Seems as I went on and on about Thunderbolts in that last entry, now seems like a good time to actually review this week’d Thunderbolts comic.

Thunderbolts is one of those rare, long-running titles that I’ve been with since the very beginning. It’s had its ups and downs, but generally it’s been pretty good. At the moment, for whatever reason, Ellis and Deodato don’t put it out on a monthly schedule, so every few months we get these fill-in specials. Fine by me, because as far as I’m concerned, the more Thunderbolts the better.

This month’s special puts under the lens the remaining two cast members from the original isues - Moonstone, an amoral, self-serving psychiatrist with an eye to wresting control of the Thunderbolts, and Songbird, one of the few genuine villains-turned-hero that remains in the team. The friction between the two characters has been a staple of the series, almost since the start, and it’s good to see a definite turning point in their relationship as Moonstone ultimately finds that her plan to break Melissa has backfired in a fairly big way.

Gage’s writing works well, showing these characters firmly as part of the Ellis-era Thunderbolts despite their ties to the history of the team. The manipulation, scheming and backstabbing that Ellis favours fits these characters well. There’s an amusing reference to the whole Mary Jane Statue matter which plays off the idea of licensing the team for toys and such. It’s hard to follow Ellis, but Gage manages to fit the tone without turning Ellis-Lite. Brian Denham on art seems to have taken his style in a slightly more Deodato-esque direction, but there’s nothing to complain about even if it’s not his best work (though the opening splash page of Brother Nature might well be.)

Even though it’s not crucial to Thunderbolts’ ongoing arc, Breaking Point is a great story and certainly one that any fans of old-school Thunderbolts should consider picking up if they’re not convinced by Ellis’ take.

Tags: Thunderbolts
Publisher: Marvel