Avengers/Thunderbolts #6 Review

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Reviewer: Tim Stevens
Story Title: Blood Will Tell

Written by: Kurt Busiek & Fabian Nicieza
Penciled by: Tom Grummett
Inked by: Gary Erskine
Colored by: Brian Reber with Chris Sotomayor
Lettered by: Richard Starkings & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Publisher: Marvel Comics

I loved the Thunderbolts. Not like I love Janelle or a fine wine or you, the humble reader, but I did love it oodles. The anything can happen tone, the mining of continuity, the underlying themes of redemption, love, and fate, it all pleased me. So I was just thrilled when this miniseries began and even more so when I heard there will be a regular series to follow.

And now, 6 months later, I thank god this book has finally drawn to a close. Mostly because I think I might have fallen asleep if it did not.

Okay, so that is a little unfair. The book is not entirely bad. The art by Grummett is well done. I was disappointed when Kitson dropped out of the project after the first few issues so it is a testament to the artist that I have not thought about that since the first issue with Grummett art came out.

There are some nice character moments as well, (Although, when did Hawkeye become Batman? “Don’t think for one second that I didn’t come here ready to take down both teams if I had to.” Wha?!), especially on the Thunderbolts side of the fence. Zemo’s return to his former ways is particularly pleasing in this way.

However, for every dead on character moment, there was plenty that didn’t make sense. What is with the Avengers, for one? At one point, Hawkeye begs them to, “stop giving her [Moonstone] reasons to flip out,” and I was right there with him. Every move they made seemed to be designed to escalate the situation, not tamp it down.

Finally, the bulk have the past 3 issues have occurred in the same locale and highlighting a drawn out battle royale. A one issue all out slugfest I fully support and dig. A three issue one full of awkward stops and starts? That I could do without. We all love action in our comics, but we love pacing, too.

I anxiously await the T-bolts return still. I remain loyal. But thank goodness that mini is behind me.