Thunderbolts Red Omnibus

Thunderbolts (2012) (Collected Editions) #1-5

by Daniel Way

A colorful cast of volatile killers stars in the most shocking Thunderbolts era of all! Venom, Elektra, Deadpool, the Punisher. Forget the courts, the jails, the system - this team of Thunderbolts fights fire with fire, targeting the most dangerous and lethal players in the Marvel Universe with extreme prejudice. Led by General "Thunderbolt" Ross, A.K.A. the Red Hulk, this handpicked squad of likeminded operatives is going to make the world a better place - by painting it red with blood! But will even this crew approve of the team's newest the Red Leader?! The Thunderbolts will face brutal battles against a terror cell of Crimson Dynamos, Thanos' Black Order and at least one of their own! But will the Ghost Rider put his money on red? Collecting THUNDERBOLTS (2012) #1-32 and THUNDERBOLTS ANNUAL (2013) #1.

Genres: Comics, Marvel

744 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[James DeSantis]

Thunderbolts Red essentially sees Ross, a.k.a. Red Hulk, assembling a team of anti-heroes to confront significant global threats. This iteration moves away from the concept of recruiting villains for potential redemption, instead focusing on a dedicated anti-hero unit.

While the core idea wasn't initially my favorite, the execution proves to be quite enjoyable. With characters like Venom, Red Hulk, Punisher, and Elektra on the roster, you can anticipate a decidedly bloody and action-packed experience. Beyond that, the series delivers some truly exciting fight sequences alongside a compelling narrative that introduces formidable antagonists for the Thunderbolts to eliminate.

Charles Soule's contributions are undoubtedly the strongest in this run, making the middle portion of the 32 issues the clear highlight. The final arc is likely the weakest, though it still manages to be entertaining.

The initial issues present a mixed bag, but if you're looking for a fast-paced and brutal showdown featuring anti-heroes taking down villains and other nefarious individuals, this delivers.

Overall, while I'd probably lean towards a 3.5 out of 5, I'm going with a 4 out of 5 on Goodreads because, honestly, I had a damn good time with it.

[Eric]

This is a book with real highs and lows. The first third has mediocre writing with great art. Then it has great writing with truly difficult to follow artwork. Then it ends with something in between. Ultimately, it is less than the sum of its parts.

[lauren]

i wanted to read this bc i wanna see the punisher and elektra team up (they’re bffs in my head) but i can’t this shit is so ass and it feels like elektra’s only here for the sexual element that male readers so desperately need. #disappointed. hopefully there’s a future run where elektra and punisher actually team up and don’t just bounce on each other

[Jordan Schroeder]

All 31 issues… descent run :)