Summary

The Thunderbolts first gained recognition inMarvel Comicsin Incredible Hulk #449, published in November 1996. They were created by Baron Zemo as a replacement for the Avengers, who had been declared dead at the time, while Zemo pursued his secret agenda. Over the years, the team has undergone several iterations, ranging from a group of villains to reformed villains and even entirely heroic characters.

In the latestMarvel Cinematic Universemovie,The Thunderbolts*, the team made its live-action debut with a roster that differs significantly from its comic book origins. However, many of the characters featured in the film have previously been part of the Thunderbolts in the comics. Throughout their history, numerous heroes, anti-heroes, and villains have joined the Thunderbolts in the comics,many of whom possess exceptional powers.

Dr. Chen Lu

Dr. Chen Lu, a Chinese nuclear physicist, was exposed to high levels of radiation, which transformed him into Radioactive Man. His affiliation with the Communist Party created tension with America and, consequently, with the Avengers. This conflict led him to become a founding member ofBaron Zemo’s Masters of Evil, eventually transitioning to a member of the Thunderbolts.

Joining the team during its second iteration, Lu is a powerful hero with numerous abilities. His most notable powers, which make him one of the strongest members of the Thunderbolts, are his near-invulnerability and his ability to emit powerful radiation blasts. Few can withstand his incredible power.

Karla Sofen

Karla Sofen was a psychiatrist who manipulated her peers and patients, instilling paranoia rather than helping them overcome their problems. Eventually, she came across an alien artifact known as the Moonstone, which granted her immense cosmic powers, including energy projection, flight, and super strength.

She was a founding member of the Thunderbolts, which was formed when Baron Zemo rebranded his Masters of Evil into a more ‘heroic’ team. Moonstone was even powerful enough to replace Captain Marvel in Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers, which includes similar members to the Thunderbolts but is considered a separate team.

Satana Hellstrom

As the daughter of Satan himself, Satana is a compelling character with a range of demonic powers at her disposal, including soul absorption, the Penance Stare, and various dark magical abilities.

Satana first became a member of the Thunderbolts during Luke Cage’s leadership, at a time when the team underwent a significant heroic transformation. She is technically a succubus, a beautiful demon who uses her charm to her advantage, particularly when dealing with men. As part of the Thunderbolts, Satana was recognized as one of the group’s powerhouses due toher extensive magical and demonic abilities.

Grom

The Over-Mind, also known as Grom, was born an Eternal on the planet Eyung, a powerful race of beings. It is said that he conquered many worlds before arriving on Earth. During the Civil War arc, several villains were recruited to form a team called the Thunderbolts Army, and Over-Mind was one of them.

As an Eternal, he possesses immense power, with the Watcher regarding him as a universal threat. His strength is largely unmatched, and he also wields powerful psionic and energy abilities, making him a significant danger. However, his mental instability has caused him to be disconnected from reality on several occasions, which slightly diminishes his threat level.

Emil Blonsky

Fans may recognizethe Abomination as one of the Hulk’s enemies, but Emil Blonsky has evolved beyond that in Marvel Comics. He has also served as a member of the Thunderbolts. His time on the team occurred under the leadership of Wilson Fisk during the “Devil’s Reign” arc.

As the mayor of New York, Kingpin made superheroes illegal and assembled the Thunderbolts as a task force to apprehend those who defied the law. Abomination was a significant player on this team who possesses strength, durability, and speed, along with a military background. This combination makes him a formidable threat.

Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross

Contrary to popular belief, the Thunderbolts were not named after Thunderbolt Ross, despite his later membership on the team as the Red Hulk. The team primarily consisted of anti-heroes like Deadpool, the Punisher, and Agent Venom. With his extensive military experience and the powers of the Red Hulk, Ross was a formidable leader for the Thunderbolts.

He utilized his strength, speed, and durability as the team’s brute force, while also contributing as the strategic mastermind behind their operations. One significant advantage that Thunderbolt Ross has over his green counterpart is that he retains his identity and intellect in his Red Hulk form, which arguably makes him even more powerful.

Erik Josten

Erik Josten was an American soldier who later became a mercenary. He was hired by Baron Zemo, who mutated him by infusing him with ionic energy. This transformation granted Erik immense strength, powerful energy-based abilities, and essentially made him immortal.

As Zemo’s powerful bodyguard, he took on the alias Atlas during the Thunderbolts' transition and continued with the team when they adopted a more heroic approach. Throughout his time with the Thunderbolts, Erik used several aliases, including Power Man, Smuggler, and Goliath. Additionally,he was further mutated by Pym Particles, which gave him the ability to alter his size. With a wide range of powers and abilities, Atlas is truly a formidable threat.

Marcus Milton

Several characters have taken on the Hyperion persona, originating from a different universe, Earth-13034, which was ultimately destroyed. His powers stem from his status as an eternal, granting him abilities akin to those of DC Comics' Superman, of whom Hyperion was created as a pastiche.

Hyperion first became a member of the Thunderbolts during the ‘Heroic Age’ under the leadership of Luke Cage. He was recognized as the ultimate powerhouse due to his immense cosmic abilities. There is no doubt that he is one of the strongest members of the Thunderbolts; some may even argue that he deserves the top spot.

Cain Marko

Juggernaut is primarily known as a villain in the X-Men universe, although he has also joined the team on several occasions. He was a member of Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts as well. Cain Marko, who is not a mutant,serves as the avatar of the demon Cyttorak, which grants him superhuman strength and stamina.

His true power lies in being the embodiment of an irresistible force. This means that once he starts running in a particular direction, nothing can stop him, despite many strong heroes attempting to do so throughout his long history in Marvel Comics. This ability alone contributes to his significantly high ranking among characters in the Marvel universe.

Ripley Ryan

Star is the most powerful member of the Thunderbolts for one significant reason:she is merged with the Reality Stone. This extraordinary ability allows her to bend reality to her will, making anything she dreams possible. Fortunately, Star is good-natured and uses her powers heroically, granting her a range of abilities such as flight, superhuman strength, and energy projection.

Ryan joined the Thunderbolts during the King in Black arc when Wilson Fisk reformed the team to combat the invasion of Knull, the creator of the Symbiotes, including Venom. Star’s ability to manipulate reality, enhanced by the power of an Infinity Stone, solidifies her status as the most powerful member of the Thunderbolts.