Time for an interlude prison story (jail tales are my favorite!), where we check in with Mach-1, who went to prison to atone for his actual crimes while serving as a Thunderbolt.
Jay Leno thinks it’s funny.
While’s he’s in there, there’s a massive riot/prison break–and some villains want to kill him for betraying villainy by trying to go straight.
Mach 1 quells the riot with makeshift gear creating a sonic wave.
After order is restored, Val Cooper in D.C. decides that Abe Jenkins is right for a job that could rehabilitate him and get him out of prison for good.
I loved this issue, but recognize that tonally, and content-wise, this is a much darker issue than we’re used to from this comic. Guest creators Joe Casey and Leonardo Manco give Mark Bagely and Kurt Busiek a rest for this one issue. They just do a framing sequence.