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THUNDERBOLTS #58
"Degrees of Evil"
Recommended (7/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Patrick Zircher
Inks: Al Vey, Greg Adams & Rich Perrota
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.25 US/$3.50 CAN |
After a
pretty stunning epic battle last issue, I have to admit to a little
disappointment in what seems an overly long continuation this time. There was
something a bit repetitive in having the teams face off against Graviton three
issues in a row, and though there are definitely high points throughout, I
generally felt a sense of deja vu. In addition, Zircher's art, though strong,
suffers under multiple inkers who seem to have been rushed into completing their
task. That said, however, Nicieza still keeps me intrigued with the question of
"what's coming next?" for all of these characters.
We're back to the more
morally questionable team of Thunderbolts, which pleases me to no end. Fixer's
amoral tendencies make him a dangerous ally, and it's interesting that Moonstone
has gone from amoral control freak to a bit of a mental headcase herself. In
addition, the restoration of Zemo to the team in the guise of Citizen V is a
very clever twist, and as he was one of my favorite characters in the early
incarnation of the book, I'm glad to have him back.
One thing you can't accuse
this book of being is static. The team in this issue is nothing like the team
only a few issues ago, whether it's new armor or costumes, a couple of returns
from the dead or simply the changes in personalities. Though I wish that Nicieza
wouldn't pull out the fake death card quite so often, so far I've been
entertained by the way in which some of the Thunderbolts keep coming back,
always affected by their deaths.
Zircher's work on this issue
feels a little bit cramped, and certainly he doesn't give us anything like the
amazing two-page spread of captured heroes in the last issue. His storytelling
is still fine, and he definitely captures the kinetic feel of the battle, but
the work for the most part looks a little rough and unfinished. I don't know if
this is a matter of the inkers not fitting his style or a general rush to get
things done, as would be indicated by having multiple inkers on a book.
With this story, Nicieza has
staged a pretty effective super-villain versus super-team battle. It sometimes
went on a bit long, but it had a lot of energy and some pretty nifty visuals,
and in the end, we're left in a situation where I don't know what's coming next.
The ability to surprise, and to keep the readers guessing, is definitely this
book's greatest strength.
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