Thunderbolts: How to Lose

Thunderbolts (1997) #76-81

by John Arcudi (Writer)

What if you're a former super-villain whose abilities make you the target of ridicule among other more powerful super-villains, as well as a pushover for defeat at the hands of super-heroes? And what if you're trying to reform... to walk the straight and narrow path? Do you keep slaving away for minimum wage at a go-nowhere job, or make on last grab for fame - by busting heads?

Collecting: Thunderbolts 76-81

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels

120 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2003

About the author

John Arcudi has made a name for himself by scripting comics that manage to combine long-running subplots with impeccable characterization and action sequences, making for some of the most exciting and consistently good comics out today.

Reviews

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, story was nice and art good but... this isn't a Thunderbolts book at all, just a six issues fill-in before Nicieza's New Thunderbolts story line. The one and only link with the series is just Man-killer into the last two issues... and so much for her character development into the previous T-Bolts saga. Why, Marvel??? Why??? Vote: 2,5/3

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very strange standalone book. If not for the excessively cartoonish art, it seems like it's a lesser Astro City story.

Seems like the creators probably got cancelled before they were ready to resolve the story because everything just stops at the end, more or less.

[Andy Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh! So badly wanted to be a surprise four. Negative reviews abound but the writer delivers a gentle script of a brusque working joe in a bloody world at a serene pace. The illustrator, Velasco is borrowing from the madcap designs of Milligan & McCarthy, and the standout portraiture of Dillon or Bachalo. Yet it's when the colourists of Studio F lay down blankets of snow and spray, the wet of city steam, that Velasco gets out-fitted Raymond Briggs style and the art takes on a new humane dimension that is the stuff adult comics (autobio ones) are made of. The colours give the central character of this book, and supporting cast, a fragility and spectrum of dimensions make the reader eagerly anticipate what lies ahead. Contrast all this with editor Andrew Lis, or his designer, wrapping Thunderbolts up in Playboy Magazine style covers and story so far pages: the design is strong but anomalous, jarring with the contents. The effect is ...interesting.

It's not to last though. During the last two chapters the art style changes and the story swerves abruptly out of biog realism back into supers turf. I'm guessing this was the cancellation word coming down and though author Arcudi has tried his best to wrap up, it feels a betrayal of this incarnation of Thunderbolts. The effects are noticeable from Velasco and Studio F too, and it's a pity this died when it did. I guess just too slow a boil.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This isn't really a Thunderbolts book. It's all about an ex-villain who decides to fight in a corrupt boxing style ring. The artwork is nice but that's all it has going for it.

[Jake Kilroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There isn't much here, but it has its moments. The world is tough, even for former villains who want a family life.