Thunderbolts run is far from being memorable... The writers promised so much but the team itself didn't accomplished nothing relevant in the universe 616.
With an amazing cast with Red Hulk, Punisher, Deadpool, Elektra, Agent Venom and later on Ghost Rider.. This team had enough arguments to shake the Marvel universe but due to lack of ambition from editors and writers this run turn out to be almost absolete.
Although there are some few points in all these stories being the last arc my favorite "Punisher vs Thunderbolts", some dialogues are really bad, but the action is pretty good. At least it's the best we've seen in all this run.
The Punisher had a few "badass" moments and i will show you what were the best in my opinion...
8. Leader... a brief wake!
The Leader is a vilain from Hulk stories, he is probably one of the brilliant minds in the Marvel Universe.
Ross told Deadpool the advantages of using the Leader brain resources, but Deadpool warning that if the Punisher knew, he would put a bullet in him.
Deadpool behaves like a moron most of the time, but he is right most of the times too.
7. Punisher saves Elektra
Mercy was supposed to be a member of Thunderbolts but she had her own agenda. Despite she was tortured and imprisoned by Ross.
At some time she bring some troubles to the team. Ross, Deadpool and Ghost Rider went to Hell to get rid of her, while Punisher and Elektra went to do a mission together.
Mercy felt the presence of Ross and went looking for Punisher and Elektra and the fight started.
Soon we knew that Elektra and Punisher couldn't fight long against Mercy, when she was called to Hell both fighters fall from an high altitude, Frank gets most of the impact.
Frank is dying... Deadpool bring a feather from Hell after some angelic invasion and the surprise happened when the feather healed Frank and saved his life.
For those who read Punisher Vol.3 when he is doing some angelic stuff, will know why.
6. Punisher dismember Deadpool.
Poor Deadpool... In the arc Punisher vs Thunderbolts not even him "get a pass" from Frank revenge.
Most of this payback was totally unecessary but it was a good the dialogue from Deadpool while the Punisher dismembered him and put his various body parts in Vibranium jars.
5. Punisher vs Orestez Natchios.
Probably my favorite issue... Orestez Natchios is Elektra's brother, terrorist and an excelent martial artist. He said that he was better than his sister (which i doubt).
Elektra let her brother escape during the Crimson Dynamos arc, Frank knew this and we all know that he don't let loose ends. He ended him in hand to hand combat (so good to see Frank fighting in h2h again!).
4. Punisher eliminates a false Dr. Strange (Witch).
During the annual, the Thunderbolts got a mission to eliminate Dr.Strange, because he was spreading "joy" through the city and was gaining huge amounts of power.
Regular enemies that were affected were now almost best friends.
Thunderbolts equipped with various magical weaponry to face this threat, most of team members fall from this witch "joy" power, but not the Punisher.
3.Explosive Punisher against Madman.
Madman (Philip Sterns) is brother of Leader (Samuel Sterns) and he has some gamma power that turn himself into an Hulk.
Punisher and Deadpool were fighting him but without success. Punisher take almost a desperate action to get rid of him temporarily. He equipped a landmine in his chest and hug Madman.
With his Madman turned into his human form.
2. Punisher fights Red Hulk with a "Hulkbuster".
During the "Punisher vs Thunderbolts" arc, the Punisher surprised every one of us when he fought against Red Hulk with some sort of Hulkbuster.
It didn't last too long but he purpose was served, distracting Red Hulk from a weapon that shot a bullet that make him turn into his human form.
1. Punisher vs Ghost Rider
And for the number one is... the fight against Ghost Rider!
As a whole it was priceless... The Punisher had a contingency plan just in case Ghost Rider turned against him and this was what it makes it so cool.
The Punisher studied many ways to get rid of Ghost Rider, but he knew he couldn't beat him using human weapons and he visit a big bad villain called Zadkiel a powerful angel that was cast out to hell but he was operating on earth.
He add a sword of Mephisto that was of highly interest of Frank when he got a chance he took it and eliminate Zadkiel and his demonic minions with the sword.
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| Who knew that Frank would use a sword to get rid of this big boy? |
After acquiring the sword and other items, Frank was "ready" to take out Ghost Rider... But things wasn't all that easy...
I don't know much about Ghost Rider but the Penance Stare works for those who harm innocent lives, it doesn't work like "regrets".
Maybe this fight was way overated for Frank's side but it was really fun to see him doing some prep work to take out Ghost Rider.
All the action since the prep work plus the fight itself and the way he resisted to Penance Stare make this the badass number one moment in this run.
