Thunderbolts

Well, I'm afraid I'm just not enjoying Jeff Parker's work here. I don't think he writes with any of the cleverness of the previous writers on this book - Diggle and Ellis (not Gage or even Remender's one shot that didn't even come close). He's certainly going for the same feel but, for me, he's nowhere near as good.

I also can't stand writers who have the characters explain what they're doing as they're doing it as Parker has Mister X do in this issue. It's really poor and lazy writing. There is no reason Mister X would openly explain his powers to someone while attacking them. In fact, it would give his opponent enough information to defeat him which is exactly what happens in this issue. That is bad, bad writing - Mister X, as a professional killer, just wouldn't do that. I can't see how anyone could justify that as good writing.

On top of that I'm not liking the art. So that means I'm dropping this book. It annoys me because this was one of my favourites for a long time.

LOOSECANNON wrote:Thunderbolts #139
I know a lot of you jumped off this with the turnoff-for-some that was Thunderbolts #137, and then many of you complained about the no-name cast in #138.

I don't think I've seen anyone complaining about the no name cast.

Aussiemandias wrote:I also can't stand writers who have the characters explain what they're doing as they're doing it as Parker has Mister X do in this issue. It's really poor and lazy writing. There is no reason Mister X would openly explain his powers to someone while attacking them. In fact, it would give his opponent enough information to defeat him which is exactly what happens in this issue. That is bad, bad writing - Mister X, as a professional killer, just wouldn't do that. I can't see how anyone could justify that as good writing.

Well Diggle established Mister X as one cocky, overconfidant, arrogant SOB...so I kinda just took that as him displaying some of those traits. *shrugs*

I think it's in part of his personality that Mr. X has got way too much swagger by calculating his moves...i've seen this in movies and it's not that far off from some of those baddies we see in martial arts movies...I don't think you can take any of these Thunderbolts seriously....

and a lot of my comments are in response to reviews across the web as well as the IGN.com forum (since I often post my review at various outlets)...so if I state something like "some of you are complaining" it might not be this forum LOL

LOOSECANNON wrote:
and a lot of my comments are in response to reviews across the web as well as the IGN.com forum (since I often post my review at various outlets)...so if I state something like "some of you are complaining" it might not be this forum LOL

Oh got ya. That makes sense then.

I'm not really with either of you guys on your Mister X thinking though. I totally get that he's supremely confident and has a swagger about him but I think the professional that he is he wouldn't be explaining how his power works in the middle of a fight. I could definitely see him saying to Namorita that he can predict her moves and even make out that it's because she's so obvious or something but letting her know that his powers are telepathic just seems a bit stupid. Unfortunately I think Jeff Parker is a bit old school in his writing where characters explain everything they're doing while they're doing it. Anyway, that's just my view. As I say I'm not a fan so I think I'll be leaving this title until another writer comes on board.

Aussiemandias wrote:

LOOSECANNON wrote:
and a lot of my comments are in response to reviews across the web as well as the IGN.com forum (since I often post my review at various outlets)...so if I state something like "some of you are complaining" it might not be this forum LOL

Oh got ya. That makes sense then.

I'm not really with either of you guys on your Mister X thinking though. I totally get that he's supremely confident and has a swagger about him but I think the professional that he is he wouldn't be explaining how his power works in the middle of a fight. I could definitely see him saying to Namorita that he can predict her moves and even make out that it's because she's so obvious or something but letting her know that his powers are telepathic just seems a bit stupid. Unfortunately I think Jeff Parker is a bit old school in his writing where characters explain everything they're doing while they're doing it. Anyway, that's just my view. As I say I'm not a fan so I think I'll be leaving this title until another writer comes on board.

That's a shame, but everyone's got an opinion I guess. I've really liked the stuff I've read from him like Agents of Atlas and the Dark Reign: The Hood mini.

Jeff Parker's been near-flawless for me other than the crappy first Thunderbolts book with the "dead" Iron Fist and Luke Cage.

LOOSECANNON wrote:Jeff Parker's been near-flawless for me other than the crappy first Thunderbolts book with the "dead" Iron Fist and Luke Cage.

You mean #137? That was written by Rick Remender.

ohh yea that's right...I like Rick Remender, but oh well.

I think #140 was the best issue since Parker took over. Fantastic ending. To quote River from Serenity:

Spoiler:

Thunderbolts #140

This was a good issue. We got to see a lot of the T-bolts issues, unfortunately one reveal means nothing for the character because he is going home in a body bag. I wonder what reprecusions there will be for Bob about that. Agents of Atlas is definately getting a lot more exposure, but I was glad to see how self serving ghost really is in this issue. Can't wait to see how Siege goes for this team, I think there will definately be an ALL NEW T-bolts at the end of it.

Thunderbolts #140

C vs. D-List at it's finest. So, far, it's true Thunderbolts has served as a base for Parker to tell his Agents of Atlas stories. I won't front on that scepticism. However, he's written two steller back-to-back issues involving some really odd teams in odds just before the Seige. The ending also made me pretty speechless, but in hindsight, does it really make a lot of sense? Think of his name. Think of how that name relates to the Seige. Ahhh...accident or not? I could just be looking too far into it, but hell why not.

3.5/5 - Another really enjoyable book with a buzz-worthy ending. Terrific battle sequences too.

Issue #140 was okay. I think it was a little to Agents of Atlas heavy, but still good. I'm PISSED about Headsman, just PISSED. I liked him.

rwe1138 wrote:I think #140 was the best issue since Parker took over. Fantastic ending.

This was the first Parker issue I've really liked and, yeah, it was a totally great ending. I think I'll hold off cancelling for now. Anyway, I suspect there's pretty big changes in store here in the coming months.

I have a pretty good feeling that Songbird and some of the older characters may come back after Siege.

Oh man I think O'Grady would fit right in with Songbird's Tbolts.

Aussiemandias wrote:

rwe1138 wrote:I think #140 was the best issue since Parker took over. Fantastic ending.

This was the first Parker issue I've really liked and, yeah, it was a totally great ending. I think I'll hold off cancelling for now. Anyway, I suspect there's pretty big changes in store here in the coming months.

I have a pretty good feeling that Songbird and some of the older characters may come back after Siege.

Yeah this was a very solid issue, the end was nuts!

And I would love to see Songbird assemble a team and take over the book post-Siege. It makes perfect sense.

Heroic Age T-Bolts preview image, answers a couple of quesitons but raises a whole lot more:

Spoiler:

Fresh03 wrote:Heroic Age T-Bolts preview image, answers a couple of quesitons but raises a whole lot more:

Spoiler:

Wow that's pretty surprising! I guess that means that character won't be an Avenger...

Here's the interview on it of Jeff Parker, sounds really interesting:
http://comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24771

I was really hoping Songbird would be involved but I guess that's not ruled out judging by the interview. I'll be interested to see how Cage is prepared to work with Crossbones (who was involved in Cap's attempted assassination), Ghost (who is trying to kill Iron Man at the moment) and Moonstone (who's pretty much been bad to everyone). From the sound of it there's some similarities to Suicide Squad here.

Still on the fence. It does suffer a distinct lack of Ant-Man.

after reading the interview, I approve...not sure about Kev Walker on art, how is he?...I think Marvel just saved me from dropping another book...

I'm looking forward to this. I've really enjoyed this book during Dark Reign but I'm not familiar with most of the characters, so I don't really have a preference for them to stick around. They should just slowly kill'em all off until the relaunch. Especially that arrogant Mr. X, I can't wait for him to get his.

Ghost is awesome though.

after reading the interview, I approve...not sure about Kev Walker on art, how is he?

He's frickin awesome, can't wait to see him taking on all of the Raft prisoners, should be some really good stuff.

I like the concept of the book quite a bit, Luke Cage takes criminals into hot spots around the world, should be good times with the cast they've shown and the potential people they have in the Raft to send along for the ride.

The new lineup sounds interesting... I won't jump on it rightaway, I'll just trade wait most likely.

was that Man thing in that image?

Yeah it was.