Review by Frank Plowright

Six years after their introduction the Thunderbolts were no longer fresh and innovative, and with the series hovering around cancellation figures John Arcudi and Francisco Ruiz Velasco were brought in for a last role of the dice.

Their solution was radical, dispensing with the cast who’d carried the series and focusing instead on new character Daniel Axum, the Battler, a continuity implant established as having his ass handed to him by Spider-Man during a brief career as a super villain, and Armadillo, another third-rater. The Battler now uses his super strength working legitimately on a building site, while Armadillo battles in illegal fights, an offer that comes Danny’s way also.

To say the fans hated the new direction is an understatement, and to this day it’s one of very few graphic novels ranking lower than four stars out of five on Amazon. All those people are wrong. It’s not what Thunderbolts fans expected, but it’s a good story and well drawn. If you saw this adapted as a TV show it would be getting rave reviews for addressing social problems such as how hard it is for convicts who’ve done their time to keep to the straight and narrow. Daniel’s surrounded by a credible cast, almost all of whom want to see him succeed, and Arcudi ensures that sympathy transfers to readers.

Velasco presents an exaggerated version of reality. It starts with Daniel’s bulk making so much awkward for him in the otherwise real looking rundown area in which he lives, and the fight groupie is making a point about the objectification of women in superhero comics. Violent exaggeration is applied to the ring fights, making another point about superhero comics, as these fights are brutal and have consequences. Velasco ensures this looks nothing like Spider-Man punching out a villain with a few cheerful quips.

Arcudi whips up suspense by showing conversations the fight promoter has when Daniel’s not around, and while he falls into the category of wanting to see Daniel succeed, it’s not for altruistic reasons. Will Daniel see sense and avoid what seems an inevitable fate?

No, this isn’t Thunderbolts as it is in any other incarnation, but it features super villains and it’s better than many outings featuring the popular Thunderbolts cast.