Thunderbolts #128 Preview

[jackolover]

http://au.comics.ign.com/articles/945/945694p1.html

This shows the first appearance of Obama, and he's hauling Osborn over the coals about reports of abuses. He has Doc Samson in the same Presidential plane with himself, and Osborn and Ms Hand. Last caption has Osborn tripping an electronic device in his cuff link, just as Samson was going to show a DVD of TBolts mountain in chaos.

I wonder if that trip device completely erases the DVD or signals another Goblin to attack POTUS' plane? In any case, this is a very compelling read, and Obama comes across as a very hard and thorough POTUS. I like him already.

[XPac]

http://au.comics.ign.com/articles/945/945694p1.html

This shows the first appearance of Obama, and he's hauling Osborn over the coals about reports of abuses. He has Doc Samson in the same Presidential plane with himself, and Osborn and Ms Hand. Last caption has Osborn tripping an electronic device in his cuff link, just as Samson was going to show a DVD of TBolts mountain in chaos.

I wonder if that trip device completely erases the DVD or signals another Goblin to attack POTUS' plane? In any case, this is a very compelling read, and Obama comes across as a very hard and thorough POTUS. I like him already.

Whatever Norman does, I hope it's more compelling than just erasing that one disc. Presumably Samson would be smart enough to have made copies, and to show to other people.

There's no reason in the world Frontline shouldn't have been emailed a copy of it by now.

Still, I guess for Dark Reign to work something needs to make that whole thing just kind of go away.

[The Cool Thatguy]

Whatever Norman does, I hope it's more compelling than just erasing that one disc. Presumably Samson would be smart enough to have made copies, and to show to other people.

There's no reason in the world Frontline shouldn't have been emailed a copy of it by now.

Still, I guess for Dark Reign to work something needs to make that whole thing just kind of go away.

Honestly, I'd bet good money that Samson brought with him the only copy in existance and never showed it to anyone.

[jackolover]

Whatever Norman does, I hope it's more compelling than just erasing that one disc. Presumably Samson would be smart enough to have made copies, and to show to other people.

There's no reason in the world Frontline shouldn't have been emailed a copy of it by now.

Still, I guess for Dark Reign to work something needs to make that whole thing just kind of go away.

Somethings going to happen on that plane that will make the DVD irrelevant to Obama, and either Obama is killed, or, Osborn is redeemed to such an extent that Obama doesn't want to see the DVD.

[chaosakita]

It's the new team already. I really like their designs.

However, does anyone know who the muscley guy with tatoos is?

[Joe Franklin]

However, does anyone know who the muscley guy with tatoos is?

Mr. X

He is a Wolverine villain created in 2001. He can telepathically read thoughts of the people he fights, knowing what move they are going to make, before they make it.

[jdwrocks]

Somethings going to happen on that plane that will make the DVD irrelevant to Obama, and either Obama is killed, or, Osborn is redeemed to such an extent that Obama doesn't want to see the DVD.
There is ZERO chance President Obama will be killed in any comic book printed, especially by the big 2. And there is a slim to none chance that Marvel will portray Obama as a fool.

[The Cool Thatguy]

There is ZERO chance President Obama will be killed in any comic book printed, especially by the big 2. And there is a slim to none chance that Marvel will portray Obama as a fool.

Well, something's gotta happen to make him accept Norman. Mind control, maybe?

[Omega Alpha]

There is ZERO chance President Obama will be killed in any comic book printed, especially by the big 2. And there is a slim to none chance that Marvel will portray Obama as a fool.

Exactly. The African-American Messiah can't do anything that makes him look too bad.

Another reason that makes me say: using real life presidents, governors, etc, it's a pathetic idea that adds absolutely nothing to the books and only serves to limit storylines, and to make writers attack or kiss the ass of whoever is in charge.

[$5 Milkshake]

Another reason that makes me say: using real life presidents, governors, etc, it's a pathetic idea that adds absolutely nothing to the books and only serves to limit storylines, and to make writers attack or kiss the ass of whoever is in charge.

I agree 110%. I have nothing against Obama, but I find it absolutely ridiculous seeing him in comics. I mean, an appearance is fine, but as a character involved in plot? Ridiculous.

[jackolover]

There is ZERO chance President Obama will be killed in any comic book printed, especially by the big 2. And there is a slim to none chance that Marvel will portray Obama as a fool.

I wasn't inferring that Obama would then look like a fool if he disregards the DVD about Osborn. It has nothing to do with Barack and who he is. It only has something to do with the plot. It's less likely that POTUS is killed, and more likely that circumstances prevent Obama from coming to a conclusion about Osborn, so Obama has to let Osborn continue because there is no evidence to convict him.

As far as POTUS being represented as a fool, how did you take Bush being represented as a dove in Secret War, when Fury asked Bush to attack Latveria and he Bush out and out refused?

[Wild Card13]

Well, something's gotta happen to make him accept Norman. Mind control, maybe?

My guess is he sics his new Thunderbolts on Air Force One, makes sure he's seen valiantly defending the newly minted President's life, and then when he calls off his attack dogs Obama sees him as a guy with a shady past who's fighting on the right side.

[rogerio]

This book is gonna be awesome...:smile:

[The Cool Thatguy]

I wasn't inferring that Obama would then look like a fool if he disregards the DVD about Osborn. It has nothing to do with Barack and who he is. It only has something to do with the plot. It's less likely that POTUS is killed, and more likely that circumstances prevent Obama from coming to a conclusion about Osborn, so Obama has to let Osborn continue because there is no evidence to convict him.

As far as POTUS being represented as a fool, how did you take Bush being represented as a dove in Secret War, when Fury asked Bush to attack Latveria and he Bush out and out refused?

IIRC, the implication was that Bush and his people were complicit in the terrorist attacks. So really, that's not a great example.

Lets be honest here. Bush's policies are so far out there that barring some act of extreme terrorism/God, no other president is going to have policies that remotely resemble his. And that's a problem for Marvel, who based their status qou in reaction to his policies.

[XPac]

I don't think we should necessarily read too much politics into what marvel had their president do over the past few years.

Marvel was clearly moving in the direction of a corrupt government... the president we saw was the president the stories needed regardless of how the writers may or may not perceive the actual president at the time.

I do think Obama will be better protected image wise than Bush because right now there's a love affair between him and the country, and because he's a Spidey fan. If that wasn't the case, they probably would have potrayed Obama as corrupt too IF the story needed a corrupt president in order to work.

[Iron Jake]

The new team looks awesome. Though Ant-man looks like he'll be eaten alive by the rest of them. Is Osborn still going to be directly leading the Thunderbolts or is he handing them to someone else?

[jdwrocks]

My guess is he sics his new Thunderbolts on Air Force One, makes sure he's seen valiantly defending the newly minted President's life, and then when he calls off his attack dogs Obama sees him as a guy with a shady past who's fighting on the right side.
That sounds like the best choice. Especially since these new T-Bolts are totally off the books so to speak. Norman can't be seen having any knowledge of them, so using them to then make himself look even better, is the type of thing Norm's been doing lately.

[XPac]

Also, Norman probably needs another Green Goblin out there to throw everyone off. Pay some schmuck to get in a Goblin suit and pumkin bomb a few buildings, and that will help throw the scent off of him.

In regards to some of his past actions as the Goblin... I think the easiest and best way to get the blame off of his is to simply say Tony Stark forced him to be the GG and commit attrocities against his will. And the kicker there would be that it's partially TRUE... Tony did do that. So it gets the blame off of Osborn, and puts in on Tony. Win win for him.

[Monty_Cristo]

The new team looks awesome. Though Ant-man looks like he'll be eaten alive by the rest of them.

that's what makes it interesting. will he be eaten alive or will he prove himself to be just as coldblooded. Eric's not a killer but he is someone who will do pretty much anything to save his own @$$. it took him about half a second to wipe the blood/brains of his best friend off his hands before deciding to steal the Ant-Man armor and save himself from dying in the Helicarrier crash.

Is Osborn still going to be directly leading the Thunderbolts or is he handing them to someone else?

the orders come from Osborn but are filtered down through Yelena Belova; for purposes of plausible deniability.

[Monty_Cristo]

Exactly. The African-American Messiah can't do anything that makes him look too bad.

bitter, much? ..............

[Umbra]

Exactly. The African-American Messiah can't do anything that makes him look too bad.

Another reason that makes me say: using real life presidents, governors, etc, it's a pathetic idea that adds absolutely nothing to the books and only serves to limit storylines, and to make writers attack or kiss the ass of whoever is in charge.

You are pathetic. "African-American Messiah"? what kind of BS is that?

Another reason to turn regular folks off to reading comics.

[Joe Franklin]

Exactly. The African-American Messiah can't do anything that makes him look too bad.


The President is not African-American. Have you seen his Mother's side of the family?:wink:

[J.R. LeMar]

And, by this time tomorrow, he'll be the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!:biggrin:


Looking forward to the comic.Don't know why some people have such a problem with it. I remember seeing Reagan in Legends, Justice League, & a couple of New Universe comics during the 80's. Clinton popped up in Superman, Black Panther, and Captain America during the 90's. George W. was also in Black Panther, as well as in Millar's Wolverine &, recently, Fantastic Four. And, of course, he, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Condi Rice, and Robert Gates all showed up Ultimates. And those are just the appearances that I'm aware of.

@ least in Thunderbolts, it's a natural progression for the series, since it's a government program, so it's not just a tacked-on gimmick like the Spidey story.

The only part that didn't ring true, judging from that preview, was when Norman made that crack about the leader of the free world, and that Pres. Obama didn't even react to it. I'd think Norman would be more politically astute than that, and would be all smiles to the President.

And why were Obama and Osborn shaking with their left hands?

[jackolover]

IIRC, the implication was that Bush and his people were complicit in the terrorist attacks. So really, that's not a great example.

Lets be honest here. Bush's policies are so far out there that barring some act of extreme terrorism/God, no other president is going to have policies that remotely resemble his. And that's a problem for Marvel, who based their status qou in reaction to his policies.

There is a strong carryover to the real Bush from the Secret War depiction, but would Bush make the same mistake twice? I don't think so. Marvel depicted Bush as complicit in the terrorist attacks on the Avengers because the story needed him too. I don't necessarily agree that the POTUS should be depicted this way though.

My only problem would be, what would Secret War be, if the POTUS agreed with Fury to attack Latveria? Would it only forstall the the attack of America by Lucia Von Badass and the American Tech villains, just like Secret War did?

[myslead]

if somehow, norman gets to erase the content of the dvd and it's the ONLY DVD ...
Samson is a moron.

[Omega Alpha]

if somehow, norman gets to erase the content of the dvd and it's the ONLY DVD ...
Samson is a moron.

If Osborn erases it and it's the only DVD, I'd say Diggle is the moron, not Samson.

A much more interesting storyline would be to send the team to kill the Doc, and I think Diggle has something like that in mind.

[StoneGold]

With Doc Doom on the payroll? The backups should already be erased.

[XPac]

If Osborn erases it and it's the only DVD, I'd say Diggle is the moron, not Samson.

A much more interesting storyline would be to send the team to kill the Doc, and I think Diggle has something like that in mind.

I'm not sure this team could actually kill Samson though.

[StoneGold]

I'm not sure this team could actually kill Samson though.

Up close, probably not. But put Paladin in a situation like he was at the end of Bendis' run in Daredevil, two miles up with adamantium bullets...


I'm just saying, put a weapon in his hands powerful enough to put Samson down, he can make the shot.

[Monty_Cristo]

Up close, probably not. But put Paladin in a situation like he was at the end of Bendis' run in Daredevil, two miles up with adamantium bullets...


I'm just saying, put a weapon in his hands powerful enough to put Samson down, he can make the shot.

yeah, i think people are overestimating Samson's invulnerability in this particular instance. sure he's strong but so was Wonderman before being put in the hospital by a pumpkin bomb. now take into account that Headsman is a weapons tester for Oscorp. whose to say that his amped up axe couldn't cleave Leonard's head off? either way, we know that Norman's not going to allow him to smear him. we also know that another Green Goblin becomes involved. there are a thousand ways to spin this. my guess is that, by the end of this arc, it's going to be another well-publicized save; Osborn personally protecting the new president. Obama would look like a real heel to do anything but support Osborn & HAMMER after that.

[Monty_Cristo]

With Doc Doom on the payroll? The backups should already be erased.

who needs Doc Doom when you have the Ghost? i'm sure that he's pretty good at getting rid of information.

[Trooper3]

I don't recognize 1/2 the people on the cover.

[StoneGold]

who needs Doc Doom when you have the Ghost? i'm sure that he's pretty good at getting rid of information.

You're right in that using Doom is swatting a fly with a tactical nuke, but was more saying that there's plenty of ways for the info to have been dealt with, with the resources Norm has these days.

[Monty_Cristo]

read the latest issue. it was great but seemed short compared to my other reads. the t-bolts are handling their mission brilliantly so-far. it's going to be tough waiting for next issue!

[Deadpooligan]

Great issue. Only one gripe though...

Isn't Black Widow II... dead? New Avengers Annual #1... became the HYDRA Super Adaptoid, got blown up?

How/when did she come back?

[The Cool Thatguy]

Great issue. Only one gripe though...

Isn't Black Widow II... dead? New Avengers Annual #1... became the HYDRA Super Adaptoid, got blown up?

How/when did she come back?

They don't have to explain it. It was a skrull. Or magic. Or magic skrull.

[Optic Power]

Great issue. Only one gripe though...

Isn't Black Widow II... dead? New Avengers Annual #1... became the HYDRA Super Adaptoid, got blown up?

How/when did she come back?

She has been back, i think we have seen her recentely in the Marvel Presents series. The one that died was a skrull.

[dazzler_slave]

So who's the last member of the team? We've got Yelena, Ant Man, Paladin, Ghost, Headsman and Mr. X, but who's the last guy? Foolkiller?

[Monty_Cristo]

So who's the last member of the team? We've got Yelena, Ant Man, Paladin, Ghost, Headsman and Mr. X, but who's the last guy? Foolkiller?

that would be Nuke.

[dazzler_slave]

that would be Nuke.

Ah. New character? The only Nuke I remember was a member of Squadron Supreme.

[Icegod]

Ah. New character? The only Nuke I remember was a member of Squadron Supreme.

I think hes an old captian america foe. Took the super serum and it went horribly wrong.

[dazzler_slave]

I think hes an old captian america foe. Took the super serum and it went horribly wrong.

Oh yeah! I totally forgot about him! Thanks! And thanks Monte!

[Jake V]

that would be Nuke.

Nuke?

Nuke from "Born Again"???

[rogerio]

Nuke?

Nuke from "Born Again"???
yeah...pretty cool!:smile: