Writer: Fabian Nicieza
The Thunderbolts have arrived at a rocket launch site in Germany. They now prepare to find a way to get aboard the rocket so they can leave Counter Earth and return home. Karla talks with Phantom Eagle, and places something on him. Abe helps with the rocket's launch with Iron Cross. Hallie listens to Baron Heinrich Zemo's speech to a crowd of people. Erik tries to dig beneath the shuttle to get to it but that plan fails since there's a detection wall, and going through it would cripple the launch site.
After a brief argument Fixer goes on with his plans. He knocks Makeshift unconscious. Fixer than goes after the rest of the Counter Earth Thunderbolts using gas bombs and engages them in battle. He then aggressively attacks Iron Cross and finally deposits Zemo from his tech-pack inside Iron Cross' body. Done this task Fixer leaves Zemo to fend for himself.
The Thunderbolts suit up in flight suits that will let them be part of the final preparation for the launch. The Fixer then goes flying being chased by the Counter Earth Thunderbolts. The Thunderbolts don't have time for this but don't have much choice so they chase down and defeat the Counter Earth Thunderbolts.
Only eight minutes to launch and Baron Heinrich Zemo, leader of the Counter Earth Thunderbolts considers his options. Baron Helmut Zemo now in Iron Cross' body comes into the room and kills Baron Heinrich Zemo.
As the rocket launches various people watch it fly up into the air and then explode. The Thunderbolts emerge from the explosion having destroyed the rocket. The Thunderbolts tell the small group of reporters what the rocket was really supposed to do and about the sinister plans of the Counter Thunderbolts in the World Party. One of the reporters asks who they are. Abe hesitates since he can't use the name Thunderbolts and just says they are the good guys.
As the Thunderbolts discuss the aftermath of their actions, Baron Helmut Zemo steps out of a nearby vehicle. Iron Cross' body that Zemo is now in is young which is opposite of the Iron Cross on Earth who was old before dying. Zemo makes a few comments about the Thunderbolts and questions them.
"Do you now intend to waste your time trying to save this world…or helping me rule it?!"
Comments: The end to this initial story on counter earth, and it looks like there will be more. A good story, even better work from Zircher again this month, and the title does keep its constantly changing status and enjoyable pace.
First the Thunderbolts go about their plans to get aboard the rocket. Moonstone places a tracer or something similar on Phantom Eagle, who has a moonstone of his own. She notes how he seems different on this world, I wonder if she can still met him after the launch now? Was she just helping out Fixer so he could take out Phantom Eagle by placing the thing on him or did was there another reason? If the Thunderbolts were going to leave the world anyway, was it a back up plan just in case they couldn't leave. I thought this would get a tiny bit of spotlight later on just to show the results of an earlier action, but there was nothing. It all seemed a bit odd; perhaps something will come of this.
The Erik/Dallas situation is explored a little bit more. At least there's some sort of reaction out of Dallas about the situation she finds herself in. There really has not been much reaction from her. After having so much happens to her and being linked to Erik again I'm unsure if she still feels a bit bitter about it or if she is completely ok with it. Her feelings are not directly addressed so maybe now that the Thunderbolts are at least staying for a while, it can be focused on a little more in a bit of down time.
Fixer always gets the best lines. Again this issue he makes some amusing comments and reflects my some of my feelings. He comments on Jolt as a cheerleader, putting Zemo into the body of a woman, and goes flying by the Thunderbolts yelping. The last one a very funny moment as the Thunderbolts wonder just what is going on. There were some real nice fixer scenes this issue too including a full page spread as he takes on the Counter Earth Thunderbolts.
It's nice to see the Thunderbolts take down their Counter Earth versions so easily. The Thunderbolts are the better team, and that's what they have moulded into over time a good solid fighting team. I can see the Counter Earth Thunderbolts becoming a small thorn in Thunderbolts side, and I wouldn't mind if they showed up again, but I think this is about all we will see about them. They better have a strategy in mind if they do show up again though, so the battle doesn't just end in a few panels. It would just show how pathetic the Counter Earth team would be on a second chance in battle. The Thunderbolts could be heading all over the world of Counter Earth anyway.
Zemo kills Zemo. Interesting. After all the praise Zemo has for his family, he kills one of his own in a way. I guess he has no quibbles about killing a counter earth version of his father. He's not a real version but apparently the Counter Earth people are real enough to Zemo for him to steal a body, and to rule. Since Zemo does plan to rule the world he doesn't need others getting in his way, and another Zemo would be competition. The Counter Earth Thunderbolts are also without a leader so that weakens them as well if they ever became a problem and he did nothing about their leader. With two of the Counter Earth Thunderbolts being mercenaries, Zemo may have well helped to split that team up.
The rocket launches into the air only to be destroyed. Like in the previous issues the Thunderbolts eventually do the right thing. So the Thunderbolts are staying for the immediate future. I guess until they find/build another rocket or find another means off the world, there are probably several ways. How long will they stay now they have committed themselves to helping the people of the world? They could be there indefinitely. If they have a specific goal in mind they could leave once they are satisfied to a certain degree that the world is in much better shape then when they first arrived. Also watching the rocket launch is the Young Allies. Nice cameo appearance. Since the Thunderbolts are helping the world out, I look to see these two teams to meet up at some point. As to the other person watching the television set this could be just about anyone, a previous Counter Earth character or foreshadowing of an upcoming character for future issues.
Abe hesitates when a reporter asks the Thunderbolts who they are. Abe just says they are the good guys. They could pick up the name of the Thunderbolts and help to redeem the name on Counter Earth. Another idea would be to take a name of a team on Earth that isn't used on Counter Earth, if they don't want a tarnished name since it has already been used and abused.
Zemo gets the Counter Earth body of Iron Cross. Since it's a much younger body it makes much more sense that Zemo would take this body. Of course the Iron Cross on Earth was very old so this works out and a better solution then being in the Counter Earth body of his father. Zemo should get a body of his own sometime though, especially if there is an accident and something nasty happens to himself again he will want the back up of his a body that's really him. Zemo's carrying the Zemo mask from the one he killed, I wonder if he intends to wear it. He could with just the inner armor of Iron Cross he was wearing on the last page. It's an interesting souvenir.
Now Zemo intends to rule Counter Earth. At least this would be an easier challenge than the actual Earth. If the Thunderbolts were smart they would say no they don't want to rule the world and kill Zemo right where he stands. They can't really imprison him with hopes that he will stay imprisoned on Counter Earth forever, and they can't really just drag him around unconscious wherever they go. If they get him now they will rid themselves of what would be a coming conflict if they let him go and worried about him later or if he escapes. Zemo conflicts with just about everything the Thunderbolts are trying to do.
I still expect the Thunderbolts to consider what Zemo has said. They are going to want to keep an eye on him and stop what he is doing. Abe will be against Zemo trying to rule the world. Hallie will just go along with whatever happens hoping to guide the Thunderbolts along the right track. Moonstone would eventually go with the side of good, but still be her manipulative self. Erik might have been more inclined to just follow what the majority would be doing but now that Dallas is merged with him, he will probably side against Zemo. The Fixer would probably be the easiest to go either way. He doesn't particularly see himself as hero but I have to wonder if he would want to be with Zemo and just be a lackey.
If the Thunderbolts do decide to rule the world, I expect lots of conflict and their alliance not lasting that long into the future with Zemo. Unless Zemo can do real good with manipulating the Thunderbolts back into villains or knows he can show the Thunderbolts that he's helping the people way more than hurting him, he has to be foolish. After all this time he really thinks they can all work together again? The only thing that is positive about the situation is if the Thunderbolts could rule the world and help its people out at the same time. I don't think Zemo's into the type of ruling though, and eventually he would try to force some of the Thunderbolts into doing evil things or do evil things himself. It's an inevitable conflict. Every move Zemo makes the Thunderbolts will be watching, and will probably move against his actions to some extent. Once all the groundwork has been done though and the Thunderbolts rule the world they could get rid of Zemo, if they haven't already or fallen into some of their old ways.
This issue presents plenty of interesting possibilities for the future of the Thunderbolts on Counter Earth. I can't believe that there will be a two-month way until another Counter Earth adventure. I am reminded of the Thunderbolts issue with Zemo in the lead versus Scourge, which had very little Thunderbolts action in between revelations. I didn't miss Hawkeye and his Chain gang that much this month due to this great issue. They are due some space since they were not in this issue at all, and having more focus on Songbird for next issue is a good thing that I'm looking forward to it.
Thunderbolts and all associated characters are the property of MARVEL COMICS TM&©2003.