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Thunderbolts #172 - Like Lightning, Pt. 1

4

It's Thunderbolts vs. Thunderbolts. What better way to celebrate fifteen years of the team that changed the way we looked at villains-turned-heroes?

Time travel and the current team fighting the original sounds like it could get messy but it turns out to be a blast.

The Good

I've had mixed feelings over some of the recent issues of THUNDERBOLTS. I've been a fan of Jeff Parker's run but the time travel storyline has been starting to feel as if it's dragging on a little. That is until the timelost team runs into the original Thunderbolts.

Time travel stories often become too convoluted for their own good but Parker manages to keep it all in line. We have to wonder how this run in with the original team will affect their history. Did this really happen (we see some indication that the answer is yes) or is this simply an alternate timeline?

Seeing the old team also reminded me how much I loved the early run of the series. There were some questionable periods in the Thunderbolts history and you can appreciate where the current direction is taking the idea.

There were moments I expected to see Mark Bagley's art when I turned the page but Declan Shalvey did a great job bringing back the look and feel of the original team. There are some that I prefer over the present day versions.

The Bad

I am still ready for the time travel to be over. This is the beginning of a three part story and we know that big things are happening with the Dark Avengers but I'm ready to see the team back in the present.

With that, there are still some of the present day members that I could do without. Not to wish harm upon (fictitious) characters but I'm ready to see some of them exit the series.

The Verdict

There's been a lot of time travel stories lately at Marvel (in this series and others). I am ready to see the end of the team traveling through time but having them up against the original members of the Thunderbolts is looking to be a fun ride. It's hard to believe it all started fifteen years ago and it's great to see the old familiar costumes once again. The time travel here is handled well as things can easily get sticky. Declan Shalvey does a great job in capturing the look of the original members. This issue is the beginning for a three part arc and you get a sense that some big things are coming. It's going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few months in THUNDERBOLTS.