Credits

• Writer: Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler: Rick Leonardi
• Inker: Cam Smith
• Colorist: SotoColor's A. Street
• Letterer: RS & Comicraft's Albert Deschesne
• Assistant Editors: Schmidt, Lazer, & Sitterson
• Editor: Tom Brevoort

Quick Summary--"Does Anyone Remember the Squadron Sinister?"

At the Commission on Superhuman Activities, communications specialist Alice Nugent works to learn the secrets of the recently-captured Dr. Spectrum. It turns out that she's Martha Gomes, a factory worker from Des Moines. Meanwhile, Dallas Riordan shows Erik Josten footage of his brother Conrad's death. During a battle with Graviton, Conrad was shunted into the heart of the sun, where his darkforce powers were not able to function. Erik speculates that "Connie" may still be alive and trapped in the Darkforce dimension. (More on this in #16....)

Over in Long Island, Speed Demon (in his Whizzer costume) steals a shipment of cash from Richmond Enterprises. Speed Demon notes that his powers have been getting progressively stronger over the past few months. He has no idea why.

Back in Brooklyn at T-Bolts HQ, Photon (Genis) wonders who put him into a cocoon months ago when he died. He doesn't know who saved his life. Meanwhile, Speed Demon flirts with Joystick (if stealing someone's clothes at high speed counts as flirting).

At Richmond Industries, Kyle Richmond (aka Nighthawk) reviews security footage of the robbery and sees that Speed Demon is responsible. We learn that his powers have also been getting stronger over the past few weeks.

Melissa Gold (Songbird) has lunch with Abe Jenkins (MACH-IV) and invites him to return to the Thunderbolts. He declines, saying that he's taken a job with an engineering firm. After lunch Abe returns to his "job," and we learn that he's hanging out with the Fixer, who has just built a new Blizzard suit for Donnie Gill. Abe reminds the Fixer that they'll need more than that "if we plan to take on the T-Bolts!" Interesting.

Back at Thunderbolts HQ, Genis and Speed Demon are attacked by Nighthawk, who uses gas to take them down. When Songbird and Radioactive Man enter the building, Joystick is fighting Nighthawk. Songbird takes down Nighthawk with an ultrasonic scream, but he responds by telling her of Speed Demon's theft from his company. In the midst of all this, Erik Josten calls to say that the power prism has taken over Alice Nugent and that she and Hyperion are on their way over, looking for Nighthawk and Speed Demon. Just then, Hyperion breaks through the ceiling and demands that the Thunderbolts hand over Nighthawk and the Whizzer.

To be continued!

Commentary

• What a difference the artist makes! I love Tom Grummett, and Rick Leonardi is no Tom Grummett. My initial impression of issues #15 and #16 was somewhat negative because of the art.

Since this review is late and this issue is the first part of a two-part story, I'm reserving the rest of my commentary for the review of #16. See you there!