Would you rather burn out or fade away? That’s the question at the heart of this bold new series about a group of people who, for one reason or another, are at their wits’ end until they’re offered a chance to become superheroes. The catch? Their powers will kill them.
Writer Nick Spencer (Morning Glories) and artist CAFU (WAR OF THE SUPERMEN) present a fresh take on the classic comics property, starring a new batch of recruits brought in to take over the original agents’ mantles and make some difficult choices of their own – all while dealing with global threats the rest of the DCU doesn’t even know exist!
Background: T.H.U.N.D.E.R means The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves, they are charged with tackling the kind of threats most superheroes don’t even know exist. To accomplish this, they empower their agents with special abilities, However, that will eventually kill them. What kind of men and women would pay such a steep price?
Summary
In the present, a redhead has an interview in Sri Lanka as protesters descend on their building she reveals what happened to the thunder agents twelve months ago and what happens to their replacements.
Twelve Months ago in Columbia Thunder agents battled the mysterious “Spider” organization. While there the very agent they are trying to rescue gets captured again by a double agent in their ranks. They call in a “Salesman” who helps in recruiting new agents. Their supercomputer does the selections and they train the team before sending them to their apparent death.
The Good
Art- Cafu’s art is detailed and distinct, with proportional bodies and complementary colors courtesy of Santiago Arcas.
Cover- Frank Quietly of “New X-men” fame creates a gorgeous cover worthy of being immortalized as a poster!
Story- I have never read any other Thunder comic but Nick spencer illustrates a United Nations disaster of epic proportions involving double agents, dead field operatives, and careless or plain incompetent handlers. I’m intrigued by agents with powers that will kill them….why would they accept such a job? Or are they self-destructive and borderline suicidal? This job is essentially a slow suicide…..
New Black Superhero– Introducing Lightning BH fans!
The Bad
Alternate cover- I get that nostalgia is in but this is ugly!
The Ugly
3/5
