Are the Thunderbolts the New Avengers?

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Instead of gathering, the Avengers have disbanded, but fear not! The Thunderbolts have arrived on the scene instead. However, it’s worth mentioning that this new team isn’t winning everyone over, as hinted at in the latest Marvel film.

In Thunderbolts, a fresh group of oddball characters is assembled: Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Yelena Belova playing the Black Widow (Florence Pugh), John Walker’s US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Olga Kurylenko portraying Antonia Dreykov as Taskmaster, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian, and Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr, the Ghost.

Besides the reappearance of Valentina “Val” Allegra de Fontaine, portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure also introduces a powerful superbeing known as Robert “Bob” Reynolds, who goes by the name The Sentry. This role is played by Lewis Pullman.

Initially starting off as a secret operation, things rapidly escalate to become much riskier, encompassing acts of treachery, hidden pasts, and an ominous force called The Void. Be advised: potential spoilers follow!

Thunderbolts ending reveals meaning behind asterisk 

Towards the closing scenes of the film, it’s revealed that the asterisk next to the Thunderbolts had a significant meaning – it was merely a temporary label. As they made their grand entrance onto the global stage, this group of morally ambiguous characters were officially unveiled as the New Avengers.

It appears that since the Avengers have disbanded, the world finds itself yearning for a fresh group of superheroes. Meanwhile, Val has quietly been gathering her own team, but unlike Nick Fury, it seems she’s more focused on amassing power and influence rather than rescuing the day.

Initially, Val finds herself under scrutiny by a government panel, which includes the newly elected congressman, Bucky Barnes, due to her connections with a mysterious group called the OXE Group.

The committee strongly believes that OXE may have been secretly conducting inhumane experiments to create superhumans. In a bid to cover their tracks, Val orders Yelena, US Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster on what appears to be a concluding operation.

Yet, there’s an unexpected turn: Val isn’t trying to protect them as it seems; instead, she’s attempting to eliminate them to hide her actions. Remarkably, most of them survive (with the exception of Taskmaster, who was killed by Ghost), but they also revive Bob – a man with a fragile mind and colossal power.

Who is Bob Reynolds, aka The Sentry?

In a twist of events, Bob – once a subject of OXE’s tests – transforms into the Sentry, an extraordinary entity boasting the power equivalent to a million bursting stars. A glimpse of his capabilities is shown when he assists the Thunderbolts in their escape.

As I stand there, a SWAT team, with Val leading the charge, unleashes a hailstorm of bullets my way. Remarkably, these projectiles seem to glide off my skin, as if I’m crafted from an indestructible metal like titanium. Unbeknownst to me, these abilities kick in, and with a burst of energy, I propel myself skyward, soaring like a rocket. However, the thrill is short-lived as gravity pulls me back towards the ground once more.

Val discovers him unresponsive and takes him to the Avengers Tower, using this chance to enlist him as her ultimate weapon of choice.

As the Thunderbolts continue their journey on foot, they’re subsequently gathered by Red Guardian and Bucky Barnes. Together, they agree to form a united team. It is then proposed by Alexei that they adopt the name ‘Thunderbolts’, reminiscent of Yelena’s childhood soccer squad.

Upon reaching the Avengers Tower to face Val, they encounter an unexpected version of Bob. Instead of his usual scrubs, he’s donned the iconic Marvel Comics golden attire, and Val has persuaded him to sport a new blonde hairstyle (evoking a strong resemblance to Homelander).

Demonstrating his immense strength, each member of the Thunderbolts tries to challenge him, but he casually tosses them away as if they were dolls – a feat that surpasses the combined might of all Avengers. However, contrary to Val’s instructions, he does not harm them further; instead, he allows them to escape unharmed.

In an angry outburst, Val scolds him for disregarding her orders. He responds coolly by reminding her of his divine status. When she attempts to engage a device meant to curb his powers, he intervenes. However, his assistant Mel (Geraldine Viswanathan) discreetly initiates it instead.

This leaves Sentry unconscious, preceding a dark figure approaching him. Unbeknownst to everyone present, Val and Mel have initiated the Void at this moment.

Enter the Void

Essentially, the character called Sentry is burdened with a malevolent counterpart named the Void. This dark aspect of him symbolizes his inner turmoil, including pain, anger, and deep-rooted self-hatred. He’s an extremely formidable adversary, capable of obliterating entire cities.

Following its activation, the Sentry – represented as a shadowy likeness – flies over New York City, obliterating an assaulting helicopter in mid-flight. As it glides above, those below start vanishing into the darkness as it passes overhead.

Instead of fleeing, Yelena deliberately steps onto the path, bravely encountering haunting recollections from the Red Room and beyond. Eventually, she locates a shattered version of Bob within the Void’s realm, who admits that he has no power over his sinister self.

Yelena encourages Bob to counterattack, but it’s not until Ghost, Bucky, Red Guardian, and US Agent gather together, offer him a supportive hug, that the Void gradually fades. Regaining his composure, Bob manages to bring back those who had vanished.

After the end of the movie, Bob’s powers are turned off as a precaution to prevent the Void from regaining control. Since the Thunderbolts are set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, we can only speculate whether the Sentry/Void has been destroyed or if he’s merely lying dormant, ready to reemerge at some point.

Meet the New Avengers

Despite the fact that it was the Thunderbolts who ultimately secured victory, Val cleverly exploits the situation by orchestrating a press conference, during which she reveals the Thunderbolts as the latest incarnation of the New Avengers.

Despite her desire for their demise only recently, she surprisingly displays extraordinary boldness. Yet, Yelena subtly reminds Val, “Now, it’s us who hold the power over you.

After the end credits unfold, I find myself reading a string of fictional news articles and opinion pieces from various outlets, critiquing our team’s performance. Statements like “That’s not my Avengers” and “Who’s Bob?” echo through the texts, hinting at dissatisfaction and confusion among readers.

It’s additionally reported that Sam Wilson, who is known as Captain America (played by Anthony Mackie), is taking legal action against them due to the fact that the name “Avengers” is trademarked. This potentially sets up a humorous solution from Alexei: the “New Avengerz”.

Apart from providing the laughter, bestowing the Thunderbolts with an Avengers-like role serves as a means for the Marvel Cinematic Universe film to link back to its comics foundation.

During a chat with TopMob, director Jake Schreier clarified that some parts of the internet might hope for a version similar to the initial Thunderbolts storyline, where the villains disguise themselves as heroes.

Moreover, towards the culmination of our film, we seem to pay tribute to a certain concept, yet approach it from an alternative perspective. This questioning stance is, “Perhaps they aren’t the most suitable individuals for their roles?

In my opinion, the film seems to be neutral about this topic. This is indicated not only by the various responses shown during the closing credits but also by the events that transpire during the post-credit sequence.

Schreier stated, “It’s not the traditional Avengers team at the end. It’s the New Avengers. I believe, given the challenges people face today, these characters don’t necessarily need to be the most powerful heroes; they can still make a difference.

As a gamer, I’d say it boils down to this: It’s not just about their special abilities; it’s about why they are the perfect squad to tackle this specific challenge. That’s the essence of the movie. Moving forward, there’s a lot of excitement in exploring the tension surrounding whether they are indeed the right fit for that role.

I’m super excited that Thunderbolts is now playing in theaters! If you can’t make it to the movies right away, don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. You can find out why Baron Zemo isn’t featured in this movie by reading an insightful article I stumbled upon. And for all Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans like us, let me share a comprehensive list of every upcoming MCU title so we can mark our calendars accordingly. Lastly, if you’re curious about what’s brewing in the world of Avengers: Secret Wars and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I’ve gathered all the latest information for us to digest together! Enjoy the ride, fellow Marvel enthusiasts!

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2025-05-02 11:19