Writer: Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing
Art: Geraldo Borges, Arthur Hesli, Terry Dodson, and VC’s Joe Sabino
Price: $5.99
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: December 6th, 2023
A REVOLUTION IS COMING as Thunderbolts #1 by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing kicks off! Bucky Barnes, the Revolution, just inherited a mountain of covert intel, and he has one objective: justice. Like lightning. He’s going after the establishment, the people no one else is willing or able to take down, and he’ll do whatever it takes to win. Teaming with the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, Bucky assembles a team of black-ops heavy hitters to pursue high-profile targets like the Red Skull, Kingpin and even Doctor Doom himself. No one is safe from the Thunderbolts!
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THE DISPATCH
Out of the gate, Thunderbolts #1 gets a small team together and goes after none other than the Red Skull. However, what I liked the most about this Thunderbolts team is that it’s mostly made up of heroes/ antiheroes who ultimately have always had similar goals of justice… just in different ways. This group of heroes is willing to do the dirty work and even kill if need be. Something that it seems like the Avengers might have forgotten. They’re more than willing to get their hands dirty.
Immediately out of the gate, Thunderbolts #1 is exactly what you’d expect. Imagine an 80s movie montage involving the formation of a team and that’s basically the first half of the issue. Moreover, readers get a comic infused with action from beginning to end. No one character in particular stands out as having the most screen time, however, towards the end, I feel one character in particular takes center stage. Nevertheless, the depiction of this team works with a purpose and direction. They don’t mess around. Their mission is clear, concise, and driven. And by the end of the issue, their objective is made crystal clear.
Additionally, I feel another amazing aspect of Thunderbolts #1 was the balance between the characters. It’s hard to create a team book but somehow manage to equally share the page count with such a dynamic group of characters. Kelly and Lanzing do a phenomenal job with that very angle. Moreover, as opening installments go, this issue simply kicks butt with excitement. Their purpose was to hook you out of the gate and they do a tremendous job with that very premise.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Readers who have been enthralled in Bucky, Red Skull, and Captain America lore will have an absolute field day with Thunderbolts #1. The characters introduced mixed with the action and excitement will immediately encapsulate the reader while getting them jazzed for the series. All thanks to this creative team, this Thunderbolts roster just seems to gel perfectly. And the beauty of it all is that it’s done in such a short amount of time. Readers will leave this issue feeling like the team’s always been together. Now, would it help to have been following Bucky’s recent whereabouts as well as Caps? Sure. But is it necessary? I don’t think so. I think any new reader could reasonably follow along from Jump Street. Overall, with a story centered around action and the Red Skull, what’s not to like? I’d definitely give this opening issue a shot if you’re looking for something different to wet your whistle this week. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!