Credits

• Writer: Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler: Dave Ross
• Inker: Cam Smith
• Colorist: SotoColor's A. Street
• Letterer: RS & Comicraft's Albert Deschesne
• Editor: Molly Lazer
• Consulting Editor: Tom Brevoort

Quick Summary--"Why Ask Why?"

This issue takes place in the Thunderbolts' new base, Helmut Zemo's "Folding Castle." Songbird checks in with each of the ten remaining T-Bolts while recounting the history of her secret relationship with Zemo.

With so many Thunderbolts to account for, it's no surprise that Nicieza makes maximum use of the summary page, cramming in as much info as possible. There we learn that: 1) Moonstone is still in a vegetative state; she was controlled by Zemo last issue. 2) Blackout really is dead. 3) Man-Killer disappeared after the big battle in #100. Three down, ten to go.

First we see Songbird talking to the Radioactive Man. He makes it clear that his loyalties are to her and not to Zemo. Chen Lu says he will not follow Zemo. Melissa reassures him that she's the field leader of the team and that Zemo is more like an army general.

In a flashback we learn that Zemo has recreated the Josten family farm. Then, back in the present, Erik (Atlas) Josten and Connie (Smuggler) Josten discuss their history. Erik expresses his doubt that he can win back Melissa's trust; she challenges him to make up his mind that he can and to do something about it.

In another flashback we learn that Zemo's face has healed from the damage done to it in Avengers/Thunderbolts #6. He says he continues to wear his mask because, "Everyone presumes a scarred Zemo is a vengeful Zemo." Interesting....

Back in the present, Nighthawk is incredulous that the Fixer and MACH-IV are willing to work with Zemo. He asks Songbird if it's true that the team only used him for his money, and she doesn't deny it. He leaves angrily, accusing the team of not having a clue about how to be heroes.

Songbird next confronts Blizzard, encouraging him to prove that she was wrong to kick him off the team a couple of months previously.

Back in flashback land, Songbird and Zemo view potential futures, several of which have since come to pass (Sentry fighting Red Ronin, the Swordsman confronting Baron Strucker, the Smuggler returning from the Darkforce Dimension, Helmut and Melissa kissing), and a couple which haven't (Zemo fighting Captain America, Moonstone fighting the Shi'ar Gladiator).

Next we see Zemo training with Joystick. Zemo reveals that Joystick is no longer human; she is "the living, breathing embodiment of action." Ooookay.

Next Melissa checks in with Andreas Strucker, the new Swordsman. He tells her that he's trying to be "the opposite of everything he has ever been." With that in mind, she encourages him to give up drinking.

Finally, we come full circle, and find Melissa again talking to the Radioactive Man. He demands to know the status of her relationship with Zemo. Melissa tells him that she doesn't really love Zemo; she's getting close to him in order to be able to kill him.

Commentary

• This issue was a classic "catch your breath and get reacquainted with the team" issue. Fabian did a masterful job of summarizing where the team has been while simultaneously hinting at where the team is going. And most importantly, he helped us get inside the heads of the remaining Thunderbolts. Dave Ross did an admirable job as the fill-in artist.
• There is no competition at all--Fabian makes better use of the opening summary page than any other writer working for Marvel. His Cable & Deadpool summary pages are always a great balance of humor and important summary information. And his Thunderbolts summary pages always do more than just summarize, they also advance the plot.
• I'm not convinced that telling the Radioactive man that Zemo isn't the Thunderbolts' leader, he's more like "an army general" or "the head of a company," is going to reassure him very much.
• Check out the panels of Connie Josten. The colorist apparently decided to make his freckles look like brown specks of mud on his face. Gah. The colorist can do fancy shading on faces but can't make freckles look natural? I don't get it. (It might have worked out better if Ross hadn't drawn those huge circles on Connie's cheeks.)
• The revelation of Joystick as the "embodiment of action" seemed a little out of left field to me. She will apparently be a focus of #102, so maybe we'll learn more then.