Thunderball of the Wrecking Crew steps up in Captain America No. 10
By Alex Widen
Image by Marvel Comics
Talk about Making a Literal Computer Virus!
As Thunderball is wheeled into the infirmary alongside the Wrecker, Steve Rogers finds himself the target of Strucker’s carefully planned and staged beat-downs. In a prison that negates all the super powers of everyone within it but himself, Stucker is the master of unfair fights and picking his shots. Having long been Cap’s foe, he’s decided to face the not-so-super-soldier in a cage match. Reduced to about half his physical prowess, Steve tries to bridge the gap with skill and determination, which at least makes their fight interesting.
Image by Marvel Comics
Unlike the rest in the prison, Steve isn’t a criminal; he’s a hero. And he knows being a hero is about more than victory, but about never saying die. He stands his ground against Strucker and refused to be cowed by his bullying. Unfortunately, Strucker still has his own energy-draining powers, and a cage which is rigged to shock his opponent. Even the Wrecker is disappointed at seeing Captain America lose, at least this once. However, salvation comes and his name is Thunderball!
Image by Marvel Comics
The virus within him somehow, via the “comic book baloney science principle,” shorts out the power within the Myrmidon, specifically the “power dampeners” effecting the inmates. It kicks in just before Rogers was down for a full ten count, allowing him to get up and give Strucker a sucker-punch in anti-climatic fashion. Yet now he’s faced with a bigger problem; an entire prison full of pissed off super villains who just all got their powers back. Except Jigsaw, whose only power is surviving the Punisher a lot.
Image by Marvel Comics