Review by Frank Plowright

Civil War opened a new segment in Thunderbolts history. They’ve lost some members and Baron Zemo is back on the scene and back in control, having gone to the effort of designing each of the Thunderbolts living quarters suited to their nationality and temperament. He has some making up to do after leading some members into a foolhardy conflict with the Avengers, as seen in Avengers/Thunderbolts: Best Intentions.

Fabian Nicieza’s opening chapter has very little to do with the main Civil War event. He reintroduces the team, covers their differences, and surprises by revealing a relationship between Zemo and Songbird, who’s grown into the team’s heart and soul. Surprises are part of the package. Nicieza comes up with something to intrigue ending every chapter, and a big improvement to the team’s efficiency are the new teleportation gates. When the Civil War plot does kick off, it’s about superheroes registering their identities with the government, already imposed on former criminals among the Thunderbolts, so it’s no concern to them. Rather than the optics of sending former villains after heroes, the Thunderbolts are tasked with hunting down other villains.

This is backed up by solid superhero art, David Ross handling the more peaceful opening chapter and Tom Grummett the action of the remainder. Nicieza’s over-riding plot concerns Zemo, though, and whether his supposed better intentions can survive scrutiny. A few discussions with guest stars will help readers make their own minds up about that before the end.

While everything supplied is decent enough, Marvel shortchange by including a chapter setting up the forthcoming battle between the Thunderbolts and the Grandmaster’s forces, but then don’t supplying the outcome. True, it would detract from the Civil War events, but the addition of a further three chapters would serve up a more complete story. Instead they open the Guardian Protocols collection, but continue from these chapters in the third Thunderbolts Omnibus.

These five chapters were later combined with the simultaneous experiences of Heroes for Hire in Civil War: Heroes for Hire/Thunderbolts.