Appearing in "Deceiving Appearances"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- The Mayor of New York City
- Hydra (Mentioned)
- A.I.M. (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Delaware (Appears on screen)
- Newark (First appearance) (Appears on screen)
- New York City
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Deceiving Appearances"
The Thunderbolts are making headlines once again, this time for thwarting the Ringmaster and his Circus of Crime, who attempted to rob guests at a charity event. Atlas is astonished by how swiftly the team has won over New Yorkers. Meanwhile, Citizen V, secretly Baron Zemo, reflects on his plan to transform the Masters of Evil into a superhero team to infiltrate global security systems following the deaths of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four.
Outside their headquarters, Mach-1 trains with Songbird, who struggles with flying. When Mach-1 learns that Songbird's real name is Melissa, he impulsively kisses her. She briefly reciprocates but then pulls away, insisting she cannot allow herself to grow close to anyone.
The next day, Techno complains about the dilapidated apartment the Thunderbolts use as their base. Meteorite rebukes him, pointing out that projecting an image of having “nothing” will help the team gain trust and resources in the long run.
In Central Park, the mayor holds a memorial service for heroes lost to Onslaught. Franklin Richards speaks before unveiling a massive statue honoring them. Watching from the shadows, the Mad Thinker commands the Awesome Android to attack the gathering. Dallas Riordan, present at the event, alerts the Thunderbolts.
Elsewhere, Hallie Takahama is taken from a cell by mysterious, non-human figures conducting experiments on her.
The Thunderbolts arrive at Central Park just as the Awesome Android targets Franklin Richards. The android splits into six identical parts to match the team's numbers. One segment escapes with Franklin, but Mach-1 and Songbird chase it down, rescuing him and taking refuge in the abandoned Four Freedoms Plaza. The team regroups there and fends off the remaining androids, fighting in close coordination. Eventually, Citizen V identifies the "Mad Thinker" as another android and decapitates it, deactivating the Awesome Android immediately.
Grateful for their heroics, the mayor, with Franklin's approval, offers the Thunderbolts Four Freedoms Plaza as their new headquarters, an offer the team accepts. As Atlas flirts with Dallas Riordan, Meteorite reflects on how fulfilling it feels to be a hero and admired by the public—but wonders if the feeling is becoming too intoxicating.
Solicit Synopsis
Notes
- This issue is reprinted in the trades Thunderbolts Classic Vol. 1 and Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightning.