Thunderbolts: First Strikes

In 1997, Marvel launched Thunderbolts: First Strikes, a single-issue comic written by Kurt Busiek with art by Mark Bagley. This one-shot served as a prelude to the ongoing Thunderbolts series, introducing the concept of a team of superhumans operating under a mysterious new banner. It matters as a key entry point for one of Marvel's most inventive team concepts, setting the stage for the twists and moral complexities that defined the series.