This issue of New Thunderbolts reads like one of DC's Secret Files and Origins one-shots. That's good news for new readers, looking to check out what this title is all about. It's not such good news for the regular readers. The subplots advance somewhat, but ultimately, there's not a lot of story to be found here. It's a pleasure to see full art from Bill Sienkiewicz, even if it's just a fill-in job, but his style doesn't make for a good match to the traditional super-hero tone of the series.
In the wake of the New Thunderbolts' triumph over the forces of Hydra and the Fathom Five, all of Manhattan seems to be on their side. Pundits discuss the value in a team of reformed super-villains working to protect mankind rather than to plunder it. Yes, all seems right in the Thunderbolts' world... from an outsider's perspective. Within the team, there are major problems. Songbird, still recuperating from overextending her powers, questions the value of a new team built on a lie. And two of the would-be heroes are approached by a criminal colleague with a proposal.
One of the biggest problems with this issue is the sharp contrast between Sienkiewicz's sketchy, dark style and Tom Grummett's bright, conventional super-hero art. The shift to Grummett's style for the profile pages serves as a visual interruption to the flow of the comic. Of course, Sienkiewicz's work in general contrasts with the feel of the script and story. The writers are clearly aiming for a more realistic feel here, focusing on what media and public reactions to the Herculean feats of the title characters would be like. The artist's dark, stylistic leanings don't lend themselves to that goal of realism.
The Photon/Genis subplot doesn't interest me at all. The cosmic nature of the character -- like the inky, scratchy art -- is a poor fit for the Thunderbolts. The MACH-4/Songbird/Genis love triangle isn't in play anymore, so he doesn't fulfill that purpose anymore, and he doesn't fit in with the whole redemption thing all that well. Furthermore, the all-too convenient memory loss shunts the Atlas instability subplot to the side as well.
There are a number of elements in this issue that do work well, though. The Speed Demon/Blizzard scene makes it clear not all of these new Thunderbolts are true-blue heroes, that reformation isn't a process that's completed overnight. The punditry in this issue rings true as well, as does Joystick's mugging for the cameras on a fluffy morning "news" program. And of course, Nicieza's script is thoroughly accessible, which, as I noted earlier, is as much a strength as it is a liability. 5/10
