Summary
Marvel’sThunderbolts*is due to hit theaters soon, but it doesn’t feature the team’s best lineup of antiheroes. However, many of them are already in the MCU, meaning the groundwork may already be in place for them to appear in a sequel. TheThunderboltsteam generally consists of antiheroes and reformed villains, although some iterations have featured more altruistic heroes, such as Luke Cage, taking the lead. This is also what makes it a unique team, allowing for personalities and tactics to clash in ways that would make The Avengers blush.
The MCU’s lineup features Yelena, Bucky Barnes, John Walker, Red Guardian, Ghost, and Taskmaster. Iterations of these characters have been part of past Thunderbolts teams in the comics, with Marvel assembling a team from characters already introduced in their universe. It’s a diverse team, with intelligent, skillful, and even wildcard members. However, it is not Marvel’s best lineup of Thunderbolts, which features a much darker team of antiheroes not sanctioned by the government, with Red Hulk calling the shots.
The Best Thunderbolts Team Is A Ruthless Combination Of Marvel’s Dark Antiheroes & Villains
Daniel Way and Steve Dillon launched anew run ofThunderboltscomicsin 2012, which saw Red Hulk assemble a team that was both highly skilled and volatile. The team consisted of The Punisher, Elektra, Agent Venom, Deadpool, Red Leader (the Leader, but red), Mercy, and Ghost Rider. Operating unfettered from government constraints, Red Hulk is the one giving out missions as he sees fit. However, not even his team fully trusts him due to his spotty past, which sees them eventually getting a say in mission selection.
With a team that couldn’t even trust each other, it was an iteration of Thunderbolts that felt truly unpredictable, with any member being the potential wildcard at any time. Dark storylines would see Elektra refusing to kill her brother and lying to the team about it, only for The Punisher to suss it out and make the kill himself, and Ghost Rider dragging the team to hell, where a deal was struck with Mephisto. The run even featured fun moments, like Deadpool proposing the team undertake a mission to kidnap Ryan Reynolds.
While many iterations of the Thunderbolts tackled unique stories, Red Hulk’s time as the team’s leader featured violent action and strong wills that pushed things in shocking directions for both readers and characters. The comics always kept readers wondering how the team would clash next, succeed in unexpected ways, or even turn on each other. Furthermore, theteam Red Hulk put togetherconsisted of fan-favorite characters, such as Deadpool and The Punisher, which helped make it the best lineup of Thunderbolts.
Why TheThunderbolts*Movie Features A Different Lineup Of Characters Than The Comics
TheThunderbolts*is set to feature a team of reformed villainous characters that have previously been introduced in the MCU. However, it is the live-action debut of Bob, who is The Sentry, and his darker half, The Void. Marvel has likely had concerns about introducing a new lineup of characters fresh to the MCU following misfires like The Eternals, which led to an assembly of faces that audiences could associate with earlier movies and shows. However, with an obscure team introduction, Marvel is likely hoping for aGuardians of the Galaxy-style response to the film, which saw an unknown team become household names.
There may also be contractual issues that prevent certain characters from Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts from appearing, such as The Punisher and Elektra, who may be tied to television projects, as Vincent D’Onofrio mentioned regarding hisWilson Fisk inDaredevil: Born Again. Venom would likely be the trickiest character, since Sony holds the rights. Plus, there are many different iterations of the Thunderbolts throughout comics, each with unique lineups of characters and leaders, such as Norman Osborn and Baron Zemo, which gives the team a fluidity that allows for regular roster changes, much like The Avengers or X-Men.
Could The Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts From The Comics Actually Appear In A Future MCU Project?
IfThunderbolts*is a success for Marvel, they will likely push forward with a sequel, which could feature a new lineup. Many of Red Hulk’s team have been introduced across the MCU, with him and The Leader appearing inCaptain America: Brave New World, The Punisher inDaredevil: Born Again, and Deadpool inDeadpool & Wolverine. It could also make for a great way to debut the MCU’s Ghost Rider. However, Marvel may want to steer away from such a dark team and instead choose to focus on less overtly violent antiheroes.
The Thunderbolts offer other unique options in the MCU. A comic storyline saw Mayor Wilson Fisk assemble his own team, which included Taskmaster. Given thatDaredevil: Born Againfeatures Fisk as Mayor, the possibility exists. Still, any future the team has lies in the box office returns. TheThunderbolts*has a lot to prove, and its best team may be yet to come, but Marvel is taking a chance on a lesser-known team, which poses a potentially bright future for the dark characters.
