Thunderbolts #31

[iamrman]

The Thunderbolts undercover!

Chadwick takes the new recruits on a tour of the facility.

Wait, weren’t Brute Force a team of armoured animals based on a failed toy line?

Comments

[cainofdreaming]

How to make an insufferable villain. 1) Make them British. 2) Add just 20% more British. 3) Profit.

[iamrman]

Brits do play the best villains.

[dan_ingram]

In real life and on screen, too!

[zylly]

The bad guy who masterminded a terrorist organization centered on global conquest being able to bribe his way out of being in prison forever feels… all too plausible in this day and age.

Though if he wanted a society ruled by the rich and powerful, all he really had to do was wait. He wouldn’t even have to commit any crimes today.

[zachbeacon]

I am 90% sure this guy didn't actually pay his lawyers.

[mazway_75]

Another wonderful deep dive for a bad guy by Busiek.

Left off nice way Clint infiltrates, talking about being unemployed and fighting off guys. Reminds me of Busiek's very first Avengers story, a backup in an annual of the team infiltrating a Sons of the Serpent group in a small town.

"I just acted like another disgruntled hayseed jerk."
Pietro: "Really stretching yourself there, eh?"

[zachbeacon]

Okay, Clint’s lovin’ has reformed at least one and a half supervillains. Calling it now; Hawkeye is the anti-Daredevil.


The Elite just feel like The Hellfire Club if they were prudes. But I guess they have some connection to the Secret Empire so I assume they’re really here because they’re concerned that the Thunderbolts only have two white males now.


Gotta be honest, I remember this mini-arc being weaker than Kosmos…in that I barely remember it at all. But Nicieza is coming soon and then things get really crazy.

[iamrman]

Yes, the Elite gave me off-brand Hellfire Club vibes too.

[skjam]

The Elite were first published (1976) four years before the Marvel version of the Hellfire Club (1980), but yes, the latter is much more successful in the ecological niche of "evil rich people who enjoy British-themed cosplay."

The primary differentiator is that the Elite are the "coulda shoulda woulda-beens" of history, descended from families that believed they were going to get noble titles from the British Crown...eventually, and be granted the ability to rule over their colonial peers. While some of them are indeed rich and powerful, their focus is on the bloodlines, and who should have the right to rule.

[zachbeacon]

Convincing poor people they're just temporarily inconvenienced rich people is a pretty effective tactic for making them side with rich people.

Like zylly said, still seems pretty plausible today.

[scorntx]

Given Karla's backstory, and not having read this issue in full, I can only assume that these idiots are setting her off something fierce.
Particularly Cheer there.

[zachbeacon]

*thinking about next issue's cover*

I'm sure Moonstone is doing great. Just taking this all in stride.

(Yeah, I barely remember this arc but the "KILL-DERBY" image has stayed in my head for decades.)