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Speedball (Collected Editions)
Penance: Relentless
From the pages of Civil Front Line and Thunderbolts! Once he was a hero, now only a shell of Robbie Baldwin remains. As Penance, he begins a slow descent into the most hated man in America, blamed for the disaster at Stamford, tortured by visions of his failure, and obsessed with strange, seemingly meaningless numbers. A relentless pursuit begins... Collects Relentless #1-5
120 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2008
About the author
Paul Jenkins
1,303 books157 followersPaul Jenkins is a British comic book writer. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 9, 2015
I knew this was going to be dark, but I didn't realise just how dark it would get by the end. Not an essential read in terms of continuity by any means, coming as it does between Faith In Monsters and Caged Angels, neither of which really lead into or reference this book, but an essential read in terms of entertainment value.
I enjoyed the character of Penance immensely as envisaged by Warren Ellis - I thought the arc of this character was interesting enough, even without it being fleshed out to the extent we see here, but I worried about the overall quality of this volume. I had never heard of either Jenkins or Gulacy, not having read a huge amount of Marvel work previously. I really needn't have been concerned. The writing is consistent, with an interesting, twisting storyline featuring guest stars aplenty (without it turning into a ham-fisted super mash-up), and the artwork is of a high quality. In certain action scenes it was slightly difficult to tell in which direction momentum was taking characters, but that would really be my only complaint on that front. Close-ups and atmospheric panels are consistent highlights throughout, and the pacing is perfect, as is the panel layout.
Relentless is the title of the book, and relentless is exactly what Penance is. He absolutely will not be stopped or swayed from his quest, which I won't spoil by discussing here. Suffice to say, it's a dark and personal mission, so don't expect to see a ton of the other Thunderbolts members. They are present, but the spotlight is on Penance for this one, using his character to weave a tragic tale of a fallen hero trying to earn redemption in the eyes of a public that hates him. How he goes about this displays exactly the kind of amoral figure he has become, raising interesting questions about his personal mindset and the importance of justice, whatever the cost. Penance is fanatical in his quest, in every sense of the word - anyone who has read the preceding Thunderbolts material knows exactly what's happening to him under that suit - and it seems clear that he is suffering severe internal struggles. How dangerous he potentially is to himself and to others around him is never far from the minds of everyone involved (well aside from Norman Osborn of course), and early parts of the story where we see him being trailed, analysed and discussed have an almost asylum like quality to them, as if he is a subject to be studied rather than a person.
In conclusion, whilst the events of the book don't have a huge impact on the Marvel world as a whole, the story, characterisation, plot and artwork all raise this book far above the level I expected for what was essentially a spinoff to fill time whilst Warren Ellis was too busy to write the core series. There are no origin stories here, no explanations of history save what's needed to establish motivation. Just a great character in a good story, with a stellar supporting cast.
I enjoyed the character of Penance immensely as envisaged by Warren Ellis - I thought the arc of this character was interesting enough, even without it being fleshed out to the extent we see here, but I worried about the overall quality of this volume. I had never heard of either Jenkins or Gulacy, not having read a huge amount of Marvel work previously. I really needn't have been concerned. The writing is consistent, with an interesting, twisting storyline featuring guest stars aplenty (without it turning into a ham-fisted super mash-up), and the artwork is of a high quality. In certain action scenes it was slightly difficult to tell in which direction momentum was taking characters, but that would really be my only complaint on that front. Close-ups and atmospheric panels are consistent highlights throughout, and the pacing is perfect, as is the panel layout.
Relentless is the title of the book, and relentless is exactly what Penance is. He absolutely will not be stopped or swayed from his quest, which I won't spoil by discussing here. Suffice to say, it's a dark and personal mission, so don't expect to see a ton of the other Thunderbolts members. They are present, but the spotlight is on Penance for this one, using his character to weave a tragic tale of a fallen hero trying to earn redemption in the eyes of a public that hates him. How he goes about this displays exactly the kind of amoral figure he has become, raising interesting questions about his personal mindset and the importance of justice, whatever the cost. Penance is fanatical in his quest, in every sense of the word - anyone who has read the preceding Thunderbolts material knows exactly what's happening to him under that suit - and it seems clear that he is suffering severe internal struggles. How dangerous he potentially is to himself and to others around him is never far from the minds of everyone involved (well aside from Norman Osborn of course), and early parts of the story where we see him being trailed, analysed and discussed have an almost asylum like quality to them, as if he is a subject to be studied rather than a person.
In conclusion, whilst the events of the book don't have a huge impact on the Marvel world as a whole, the story, characterisation, plot and artwork all raise this book far above the level I expected for what was essentially a spinoff to fill time whilst Warren Ellis was too busy to write the core series. There are no origin stories here, no explanations of history save what's needed to establish motivation. Just a great character in a good story, with a stellar supporting cast.
September 26, 2017
Finally got around to reading about Speedball's fall and his PTSD. Well done, but a little short. It could have gone on a few more chapters and developed things for the next step in his recovery. Maybe that was handled in the pages of Thunderbolts.
January 26, 2009
I keep meaning to give this one back to the person who leant it to me, but I keep going back and reading it. Marvel has made a lot of changes over the recent years and, unsurprisingly many of them have not been done well. However, changes set-off by the Stamford Incident (and the subsequent Civil War) are dealt with well here in Penance: Relentless, a book that analyzes tragedy, guilt, and (obviously) penance with unflinching pragmatism.
This is not a happy-go-lucky super hero story and requires extensive knowledge of Marvel history, but it is one of Marvel's more mature (not adult, mature) reads in the past few years.
Admittedly though, the costume does make Penance "look like a goon."
This is not a happy-go-lucky super hero story and requires extensive knowledge of Marvel history, but it is one of Marvel's more mature (not adult, mature) reads in the past few years.
Admittedly though, the costume does make Penance "look like a goon."
July 16, 2019
This one was a bit of a mixed-bag for me. Starts off cool and mysterious and intriguing, but fell off somewhat for a few issues, not really giving you much but marginally entertaining face-time with Norman Osborn as the head of the Thunderbolts (which is cool, but he was just a twisted business tycoon, not a super villain) and Tony Stark in a suit (designer, not iron) bitching about shit needing to get done. But when things finally start happening in the 4th issue it gets interesting and captivating again. I liked the ending and the story overall was really cool. I'm just anti-corporate everything so that angle in comics never does anything for me. But I love(d) the whole Dark Reign concept and this story took place during that time so did a little extra for me in that sense. I wouldn't say "read it," but I wouldn't say don't. The ending, though, IS worth the time spent.
August 16, 2018
Was mit Robbies Lektüre von Genghis Khan und Marquis de Sade beginnt, endet erstaunlich unspektakulär in Latveria. Auf dem Weg dorthin gibt es einige starke Momente, wie das auch visuelle Wiederaufblitzen der Opfer von Stamford oder Osborns Erkenntnis, dass er die logische Konsequenz aus Iron Mans Politik ist oder auch Dooms Anti-USA-Abrechnung (und einen Plot Twist, der hier nicht verraten wird), andererseits ist der längste Kampf zwischen Penance und Mendel Stromm gähnend langweilig und Gulacy kann Dr. Dooms Arme einfach nicht zeichnen.
Vielleicht noch als Hinweis: Penance' Abrechnung mit Nitro ist ehrlich brutal und sogar ein wenig eklig - definitiv nichts für Kinder.
Vielleicht noch als Hinweis: Penance' Abrechnung mit Nitro ist ehrlich brutal und sogar ein wenig eklig - definitiv nichts für Kinder.
November 2, 2017
I find this character sorta fascinating, partly because he's got an interesting arc and partly because I want to see what Paul Jenkins - a middle-aged comic book writer of mostly poor taste - thinks sadomasochism is. His theory? A dude who's really into piercings.
Anyways, this is a fine, forgettable superhero story. Terrible art though.
Anyways, this is a fine, forgettable superhero story. Terrible art though.
July 16, 2023
Penance is definitely the most intriguing character coming out of the Thunderbolts Civil War Era. Relentless is a well written storyline that keeps your interest with an progressing plot, a side of mystery, and action skirmishes with Nitro, Wolverine, and Dr. Doom! With the art to match!
January 17, 2026
Needed this after Civil War (Never gonna forgive you Tony). Felt so much for Robbie after everything they did to him and how much it changed him. Painfully dark as, but had to be.
June 16, 2014
Marvel's "Civil War" took them down a very dark path, and this is one of the darkest pieces of the fall out. Rarely to comics deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and what it does to people. I really enjoyed many aspects of this book. Penance:Relentless
April 6, 2015
A tie-in story for the Thunderbolts that will never be referenced again. I had kind of forgotten that it happened because the main Thunderbolts story kind of ignores that it happened.
The art is solid. The story is well-written.
The art is solid. The story is well-written.
May 15, 2016
Eh.
Thus ends my journey through Civil War.
Thus ends my journey through Civil War.
January 21, 2018
ABSOLUTE RATING: {2+/5 stars}
STANDARDIZED RATING: <2/5 stars>
STANDARDIZED RATING: <2/5 stars>
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews