#mach-1

[itcars]

Ford Mustang Mach-1

Image by Oliver Hirtenfelder || IG

[jimintomystery]

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Thunderbolts #1 ‘Justice... Like Lightning!’ (1997) by Kurt Busiek. Mark Bagley, Vince Russell and Joe Rosas. Edited by Bob Harras. Cover by Bagley and Russell.

[albino-d1no]

My hand hurts so fucking bad why did I draw all this in one night But you know those thunderbolts guys? and that one dead mobile game where theyre all in school?? And also early 2000s american/canadian cartoons? You get the gist  EDIT: I updated the Zemo drawing as it was like, the first one I’d done and didn’t really feel it fit the style as much.

[vincentvega0721]

The Thunderbolts

[hellomystraightlacedfriend]

Thunderbolts #26

Joe Casey/Leonardo Manco

[thumblrbolts]

Avengers #4 cover recreation with the Thunderbolts by Rob Sacchetto

[samasmith23]

Thunderbolts (1997) #1 Review

I just read the first issue of Kurt Busiek & Mark Bagley’s classic run on Thunderbolts collected in an omnibus that I just bought and dang! This was certainly an incredibly strong start to this series!

Even though I already knew the big plot twist about the supposed new team of superheroes actually being Baron Zeno’s supervillain team the Masters of Evil in disguise, it was incredibly fun to see how the twist was subtly foreshadowed all throughout the issue! Not only are Zemo and the Masters of Evil name dropped during the opening news announcer’s list of threats following the disappearance and apparent death of the Avengers & Fantastic Four during the Onslaught crossover, but one of the villain groups that the Thunderbolts fight in their big superhero debut are the Wrecking Crew, with whom the Fixer/Techno had previous connections with back during his time as a member of the Frightful Four, nearly stating that he can’t fight them because of said associations before Citizen V (aka, Baron Zemo) quickly vocally assumes his reasoning to instead be that its because the Wrecking Crew are too powerful (effectively preventing their cover from being blown during the middle of a fight).

Additionally, knowing the twist in hindsight made reading the Thunderbolt’s dialogue even more enjoyable for me since it was fun noticing the double-meanings and lies behind their words in scenes such as their first interview with mainstream news outlets, as Baron Zemo as Citizen V paints his team as merely “volunteers who don’t consider themselves to be heroes” and don’t seek to “usurp the Avenger’s name and record, but rather to gain their own reputation through their actions.”

While on the surface “Citizen V’s” words make the Thunderbolts appear to the public as benign and humble concerned citizens who simply seek to help others after the disappearance of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, in actuality they allude to Baron Zeno’s ultimate plan of gradually gaining the trust of the general public and media in order to be eventually sanctioned by the US government just like the Avengers previously were, bringing the Masters of Evil one step closer to world domination.

And even in the first issue we’re already witnessing the seeds of Zemo’s plan beginning to bear fruit, as the Thunderbolt’s opening fights against both the Wrecking Crew and the Rat-Pack (who respectively attempt to destroy the Statue of Liberty and steal property and valuables from civilians who were tragically killed in the Onslaught incident; latter of which is excellent world-building continuity-wise) ends up winning the team even higher approval numbers in the polls than even the Avengers had during their initial debut during the Silver Age (likely due to the public still mourning the recent loss of the Avengers and fearing future supervillain attacks), as well as the team being contacted by an official liaison from the Mayor of New York.

To the citizens of New York who just suffered a severe tragedy that caused immense property damage and killed countless civilians and even seemingly their mightiest heroes, the Thunderbolts suddenly arrive on the scene to re-inspire a sense of hope and optimism that now seems to be disappearing in the Marvel Universe. The Post-Onslaught atmosphere honestly gives me a similar vibe to the feelings of despair and sense of unity which defined the post-9/11 era, even though the first issue of Thunderbolts came out in 1997, 5-years BEFORE the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

But just like the Post-9/11 era, said-newfound reassurance and strength that the Thunderbolts promise to the public is ultimately proven too good to be true, and is in actuality nothing more than a hollow sham designed to advance evil agendas (in that sense, Baron Zemo’s evil agenda with the Thunderbolts to take over the world in response to the Avenger’s absence bears some unintentional parallels to the George W. Bush Administration using the 9/11 tragedy as an excuse to perpetuate war crimes in the Middle East).

Like I said, the parallels are definitely NOT intentional since this came out before then, but it’s a feeling that I still I couldn’t help but notice while reading and made Thunderbolts (1997) #1 feel even more poignant and intriguing (especially for a book about a team of supervillains disguising themselves as superheroes)!

So overall, definitely a strong opening for Busiek & Bagley’s Thunderbolts run! One which expertly and subtly fleshes out its creative and unique premise in the span of just a single issue, and makes the reader invested in wanting to see more of how the Thunderbolts will continue to manipulate the public to their favor, as well as explore the interpersonal characterizations and dynamics of the individual supervillains who comprise the team! And I’m particularly excited to see what I think of the individual Thunderbolts members because aside from Baron Zemo this is my first ever exposure to these characters! The one that interests me the most so far is Moonstone/Meteorite (aka, Dr. Karla Sofen), a former psychiatrist turned-supervillain who possesses Danny Phantom-like powers and is a master manipulator of other people’s emotions who first fought Captain America and the Hulk, and according to Anne Carol from the ComicsCollective podcast Moonstone is originally Zemo’s second-in-command before she plays a major role in-relation to many of the other Thunderbolts member’s redemption arcs!

To hear more of Anne's analysis alongside her colleagues Dallas & Alexis, check out their episode discussing the Thunderbolts on the The Comics Collective! Link's below:

[shamlesspandanerd]

[deadpoolsmom]

as far as one piece antagonists go Crocodile truly gets absolutely scooby-doo’d at unmatched levels

He immediately falls for a phone scam and from basically little garden to rainbase he doesn’t even know the strawhats are alive (and clowning towards him at incredible speed). As soon as he does, they’re in his house tearing at his walls and bringing marines into his villain lair.

He uses a literal floor trap door over a gator pit to catch them, gets phone scammed again, full scooby-doo chase scenes after Chopper through the streets while still missing him, and suddenly his prisoners have escaped his impossible cage, and his giant bananagators are dead. and Nico Robin saw it all happen.

He then spends rest of the arc complaining about those meddling kids and their dog ���strawhat pirates and their weird pet” and at no point does he even know how many strawhats there are.

Like yeah he keeps having plans on top of plans to stop everything Vivi can do but also she keeps coming up with a new thing to do (Tom and Jerry ass dynamic).

Part of it is that he’s underestimating them and keeps grandstanding villain monologuing but also teens keep killing hundreds of his grand line bounty hunters and he straight up does not know what is happening.

Cause he IS trying to kill them he’s sending top assassins after them and ripping out luffy’s organs, the whole time he’s yelling HOW ARE YOU ALIVE?? DIE. as whack-a-mole Luffy keeps inventing new ways to hit him.

[wheelsgoroundincircles]

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1

[coolthingsguyslike]

[bigboppa01]

[ldagence]

Ford Mustang Mach 1 ★彡𝓛𝓓ミ★

[moldspace]

earlier this month i had the amazing opportunity to spend a week in southeastern alaksa for school (the last 3 credits of my associate's degree program!) learning about the ecology and history of the region.

it was a completely fucking jam-packed 8 days of hiking, tidepooling, fishing, kayaking, sightseeing and immersing in a part of the country you literally can't drive to (only fly or boat to). and at the end of it all i was able to contribute a little piece of my art to the lodge, presenting Salmuel the giant papier mâché salmon to our lovely hosts as thanks!! it was truly an unforgettable experience and the perfect capstone to my little degree program.

...but i think next time i have to bring a delicate art piece on a plane, i'll make one that's a little smaller and easier to handle LOL

[maximumcollectorgardenerposts]

1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1