Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire # 1 2022 NM

Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire #1 is the first issue of a three-part limited series tie-in to Marvel’s Devil’s Reign crossover event. Released on January 19, 2022, it follows a team of supervillains deputized by Mayor Wilson Fisk (the Kingpin) to replace the city's outlawed superheroes. 

Creative Team

• Writer: Clay McLeod Chapman
• Artist: Manuel Garcia
• Colorist: Dono Sánchez-Almara
• Letterer: Joe Sabino 

The New Thunderbolts

The series introduces a new iteration of the Thunderbolts, acting as Fisk's personal enforcers to maintain "law and order". The roster includes: 

• Rhino (Aleksei Sytsevich)
• Electro (Francine Frye)
• Taskmaster (Tony Masters)
• Agony (Gemma Shin)
• Whiplash (Anton Vanko)
• U.S. Agent (John Walker), who joins at the end of the first issue to lead the group. 

Story Summary

The issue highlights the chaos of a city where villains are the only legal "heroes". 

• The Met Gala Attack: The story opens with the Humanity Liberation Movement attempting to rob the wealthy at the Met Gala.
• Brutal Intervention: The Thunderbolts intervene, but their lack of restraint leads to a violent bloodbath.
• Internal Strife: Back at the police station, the villains quickly grow restless and begin fighting each other until Mayor Fisk intervenes to keep them in line.
• Fisk's Agenda: Fisk tasks the team with hunting down the leaders of the Humanity Liberation Movement, leading to another ruthless massacre to send a message to anyone opposing his rule.