Thunderbolts #9

The tagline "To Avenge the Avengers…" sets a charged tone for this December 1997 issue, and the cover by Mark Bagley and Vince Russell delivers on that promise with a striking assemblage of figures. Front and center stands a confident, red-haired woman in a sleek black costume with gold accessories, flanked by a silver-haired figure in green, an archer in purple and gold, and what appears to be a sorceress in red — with an armored, blue-helmeted figure crouching in the foreground. Writers Kurt Busiek and Roger Stern, joined by artists Bagley and Ron Frenz, bring "Life Lessons" to life in what looks to be a pivotal chapter for this team operating in the shadow of Marvel's mightiest heroes.