Credits

• Writer: Fabian Nicieza
• Penciler: Tom Grummett
• Inker: Gary Erskine
• Colorist: SotoColor's J. Brown
• Letterer: RS & Comicraft's Albert Deschesne
• Assistant Editors: Schmidt, Lazer, & Sitterson
• Editor: Tom Brevoort

Quick Summary--"Bad Blood"

The new Swordsman is fighting his way into a Hydra base in Novosibirsk, Russia. As he battles his way through countless lackeys we learn more about him. We find out that he has a mutant power that he channels through his sword--"plasma energy infused with a kinetic concussive force." In the bowels of the Hydra base he finds a man stored in some kind of giant suspension tank.

Meanwhile, in Brooklyn, the remaining Thunderbolts sort through the rubble of their headquarters (which was destroyed last issue in the fight with the Squadron Sinister). Nighthawk mentions that he has several old superhero HQs that the Thunderbolts could use, including one in upstate New York.

Over in Manhattan, we see that the Fixer's team has succeeded in retrieving someone from the Darkforce Dimension. Unfortunately, this person is brain dead, and he's lashing out wildly with his powers. After MACH-IV and Blizzard hold him at bay for awhile, the Fixer manages to calm him down by showing porn(!) on the room's monitors. (Thoughts on the darkforce wielder's identity below.)

Back in Russia, the Swordsman frees the man in the suspension tank, and we learn that it is Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. The Swordsman takes off his helmet and we learn that he is Andreas Strucker, Wolfgang's son and formerly one half of Fenris.

Andreas' reunion with his father is quickly interrupted by the arrival of Baron Helmut Zemo. Zemo killed Andreas' sister Andrea, so Andreas attacks him on sight. Zemo tells Andreas that he was controlling the Purple Man who was in turn controlling Andreas. Zemo had the Purple Man mold Andreas into a stronger person. Andreas realizes that his sister had encouraged him to continue leading a decadent, weak lifestyle, where Zemo's training has made him strong.

Zemo and Andreas fight and Andreas gains the upper hand, only to have the conflict stopped by Baron Strucker. Strucker asks Zemo why he has come to rescue him. Zemo says that he seeks to create a new world order, and he needs "someone suitable to become king of the world so that [he] can take away their crown!" Strucker accepts the offer, and he and Zemo teleport away.

Andreas is left to ponder his future. He realizes that this is his first chance "to hope... to dream..." in a long time. He wonders, "How can I atone for all the things I never knew I did wrong? How can I become the man I never wanted to be...?"

Commentary

• So, the mystery of the Swordsman's identity is finally revealed. Overall, this was a very well-written issue, but some people may be a little bit disappointed by the big reveal. It's always a lot of fun when an author can completely hoodwink you and pull something out of his hat that you weren't expecting (but still makes sense). That wasn't the case here, since a lot of people had guessed that the Swordsman might be Andreas. (I feel some sympathy for Fabian--he has a tough job trying to outsmart the combined intellect of internet fandom.) So, my reaction to this issue was, "It's very well-executed, just not exactly what I was hoping for." But, hey, Tom Grummett is back! That's a huge plus.
• So who is that guy wielding the darkforce on the Fixer's team? From the hints dropped in previous issues, it seems most likely to be Conrad Josten, the Smuggler. However, Abe says this person "has the power to flatten this city," which seems a bit beyond Conrad's power level. So, some people think this person may actually be Blackout, who was part of the team of Masters of Evil who invaded the Avengers Mansion in the classic "Mansion Siege" story (Avengers #273-277).
• It's interesting that we still have no confirmation that the Fixer is working for Baron Zemo. I think so far most people have been assuming that he is (they've worked together numerous times before), but what if he's not? Who else could be his boss? Well, maybe Hyperion or the Grandmaster. The Squadron not-so-Sinister also claims to be working toward saving the world. It would be an interesting twist.
• So where does Andreas go from here? It would make sense for him to eventually join up with the Thunderbolts (I mean, this is their book after all), but Fabian has hinted that he may have other plans. So, we'll have to wait and see.

Up next: Issue #99! And the return of Moonstone?!?