While we eagerly await the heroes’ return from the “Heroes Reborn” universe, this issue of Thunderbolts provides a welcome flashback to earlier days: specifically, the beginning of “Cap’s Kooky Quartet” from Avengers #16, as told by Black Widow to two members of the Thunderbolts. (Also, we have a bonus page from a Spider-Man one-off that may or may not be Captain America’s first appearance in the 616 universe since “Heroes Reborn.”)
If you don’t know what was up with the original Thunderbolts, go read issue #1—otherwise their “secret… a guilty secret” will be revealed by the exposition below, as Black Widow checks up on Songbird and Mach-1.
And they got her last name right: Romanova, as all women of the family Romanov would be called by Russian naming conventions (but so rarely are in the Marvel world, whether in comics or film).
Natasha (or Natalia) sees before her two people with dodgy pasts seeming to be trying to go straight, as once she did as well, so she shares a story of a man named Rogers and three former criminals who once found themselves Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
The press immediately calls out Hawkeye’s background, and Cap immediately stands up for his qualifications (without addressing any specific allegations, very lawyerly of him).
Another member of the crowd calls bull$%^& in a family-friendly way before lobbing a tomato, which Cap easily deflects before trying to calm everyone down. Quicksilver takes a more assertive approach, which only makes the situation worse…
…especially when another group of protestors brings up Pietro and Wanda’s involvement in Magneto’s attack on the (fictional) South American country of Santo Marco in X-Men #4 (the first appearance of all three), which brings the other twin into the fray.
Cap gets his three defensive teammates away from the crowd—although, to be fair, Hawkeye didn’t do anything (this time).
Cap proves himself the master of understatement while Wanda forgets that water is not her brother’s weakness.
The news helps publicize the twins’ activity in Santo Marco, despite Wanda’s explanation to Cap that she and Pietro resisted once they realized Magneto’s true plans. Cap wants to put it all behind them and get to work finding the Hulk, a mission Hawkeye finds counterproductive (which triggers an objection from Everyone’s Best Pal).
Not for the last time, Cap finds himself making peace between two of his teammates (being generous to Rick), reminding Clint that it was Tony’s last wish before he… before he… left.
“Teen Brigade” does sound like a 1940s thing, doesn’t it—like the Kid Commandos or the Newsboy Legion.
The New York City mayor’s office overreacts to the disastrous press conference and suggests that the new Avengers submit to registration and training. Without Tony there to back them up, this does not result in a civil war, and Cap merely takes the suggestion under advisement (while privately disappointed that his leadership of the new team got off to a bad start).
Cap goes off on his own to investigate a sighting of the Hulk but is captured by the Radioactive Man to lure the rest of the Avengers. Cap does not appear concerned, though.
When the rest of the team shows up and starts attacking Radioactive Man’s guards, he is shocked, just shocked… but as not shocked as he would have been had he seen his prisoner slip his shackles.
The other three make their way to Radioactive Man, who insults them before seeing the “ordinary man” holding a extraordinary shield.
“How’d ya do it, Cap?” I guess Clint never saw Cap hanging out at the circus, picking up tricks like some sort of caped crusader.
Crowd reaction is mixed, but of course the negative reviews make the greatest impact, and Cap reminds them that the work is its best reward and the only person you need to work harder to impress is yourself.
(The last point is similar to what Thor learns when he struggles with finding himself unworthy, as I explain in my recent book on the God(s) of Thunder.)
Before we leave, let’s check out one page from Spider-Man/Kingpin: To the Death, a one-shot that takes place around the current day, although it is unclear whether Cap appears before or after his year in the “Heroes Reborn” world. Here, Spidey has been framed for a number of mass murders, and many of his superfriends are after him, including Cap, who shows little faith in the hero he has worked with for many years. (I’m sure Cap just wants to get to the bottom of things, and will give Spidey a chance to explain, but jeez Louise he sure sounds angry.)
ISSUE DETAILS
Thunderbolts (vol. 1) #9, November 1997: Kurt Busiek and Roger Stern (writers), Mark Bagley and Ron Frenz (pencils), Vince Russell, Will Blyberg, and Al Milgrom (inks), Joe Rosas (colors), Dave Lanphear (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Collected in: Thunderbolts Epic Collection: Justice, Like Lightning.
Spider-Man/Kingpin: To the Death (November 1997): Stan Lee and Tom DeFalco (writers), John Romita, Sr. (pencils), Dan Green (inks), Steve Oliff (colors), Bill Oakley and John Roshell (letters). (More details at Marvel Database.)
Not yet collected.
ALSO THIS MONTH: Captain America #13 and Iron Man #13 (November 1997)
NEXT ISSUES: Thunderbolts #11-12 (February-March 1998)
THE VIRTUES OF CAPTAIN AMERICA 
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