jokey

Marvel’s jokey, moody and middling “Thunderbolts*” returns the blockbuster franchise to the geeks.

The jokey scenes are the only ones he’s interested in.

But the campy Netflix branding reminders, from the series’ unmistakable musical theme to the Gothic scroll of the title to the jokey “next episode” or “watch credits” option that flashes at the show’s end, suggest that there really is an unstoppable force out there ready to make zombies of us all.

The jokey San Francisco production, as staged by Shawna Lucey for L.A.

The jokey, gleefully profane lyrics are stimulating in the moment but then quickly forgotten, like novelty songs in a clever college cabaret.