Thunderbolts #56

Thunderbolts #56 brings Fabian Nicieza's run to an intense crossroads, with Patrick Zircher and Al Vey's cover making the tension visceral and immediate. Dominating the image is a powerful armored figure — eyes blazing with crackling energy — looming over a gold-and-white costumed hero who appears to be falling amid a storm of shredding white ribbons or blades. Tucked into the upper corner, two more team members look on, hinting that this confrontation carries weight far beyond just these two combatants. With a story titled "Beyond Redemption," this 2001 issue seems to ask exactly how far the Thunderbolts' complicated path can stretch before it breaks entirely.