History ComicBook / PeterCannonThunderbolt2019

* AboveGoodAndEvil: Thunderbolt considers himself beyond conventional morality, or perhaps beyond the moral assumptions of any particular fictional genre; the possibility of saving countless billions across TheMultiverse excuses the deaths of other billions along the way. However, his casual extreme violence, petty sadism, and outbursts of temper when he is defied lead everyone else to regard him as just plain evil.

* RobotBuddy: Thunderbolt has transformed “his” Tabu into a robot, or perhaps just a full-body {{cyborg}}, partially as a "reward" to his friend and partially so [[AndIMustScream that Tabu doesn't try to kill himself again after witnessing the horrors of Thunderbolt's rampages]]. As Cannon points out, Tabu is hardly Thunderbolt’s friend after this — more a grotesque parody of the trope — but Thunderbolt is insane.

* OffWithHisHead: Thunderbolt rips off Supreme Justice's head with his bare hands, as a final act of gratuitous extreme violence.

** Cannon ultimately defeats Thunderbolt by moving outside his context, showing that his power comes from a narrow understanding of reality that ''only'' works in his genre. He does so by instead leaping into the aforementioned world where superheroes don't exist, and realising that other universes where the deconstruction of superheroes don't apply one way or another (such as just plain realism, or the fact superheroes don't exist, aside from being fictional) are key to defeating Thunderbolt. After all, if that universe abides by realistic, immutable laws like gravity and mass, what good would ''your'' powers be?
* PoweredArmor: Pyrophorus is an insect-themed armored superhero, and befitting the motif, has an exoskeleton that allows him to fly. [[spoiler:Thunderbolt uses it to his advantage by reality-warping insects inside the armor... and Pyrophorus himself.]]
* RealityWarper: Thunderbolt has absolute control of reality within his fortress, best demonstrated when he easily wipes out Cannon's best superheroes in a matter of a few pages. However, he can't travel to other timelines, because he's trapped himself in his own reality.

* AndIMustScream: Thunderbolt's version of Tabu attempted to escape from his fate as the only other inhabitant of a dead world, alongside the insane Thunderbolt himself, by suicide. Thunderbolt punished him by transforming him into a robot who cannot harm himself. It's a borderline instance of the trope, in that Tabu can speak -- but the only person he gets to talk to is Thunderbolt. In the end, we see ''that'' version of Tabu being only able to finally sleep when he's reassured Thunderbolt is truly dead.

* ArtStyleClash: When Cannon desperately jumps into a universe unlike his or Thunderbolt's, he jumps into a charmingly lo-fi SliceOfLife indie comic. Everyone is drawn like a realistic sketch, and even the speech bubbles are affected; whereas Cannon remains a relatively modern superhero with standard speech bubbles, Peter's dialogue and that universe's narration is represented as just words and lines on the screen. This is also part of what kills Thunderbolt in the end: whereas Cannon can adapt, Thunderbolt tries to force himself uncompromisingly into different worlds with different art styles and themes that can't be deconstructed by the superhero genre (or ''Watchmen''), only for those universes to rip him apart.

* {{Deconstruction}}: The comic deconstructs ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', albeit ultimately respectfully; Gillen appears to feel that the problem is the repetitive habits displayed by comics which are too heavily influenced by the older comic, demonstrated by Thunderbolt believing his way of showing violent apes (in superhero uniforms or otherwise) the errors of their violent ways is by repeating Veidt's plan[[note]]artificially creating aliens that annihilate a population center and cowing the rest into [[GenghisGambit submission and co-operation against the "alien" threat]][[/note]] ''en masse'' and ''ad infinitum'' with no regard for the worlds he now controls. In fact, it's [[spoiler:what ultimately defeats Thunderbolt: a violent anti-hero obsessed with spreading his brand of "realism" even to worlds that either really ''are'' idealistic or even ''where its tropes and concepts can't apply'' is literally torn apart when he attempts to enter these other universes.]]

** The Justice League/Watchmen equivalent are depicted as aloof and clinical at best (Baba Yaga and Cannon himself), at worst as JerkJock nationalists like unflattering depictions of Superman or Captain America (Supreme Justice) or edgy wacky NinetiesAntiHero meta jokers (The Test). However, Baba Yaga and Cannon are rational and still willing to do the right thing, and Supreme Justice is ''understandably'' not happy about things like misanthropic elitist "stipulations" coming out of Cannon's mouth while playing DevilsAdvocate for ''a multiverse wide genocide''. In the end, even though they know they are sorely outmatched by Thunderbolt and will die horrible deaths, they decide to go down fighting in the hopes they can make a dent against Thunderbolt.
** Cannon is introduced as playing DevilsAdvocate and being snotty about civilisation as a whole, but it's clear he's tired of the constant stream of superpowers squabbling. However, he knows it's better to ''not'' have a maniac sic aliens on people for world peace.

** Cocky, handsome, bearded Pyrophorus is a dead ringer for ''MCU''-era Tony Stark: reliant on technology and flying through the air in PoweredArmor.

* GenghisGambit: Thunderbolt seeks to use fake aliens created by himself to wipe out a location and force the rest of humanity to unite (akin to Ozymandias's plan in ''Watchmen''); he repeats this idea endlessly on every world he can find. Thunderbolt insists his plan works, but he doesn't actually care to follow up on worlds he "united" and is focused on causing mass destruction wherever he lays his eyes on.

* GenreShift: A key part of the plot, ultimately being weaponized. Cannon knows he'll have to find a universe unlike his or Thunderbolt's to find anything resembling a solution, and does so by more-or-less breaking into a [[LitFic non-genre literary indie comic book]]. There are no aliens, there are no superheroes, and the appearance of such understandably bewilders its inhabitants. (When the "aliens" finally arrive, Cannon's call to government contacts has them literally screaming in terror.) [[ArtStyleClash Even the drawing style shifts to a rough-hewn sketch, much like many indie comics.]] Besides the fact that Cannon realises he'd been lacking a more human (and ''realistic'') touch, Cannon also realises [[spoiler:how he can defeat Thunderbolt; by letting him try to take ''every'' comic universe and impose his medium, cliches, and ideas. Entering worlds where superheroes don't exist and/or the laws of physics simply wouldn't allow a reality-warping Ubermensch to exist slices him apart.]]
* HeroicBSOD: When Cannon is transporting himself and the other heroes to Thunderbolt's world, they pass through a number of others, each of which is some kind of post-apocalyptic landscape and/or bizarro universes unlike their own. Surprisingly, although all of the heroes are naturally concerned by this, it is ''Supreme Justice'' who is most shocked, ending up in a TroubledFetalPosition. It is clear that, for all his violent tendencies, his concern for other human beings is entirely genuine.

* LitFic: In desperation to find a universe where he might find an idea to defeat Thunderbolt, Cannon leaps into a non-genre comic book in the vein of ''ComicBook/AmericanSplendor'' or any number of indie graphic novels where the biggest threat prior to Thunderbolt's aliens showing up is existential dread, lingering feelings about exes, and trying to keep a dream alive in the the face of reality. It's here that Cannon realises that he needs a more down-to-earth approach with Thunderbolt.
* MediumAwareness: Baba Yaga describes the powers displayed by Cannon and Thunderbolt as "Formalism", which usually means analyzing an artwork in terms of its medium and format rather than its plot or content -- and indeed, both of them do seem to be quite GenreSavvy, at the very least. In fact, while Thunderbolt has effectively absolute power within his personal fortress, because he is a RealityWarper there, Cannon seems to be more medium-aware, transporting himself and the other five heroes to Thunderbolt's home by placing them on six panels of the nine-panel page layout that the comic uses by default (another ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} reference). He eventually ''weaponizes'' this awareness, defeating Thunderbolt by manipulating the medium to first travel into non-superhero worlds and then "allows" Thunderbolt to try and travel there himself. Whereas Cannon adapts, though, Thunderbolt insists on being a supervillain in universes where super-anything doesn't exist, and is reduced to a pile of gore as a result.

* RobotBuddy: Thunderbolt has transformed “his” Tabu into a robot, or perhaps just a full-body {{cyborg}}, partially as a "reward" to his friend and partially so [[AndIMustScream that Tabu doesn't try to kill himself again after witnessing the horrors visited so many worlds, courtesy of Thunderbolt. As Cannon points out, Tabu is hardly Thunderbolt’s friend after this — more a grotesque parody of the trope — but Thunderbolt is insane.

* HeroicBSOD: When Cannon is transporting himself and the other heroes to Thunderbolt's world, they pass through a number of others, each of which is some kind of post-apocalyptic landscape and/or bizarro universe unlike their own. Surprisingly, although all of the heroes are naturally concerned by this, it is ''Supreme Justice'' who is most shocked, ending up in a TroubledFetalPosition. It is clear that, for all his violent tendencies, his concern for other human beings is entirely genuine.

* MediumAwareness: Baba Yaga describes the powers displayed by Cannon and Thunderbolt as "Formalism", which usually means analyzing an artwork in terms of its medium and format rather than its plot or content -- and indeed, both of them do seem to be quite GenreSavvy, at the very least. In fact, while Thunderbolt has effectively absolute power within his personal fortress, because he is a RealityWarper there, Cannon seems to be more medium-aware, transporting himself and the other five heroes to Thunderbolt's home by placing them on six panels of the nine-panel page layout that the comic uses by default (another ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} reference). He eventually ''weaponizes'' this awareness, defeating Thunderbolt by manipulating aspects of the medium.

* PoweredArmor: Pyrophorus is an insect-themed armored superhero, and befitting the motif, has an exoskeleton that allows him to fly. [[spoiler:Thunderbolt uses it to his advantage by reality-warping insects inside the armor.]]
* RealityWarper: Thunderbolt has absolute control of reality within his fortress. However, he can't travel to other timelines, because he's trapped himself in his own reality.

* RobotBuddy: Thunderbolt has transformed “his” Tabu into a robot, or perhaps just a full-body {{cyborg}}. As Cannon points out, Tabu is hardly Thunderbolt’s friend after this — more a grotesque parody of the trope — but Thunderbolt is insane.

** Cocky, handsome, bearded Pyrophorus is a dead ringer for ''MCU''-era Tony Stark.

* FauxAffablyEvil: While Thunderbolt isn't so much affable as calm and insufferably {{smug|Super}}, he maintains a facade of politeness and good humor that quickly disappears whenever anything regarding his worldview is challenged.

* GenghisGambit: Thunderbolt seeks to use fake aliens created by himself to wipe out a location and force the rest of humanity to unite (akin to Ozymandias's plan in ''Watchmen''); he repeats this idea endlessly on every world he can find.

* HeroicBSOD: When Cannon is transporting himself and the other heroes to Thunderbolt's world, they pass through a number of others, each of which is some kind of post-apocalyptic landscape. Surprisingly, although all of the heroes are naturally concerned by this, it is ''Supreme Justice'' who is most shocked, ending up in a TroubledFetalPosition. It is clear that, for all his violent tendencies, his concern for other human beings is entirely genuine.

** The only fight that has the appearance of being equal (though it happens off-screen) is the final confrontation between Cannon and Thunderbolt -- and even that may be mostly a matter of Cannon letting things play out as they must. By then, he has determined that Thunderbolt has too limited an understanding of the situation: he believes every universe is doomed to nuclear destruction between warring superpowers, even though Cannon points out that there's plenty of universes where that ''doesn't'' happen if the multiverse is truly infinite and limitless.

** Thunderbolt might be right in that it'd take a miracle to avert a world war, but it's also clear that mass destruction is a wee bit like fighting fire with fire, and that a person not an asshole would definitely not come to the conclusion of mass genocide and definitely would not keep perpetuating it. As much as he disdains superheroics, he's taken down in a manner befitting the Golden or Silver Age of comics: given exactly what he wants and subsequently destroyed in a GuileHero maneuver.

* GenreShift: A key part of the plot, ultimately being weaponized. Cannon knows he'll have to find a universe unlike his or Thunderbolt's to find anything resembling a solution, and does so by more-or-less breaking into a [[LitFic non-genre literary indie comic book]]. There are no aliens, there are no superheroes, and the appearance of such understandably bewilders its inhabitants. (When the "aliens" finally arrive, Cannon's call to government contacts has them literally screaming in terror.) [[ArtStyleClash Even the drawing style shifts to a rough-hewn sketch, much like many indie comics.]] Besides the fact that Cannon realises he'd been lacking a more human (and ''realistic'') touch, Cannon also realises [[spoiler:how he can defeat Thunderbolt by letting him take try to take ''every'' comic universe to impose his will. Unfortunately for Thunderbolt, his attempt to rigidly enforce his medium, cliches, and ideas onto worlds where superheroes don't exist and/or the laws of physics simply wouldn't allow a reality-warping Ubermensch to exist, to the point that trying to enter these universes slices him apart, defeating him once and for all.]]

* TheMultiverse: It turns out that there is a multiverse with multiple Earths with different numbers and power levels of superheroes, at varying present-day dates. Thunderbolt discovered this and promptly started meddling with it; Cannon is apparently the first person to develop a means of cross-timeline travel. Supreme Justice notes in a lot of them, nuclear deterrence "works", usually by the world getting covered in nuclear explosions, and Thunderbolt uses it as an excuse for his sadistic crusade, despite Cannon pointing out that an infinite universe means there's lots of universes where nuclear deterrence doesn't exist, isn't necessary, or is even possible. It later turns out that Thunderbolt and Cannon can really only break into superhero-friendly worlds, and Thunderbolt wants a way to colonize the rest of the multiverse under his heel. [[spoiler: Cannon "allows" Thunderbolt to try and take them, but there's a reason they normally can't enter non-superhero universes: the rules of physics in those worlds are implied to be immutable, and a buff superhero powered by physics-defying "physics" trying to enter is akin to sticking your arm outside a car and having it torn off by a passing sign. Or several signs, in Thunderbolt's case.]]

* PoweredArmor: Pyrophorus is an insect-themed armored superhero, and befitting the motif, he has an exoskeleton that allows him to fly. [[spoiler:Thunderbolt uses it to his advantage by reality-warping insects into his innards, where he can't remove them easily thanks to being sealed into his innards, and he promptly craters into the ground.]]

** The only fight that has the appearance of being equal (though it happens off-screen) is the final confrontation between Cannon and Thunderbolt -- and even that may be mostly a matter of Cannon letting things play out as they must. By then, he has determined that Thunderbolt has too limited an understanding of the situation.

* GenreShift: A key part of the plot, ultimately being weaponized. Cannon knows he'll have to find a universe unlike his or Thunderbolt's to find anything resembling a solution, and does so by more-or-less breaking into a [[LitFic non-genre literary indie comic book]]. There are no aliens, there are no superheroes, and the appearance of such understandably bewilders its inhabitants. (When the "aliens" finally arrive, Cannon's call to government contacts has them literally screaming in terror.) [[ArtStyleClash Even the drawing style shifts to a rough-hewn sketch, much like many indie comics.]] Besides the fact that Cannon realises he'd been lacking a more human (and ''realistic'') touch, Cannon also realises [[spoiler:how he can defeat Thunderbolt by letting him take try to take ''every'' comic universe to impose his will. Unfortunately for Thunderbolt, his attempt to rigidly enforce his medium, cliches, and ideas is unsustainable, to the point that trying to enter these universes slices him apart, defeating him once and for all.]]

* TheMultiverse: It turns out that there is a multiverse with multiple Earths with different numbers and power levels of superheroes, at varying present-day dates. Thunderbolt discovered this and promptly started meddling with it; Cannon is apparently the first person to develop a means of cross-timeline travel.

* PoweredArmor: Pyrophorus is an insect-themed armored superhero.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Thunderbolt (and by extension, mean-spirited authors who throw around DarkerAndEdgier or {{Deconstruction}} around to sound mature while still inherently writing something about men in tights fighting each other) constantly disdains superheroics, its cliches, and its violent antics... while looking like Superman, insisting on wearing a cape, and showing a total inability to solve problems beyond violence and death, and is all too happy to personally kill people in a matter befitting a supervillain.

* {{Hypocrite}}: Thunderbolt (and by extension, mean-spirited authors who throw around DarkerAndEdgier or {{Deconstruction}} around to sound mature while still inherently writing something about men in tights fighting each other) constantly disdains superheroics and its violent antics, alongside the associated cliches... while looking like Superman, insisting on wearing a cape, and showing a total inability to solve problems beyond violence and death, and is all too happy to personally kill people in a matter befitting a supervillain/