Here at POTW we make the tough decision of what to buy if you only had money for ONE book coming out that week… this is easily the best comic coming out any given Wednesday. Even though we’ve not read it yet, we’re assured of its greatness!
Thunderbolts #169 rockets onto shelves this week. Its writer, Jeff Parker, is easily one of the most underutilized talents on Marvel’s current roster. ”Why is that?” You may ask! Simple. In his run he has shifted a dark book about irredeemable villains into a fun romp with people who have done regrettable things searching for redemption.
Currently part of the team is traveling back in time after a botched attempt from escaping their prison, The Raft. This has left Luke Cage, Songbird, and Mach V to clean up the mess of other escapees, and to find a way to retrieve their teammates.
Declan Shalvey and Kevin Walker have masterfully illustrated the majority of the team’s journey. Kevin Walker takes over art chores this issue. His panel layouts on the series have been nothing short of jaw-dropping. His storytelling is intriguing with the ability to make every character interesting regardless of what they’re doing.
I know this issue is going to be great and anyone not getting it is going to be missing out just based on the strength of the issues that have come before it.
Jeff Parker was even nice enough to drop by to answer some questions I had about the upcoming issue.
Adam Messinger: Ever since Fear Itself it seems you’ve started telling a new overarching story. Where does issue 169 fit into that story?
Jeff Parker: It’s an important part- I think people may assume we’re having this fun romp through time and indulging the kinds of stories we like to do- and yes, we are- but as we start to get into the final issues of this mega-arc you’ll see that everything fit in for a reason. Though entertainment is still the biggest reason!
AM: With part of the Thunderbolts team stranded in the dark ages, is there a chance that they’ll come into contact with a magic sword…or a magician…or Knights from a round table?
JP: Dude, have you been crystal ball-viewing my laptop? All those things happen, and they definitely run into a wizard who rhymes with Schnerlin. In 169 you see that Arthur’s Knights were truly the superheroes of their day. And the Bolts are the villains of that day, just like they are in ours.
AM: The Thunderbolts in the present are of course having a hard time with the majority of the team gone. What should us readers expect out of the present team this issue?
JP: This one doesn’t focus on them except that Ghost hopefully represents them since he got sent back in time.
AM: In your opinion, of the entire team, who is the heart of the Thunderbolts?
JP: I think it’s Moonstone. Which may not say much for their heart, but that’s what I believe.
AM: Anything we didn’t touch upon that you’d like to address?
JP: Watch how Kev Walker depicts Arthur, Merlin, Gawain, the whole Table Round. I think this is one of the best representations of them in years. Also you get a little clue as to why they’ve had such a hard time trying to get back to where they’re from!
