Editing Robbie Baldwin (section)

===Thunderbolts===
{{See also|Thunderbolts (comics)}}
[[Image:Penancetbolts.PNG|right|thumb|Robbie Baldwin as Penance. Art by [[Marko Djurdjevic]].]]
After the events of "Civil War", Robbie Baldwin joins [[Norman Osborn]]'s new government-sponsored [[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]] team,<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #110. Marvel Comics.</ref> which mostly comprises [[supervillain]]s who are being forced to reform. On one of the new team's first missions, Osborn sends [[Bullseye (comics)|Bullseye]] and Penance to deal with a vigilante named [[Americop]]. Bullseye forces Baldwin to use his powers to cripple the vigilante. After finding out that Osborn gave the order to Bullseye to do this, Baldwin destroys an expensive, one-of-a-kind eavesdropping device of Osborn's, while reminding his boss that unlike many of the Thunderbolts under Osborn's leadership, he has no failsafe nanites in him that force his compliance.<ref>''Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures''. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the team's mission to capture the [[Steel Spider]], Penance suffers a mental breakdown and slams his head into a brick wall while remarking that he is "not good enough". Found by teammate [[Radioactive Man (comics)|Radioactive Man]], Penance is eventually brought back to the Thunderbolts Mountain, where he brutally assaults a prisoner who taunted him for his role in the Stamford tragedy. Osborn nearly kills Baldwin, but the team's field leader [[Moonstone (comics)|Moonstone]] persuades Osborn that Baldwin could be manipulated and exploited as a [[Hulk]]-level enforcer for Osborn's schemes.<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #116. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Because of Baldwin's increasing instability, [[Doc Samson]] arrives at Thunderbolts headquarters to provide additional psychiatric assistance. This foils Moonstone's plan to be Baldwin's therapist and exploit his fragile mental state to her own ends.<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #117. Marvel Comics.</ref> Samson helps Penance focus his powers back to their original state, which he uses to defeat Moonstone in combat when (under the influence of a group of renegade telepaths) Moonstone tries to kill Samson.<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #121. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The Thunderbolts fight Baldwin's former New Warriors teammate and best friend [[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]], who had recently returned to Earth. After the fight, Baldwin urges Nova to register with the Initiative. Seeing Baldwin in this state prompts Nova to return to space.<ref>''Nova'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Ultimately, Baldwin deserts the Thunderbolts, although they pursue him. Baldwin eludes them, and with [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]]'s help, he travels to [[Latveria]] to retrieve Nitro to stand trial for mass murder.<ref>''Penance - Relentless'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> During this adventure, Baldwin steals the ill-gotten fortune of [[Mendel Stromm]], Norman's former employee and rival, after stealing information Osborn obtained on Stromm illegally via Osborn's position with the Thunderbolts.<ref>''Penance - Relentless'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref> Baldwin confronts [[Doctor Doom]] as part of his quest. Doom eventually concedes the fight and relinquishes Nitro after realizing that defeating Baldwin would force him to tap into Latveria's secret [[nuclear power plant]]s, potentially revealing their existence to the outside world. After secretly donating Stromm's fortune to charity for the rebuilding of Stamford, Baldwin arranges for a new Penance suit (with the same appearance but fewer spikes than the previous one) built after locking Nitro in the previous one. Nitro is imprisoned, but Robbie remains in the suit and returns to the Thunderbolts.<ref>''Penance - Relentless'' #5. marvel Comics.</ref>

During the [[Secret Invasion]], the Thunderbolts are sent to protect Washington from the [[Skrull]]s.<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #124–125. Marvel Comics.</ref> Shortly after, Moonstone drugs Penance and, in the capacity as a psychiatrist, declares Penance needs to be permanently committed to the nearest corrupt maximum security hospital found.<ref>''Thunderbolts'' #127. Marvel Comics.</ref>