like the movie Hostel without all the bad things about Hostel
This was an issue I've been dreading for a while, you see, writer Jeff Parker teased us all a while back saying that there was a very "dark issue" for Songbird coming up. there was plenty of speculation among the fans that she would die. particularly since the character seems to have been sidelined lately.
So here we have it, Songbird's "big death issue", and you want to know the best thing? She doesn't die!
This story starts off nice and calm with Songbird on holiday and a nice cameo from my future husband Abe Jenkins and we're all happy because for the first time Songbird seems to be having a good time. She's scoring with some beach hunk and looking amazing and it's so nice. then it all goes HOSTEL on us and the guy leads her to being kidnapped by Dr. Dorcas (who's apparently an old Namor baddie). Dr. Dorcas pretty much loves Songbird (who doesn't?) and wants to operate on her to return her beautiful voice. There are neuroleeches and other gross things like that and it really does just feel like the movie Hostel without all the bad things about Hostel.
It's a tough read, partially due to dread of Songbird dying and partially due to the horrible nature of it all. Kev Walker really really manages to capture the uncomfortable tone and the panels of Melissa scared are some of the best and most honest art ever to grace Thunderbolts, maybe any book ever. I truly believe Walker is one of the most underrated comics artists out there, he goes from drawing beautiful bikini babe Songbird to terrified vulnerable Songbird with such flawless ease.
Thankfully, good ol' Melissa pulls through and gets revenge on Dorcas and the beach hunk who tricked her but we're left with a pretty terrifying change in Songbird's personality, there's something utterly harrowing and scary as we get a final splash page of Songbird breaking up an insurrection at the Raft looking incredibly menacing and almost like a villain. We also get another nice funny Abe cameo too!
Once the dread of Songbird's demise subsided, I was left just thinking how this issue was a superb character piece that finally gave focus to a great character who has been sidelined lately. The art by Kev Walker is outright amazing, from the really detailed and honest scared Songbird panels to the bikini babe Songbird that made me feel a little bit of my inner lesbian inside. If you can handle the darkness, then this issue is definitely a one for all us Songbird fans! :D