Norman Osborn is cranky that he has to wait around to meet President Obama.
The meeting turns out to be an ambush. Doc Samson is waiting on Air Force One with video showing Osborn, as Green Goblin, running amok.
Samson says that, as a super-hero psychiatrist, Osborn is not mentally fit for the job of Director of HAMMER. But, as always, Osborn is a step ahead of the virtuous Samson. While the Doc is accusing Osborn of being the Goblin, Green Goblin attacks Air Force One.
Of course that’s in imposter. But you’ll NEVER guess who it is. Of all the possible imposters out there, Osborn recruited one of the Headsmen to wear his gear.
While the Secret Service and Samson are distracted, Ant-Man plants a device on Samson that pumps up his gamma intake and makes him Hulk Out. To put the finishing touches on Osborn’s plan to discredit Samson, “Green Goblin” acts as if he is the Doc’s ally before he flies off and escapes.
Air Force One crashes, but Osborn’s Thunderbolts team saves the President’s life. Samson escapes but is now a wanted man.
Through flashbacks, we also get to see Norm recruit White Widow to the Thunderbolts team–to serve as the team’s new field leader. At the risk of spoiling a story that’s nearly two decades old, that’s not White Widow. It’s Natasha herself, trying to infiltrate Osborn’s team.
By the end of this arc we have a new Thunderbolts team: Black Widow masquerading as White Widow taking on Black Widow’s identity; Ghost; Cleavon “Headsman” Twain serving as Green Goblin; Paladin; and Eric O’Grade, the guy who stole the identity of Ant-Man from the original Ant-Man (Hank Pym) who had previously had his identity taken by another thief (Scott Lang).
“Black Widow” tells the team that their new target is Deadpool, who she says has been hired to kill Norman Osborn.
Andy Diggle will soon irreparably damage his own reputation when he helms the first Daredevil event, Shadowland, which draws many jeers from most fans. But he’s doing good here. I like all the identity switching–it’s part of the whole concept behind the Thunderbolts–and the plot twists are paced fast enough to keep it all moving, but there’s not so many that we don’t have time for them to sink in.