Thunderbolts #1

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Justice... Like Lightning!

A few weeks after the devastating Onslaught) crisis, New York City is left in ruins, and Megan McLaren) reports for WJBP-TV) on how the absence of the Avengers) and the Fantastic Four) leaves the city vulnerable. She conveys to her audience the destruction caused by Sentinels under the control of Onslaught), with rescue workers still sifting through wreckage, removing bodies and trying to find survivors. She suggests that cleanup may take months.

Amid the destruction, a 15 year old girl, named Helen “Hallie” Takahama), sees the news crew and feels like she should try to reach them in order to be safe. The girl has learned to fear open spaces, like the one she’d need to cross, over the last few weeks as well as what might lurk in shadows. Hunger gives her the bravery needed as she’s tired of hiding from animals and gangs amidst the wreckage. Before she can make her move, a masked man shoves a chloroform soaked rag over her face and subdues her. All alone, since the recent death of her parents, she’s just what the masked man has been looking for.

Shortly afterwards, Megan returns to the WJBP-TV studios and presents a report on the dangers still posed by supervillains, with fewer heroes to stop them. Several members of the public voice their concerns in short clips which Megan’s colleague, Kenny_(Earth-616)), is helping her edit into her report. Kenny questions whether this report might scare the public unnecessarily. Megan insists that the public is already scared and wondering, with so many heroes gone, who will save them now.

With no heroes to stand in their way, crime groups like the Rat Pack_(Earth-616)) begin to prey on the city unchallenged. They steal valuable property from the homes destroyed by the Sentinel attack, even stealing from the bodies of the deceased, and are under orders by their employer to bring him living captives for his experiments. However, their spree is interrupted by the arrival of a new superhero team, the Thunderbolts), led by Citizen V.

The team — Citizen V, Atlas, Mach-1, Meteorite, Songbird, and Techno — takes down the Rat Pack, despite the criminals’ military training. Although the Rat Pack manages to escape, the Thunderbolts leave a strong impression, and Dallas Riordan from the mayor’s office is pleased about the arrival of the new heroes.

Back at their run-down headquarters, tensions arise among the team. Techno grumbles about their poor accommodations, while Meteorite notices a budding connection between Mach-1 and Songbird after their teamwork in the fight. Atlas voices frustration to Meteorite about Techno’s disregard for Citizen V’s orders during the battle.

Soon after, the Thunderbolts face the press. Citizen V insists they’re not trying to replace the Avengers, but that they’re here to protect the city under the motto “Justice, like Lightning!” When news comes in of the Rat Pack’s return, the Thunderbolts rush to confront them, only to find themselves ambushed by the Wrecking Crew at the Statue of Liberty. A fierce battle unfolds, but the Thunderbolts emerge victorious and even repair the statue’s damage. Dallas Riordan personally thanks the team, particularly catching Atlas’s attention.

Afterwards, the media quickly embraces the Thunderbolts, and established heroes like Spider-Man and the New Warriors commend them as well. However, the public is unaware of the truth: under the mask of Citizen V is none other than Baron Helmut Zemo), and the Thunderbolts are actually the Masters of Evil in disguise: Beetle), Fixer), Goliath), Moonstone) and Screaming Mimi). | Solicit = In a world without heroes, a squad of costumed crime fighters steps forward to challenge evil. But can a group of rookies with a shocking secret hope to take the place of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers? The Wrecking Crew intends to make that answer painfully obvious.

| Writer1_1 = Kurt Busiek | Penciler1_1 = Mark Bagley | Inker1_1 = Vince Russell | Colorist1_1 = Joe Rosas | Letterer1_1 = Dave Lanphear | Letterer1_2 = Oscar Gongorra | Editor1_1 = Tom Brevoort

| Appearing1 = **Featured Characters:** * Thunderbolts) Real Identity Revealed ** Meteorite / Moonstone (Karla Sofen))|Code of Honor Vol 1 3|Thunderbolts Vol 1 2 ** Citizen V / Baron Helmut Zemo)) ** Atlas / Goliath (Erik Josten)) ** Techno / Fixer (Norbert Ebersol)) ** Mach-1 / Beetle (Abner Jenkins)) ** Songbird / Screaming Mimi (Mimi Schwartz))|Tales of the Marvel Universe Vol 1 1|Thunderbolts Vol 1 2 **Supporting Characters:** * WJBP-TV) ** Megan McLaren)|-|Thunderbolts Vol 1 8 ** Kenny_(Earth-616)) * Helen “Hallie” Takahama)|-|Thunderbolts Vol 1 2| * Dallas Riordan)|-|Thunderbolts Vol 1 2| **Antagonists:** * Rat Pack_(Earth-616)) ** Number One_(Earth-616)) ** Number Fourteen_(Earth-616)) ** Several unidentified members * Wrecking Crew) ** Thunderball (Eliot Franklin)_(Earth-616)) ** Wrecker (Dirk Garthwaite)) ** Bulldozer (Henry Camp)) ** Piledriver (Brian Calusky)) **Other Characters:** * Avengers) ** Thor (Odinson)) ** Iron Man (Tony Stark)) ** Captain America (Steve Rogers)) ** Giant-Man (Hank Pym)) ** Wasp (Janet Van Dyne)) * Fantastic Four) ** Human Torch (Johnny Storm)) ** Thing (Ben Grimm)) ** Invisible Woman (Susan Richards)) ** Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards)) * Hulk (Bruce Banner)) * Onslaught) * Robert Takahama) * Jane Takahama) * Lava Men * Blastaar) * Frightful Four) ** Wizard (Bentley Wittman)) ** Hydro-Man (Morris Bench)) ** Titania (Mary MacPherran)) ** Klaw (Ulysses Klaw)) * Masters of Evil) ** Mister Hyde (Calvin Zabo)) ** Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)) ** Tiger Shark (Todd Arliss)) ** Blackout (Marcus Daniels)) ** Absorbing Man (Crusher Creel)) * Thomas Randolph (poet)|Thomas Randolph * Sandy * Barb * Other unidentified civillians * The Mayor of New York City) * Donna * Eduardo_(Earth-616)) * Spider-Man (Peter Parker))|Journey Into Mystery Vol 3 505|Sensational Spider-Man Vol 1 12 * New Warriors) ** Night Thrasher (Dwayne Taylor)) ** Nova (Richard Rider)) ** Kymaera (Namorita Prentiss)) ** Speedball (Robbie Baldwin)) * Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff)) **Races and Species:** * Asgardians * Humans) * Sentinels * Lava Men * Baluurians * Atlantean-Human Hybrids **Realities:** * Earth-616 **Locations:** * Earth ** United States of America *** New York) **** New York City ***** Manhattan ****** Cellini's Pizzeria ****** Statue of Liberty ***** South Bronx, Bronx *** The Vault, Colorado) **Items:** * Iron Man Armor Model YT1 * Captain America's Uniform * Captain America's Shield * Fantastic Four Uniforms * Songbird's Sonic Carapace * Mobile Armored Cyber-Harness * Moonstone * Thunderball's Ball and Chain * Techno's Tech-Pac * Bulldozer's Armor **Vehicles:** * V-Wing

| Notes = * This issue is reprinted in the trades *Thunderbolts Classic Vol. 1* and *Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightning*. | Trivia = | Recommended = | Links =

Creative credits

Writers: Kurt Busiek

Interior art: Mark Bagley

Color: Joe Rosas

Source records & attribution

Panel Profits keeps each source identity attached to its edition record.

GCD: 60178

PANEL PROFITS: 2421378