue. Zemo reveals to Atlas that his brother survived the battle with Graviton and is now trapped in that other dimension.[13] Helmut promises Erik that he will save Conrad if he keeps the others away long enough for him to deal with Genis. Realizing that he has no choice, Atlas then turns against his comrades.

As Atlas keeps his allies at bay, Zemo tries one last attempt to appeal to Genis. Using the Moon Stones, Helmut opens portals so that Photon can see all the futures in which he is spared. In every single one, the universe is destroyed. Seeing these glimpses of the future also surprises the other Thunderbolts. When Melissa asks Genis if he knew about this, he admits that he does but insists that he has been trying everything to prevent this from happening.

With that, Zemo begins the process to kill Genis-Vell.. This requires using Blackout and the Darkforce Dimension and in doing so, he it also frees the Smuggler from his prison. Genis pleads for another chance as he is cut into pieces, then Zemo banishes each part to various different dimensions across time and space, ensuring that Photon cannot resurrect himself as he had done in the past. Zemo pronounces to the Thunderbolts that Genis-Vell is dead and never coming back.[14]

In the aftermath of the battle, Atlas is reunited with his brother Conrad. Erik apologizes to Melissa, as he couldn’t just abandon his brother. With the threat now over, Radioactive Man asks why Zemo has been manipulating the Thunderbolts since their reformation. Helmut is glad that Chen asked….

Now

Melissa has prepared a grave for Genis-Vell on the same astroid where his father, Captain Mar-Vell was buried.[15] With her is Baron Zemo, and the two discuss how they had no choice but to end Genis-Vell’s life in order to save the future. The two have apparently been working together this whole time. While they talk, Zemo removes his mask, revealing that his face is once more healed and the two talk about the future of their Thunderbolts and the new beginning ahead of them. With that, the two teleport away.[15]

Recurring Characters

Thunderbolts (Baron Zemo, Songbird, Moonstone, Atlas, Mach-IV, Fixer, Radioactive Man, Joystick, Blizzard, Swordsman, Smuggler, Photon), Blackout, Man-Killer, Dallas Riordan, Henry Gyrich

Continuity Notes

1. Atlas wonders how Moonstone got out of her coma. Karla was put in a catatonic state when Baron Zemo took the two Moon Stones she held in her body. See Avengers/Thunderbolts #1-6.

2. Here, Atlas makes an off hand comment about how Melissa probably wouldn’t mind it if he got fried by the lightning. This stes from the fact that Erik attempted to kill Genis-Vell back in New Thunderbolts #1, a fact that Melissa did not learn until last issue.

3. The CSA and DOHS send the Thunderbolts to fight the New Avengers in New Thunderbolts #13-14, this is also when we learned that Zemo was working with them. Carol had left the Avengers to join the Department of Homeland Security following the events of Avengers (vol. 3) #65-70, she returned to the team in New Avengers #15.

4. Blackout was mentally manipulated by Moonstone back during their time on the Masters of Evil, as part of an assault on Avengers Mansion. In the end, Blackout seemingly perished, as seen in Avengers #273-277. However, Marcus was actually trapped in the Darkforce Dimension for years until he was freed by Zemo’s team in New Thunderbolts #17.

5. Last issue it was revealed that Photon was still being driven mad by his Cosmic Consciousness and that his photonic powers were threatening to destroy the very fabric of reality.

6. Swordsman drops a number of his recent exploits and involvement with the Thunderbolts. The details:

   • Andreas and Andrea Von Strucker first appeared back in Uncanny X-Men #194, their relationship with Baron Strucker and their first foray as the Fenris wasn’t revealed until issue #200 of that series.

   • At the time of this story, Andrea was murdered by Baron Zemo, during his time possessing the body of Citizen V (John Watkins III) as seen in Citizen V and the V-Battalion #1-3. A clone of Andreas, claiming to be the genuine article, will turn up in Thunderbolts #122.

   • As the Swordsman, Andreas was first depicted as being enslaved by Killgrave in New Thunderbolts #2. This came to an end when the team defeated the Purple Man in issues #10-12. Andreas learned that Zemo was the real puppet master in New Thunderbolts #17.

7. Zemo was among the Thunderbolts who were stranded and helped save Counter-Earth from destruction. See Thunderbolts #59-64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74-75 for details.

8. The Thunderbolts have been cash poor since they reformed. Originally they accepted money from Hydra until the terrorist organization was taken down in New Thunderbolts #6. Former member Speed Demon kept them afloat by stealing money from the Shocker in issue #8. Later, after stealing from Richmond Enterprises and a battle with the Squadron Sinister ruined their base, they agreed to allow Nighthawk to join and fund the team, as seen in New Thunderbolts #15-16.

9. Melissa saw a glimpse of the future where Photon destroys the universe, as seen last issue. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #4, there are four alternate realities where this took place, they have been designated Reality-19000 through 19003.

10. After getting injured in New Thunderbolts #12, Abner took a leave of absence in the following issue while Melissa took over leadership of the team. He was immediately recruited by the Fixer to work on behalf of Zemo.

11. Atlas asks Man-Killer why she keeps making the wrong decisions. There was a period between Thunderbolts #27-42 that Atlas was trying to convince her to go straight. Katerina briefly joined up with the Thunderbolts between issues #64-75, but she discovered that she didn’t have what it took to be a hero. Zemo recruited her onto his team in New Thunderbolts #18.

12. Genis has been making himself a part of Melissa’s life since Thunderbolts #47. This is because he is aware that a future version of himself and Melissa would soon fall in love, as we saw in Avengers Forever #1-12. However, as of this writing (October, 2023) it remains to be seen if this will ever come to pass. That said, the future where Melissa and Genis are in a romantic relationship exists in Reality-98120 per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5.

13. Conrad Josten seemingly died during a battle with Graviton in Thunderbolts #56.

14. Except he actually does. See Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel #1-5.

15. Mar-Vell died years before his son was born via artificial insemination. See Marvel Graphic Novel #1.

16. Zemo’s face was horribly scarred in Avengers/Thunderbolts #5. We’ll learn next issue that he (obviously) used the Moon Stones to heal his face.

Topical References

• When discussing the Microverse, the Fixer and Baron Zemo quip about 1978 comedy Animal House. The film is credited as being the first “gross out” comedy. Its reference here wouldn’t necessarily be considered topical as the picture is considered a classic. However, there are no shortage of more contemporary films that could be used in its place if you want to make it one.

• Fixer mockingly refers to Joystick as “Thighmaster”, this was a simplistic exercise device that was specifically used to tone the thighs (hence the name). The device was heavily promoted on television through infomercials using the late Suzanne Sommers as a pitch-woman for the product. This should be considered a topical reference as this is a real world product. While one can still get a brand name Thighmaster, they are not as ubiquitous as they once were. A more contemporary example can be used in its place.