This lovefest of the Thunderbolts is sadly going to end with this issue. With the end of this epic arc I must sadly part with this series as well. With it’s stupid, idiotic rebranding and uninteresting story to follow I am going to be quite depressed leaving this series. Like many of you, I had no expectations with Jeff Parker and Kev Walker (with Declan Shalvey coming in later) turning this series around. But since they came on board, this series has practically been the most consistent book Marvel has to offer. So…Can this series end this ‘unofficial’ end with a bang?

Yes it can actually. Cause this issue was a lot of fun from beginning to end. Again I am a sucker for anything time travel so when paradoxes are at hand I go right into this issue. The concepts Parker brings to the issue; from the endless nothing, to how they go about getting rid of ‘evidence’; it was all fun to read. But the real story of this issue was the ultimate solution to this paradox. It’s really tragic and for the sake of spoilers I won’t officially say what happens. But again it’s sad to see him/her end up at the end of this issue but it’s a really unique way of stopping a paradox. I don’t know how, if at all, Marvel will try and bring this character back but Parker pretty much made it officially that this guy/gal is fucked. Nice to see some things don’t end up on a happy note with this team.

If anything this issue is more proof that Declan Shalvey is the real deal. Why this man has not gotten a bigger series to go on, like I don’t know: DAREDEVIL!, really confuses me. I mean just look at that ‘half’ two page spread of NYC going down into nothingness in the beginning…Just superb! But I love his sort of, minimal detail when it comes to his characters. Oh you can see the detail in the costumes but it all just looks ‘simple’ but he adds so much emotion to just dotted eyes. The effects are just as great and I loved that panel of Ghost revealing the two Moonstones switching places. This guy can do it all; from action pieces, to sweeping two page spreads, to great detail in one panel. Add in some great coloring by Frank Martin Jr. (and unsung hero of this series) and it’s just fantastic to look at.

I am pretty sad to leave this book. Maybe the reasoning of leaving this series is nitpicky, I admit. But I don’t wanna see more ‘Dark Avengers’ or a new focus on this series. This ‘stuck in time’ Thunderbolts have been a blast to read and this ‘T-Bolts v T’Bolts’ arc is just icing on the cake in a fabulous run. I don’t wish ill will on Jeff Parker or Declan Shalvey (GIVE HIM SOME MORE WORK OTHER THEN VENOM MARVEL!) but I can’t find myself the will to let Marvel get away with this stupid rebranding. Hopefully this is a short-term drop and everything will be back to normal in a few months.