The Thunderbolts was recently announced. The film is uniting many villains and anti-heroes from all over the franchise to make this rag-tag team – characters that might include Winter Soldier, Yelena Belova, Ghost, Abomination, Baron Zemo, US Agent, and Taskmaster.
The team was first introduced in The Incredible Hulk #449 in 1997 and has since gone on to several solo runs, introducing new and going up against other heroes, villains, and everything in between. As such, there are many great storylines and issues for which the film could adapt. What would make the best source material for the big-screen version of Thunderbolts?
Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Thunderbolts #1-10
Of course, one of the most important parts of the Thunderbolts’ history is their inception. They are initially presented as a new team of unknown superheroes. However, in the first issue of their own comics series, written by Kurt Busiek, it is expertly revealed that they are actually the Masters of Evil – Baron Zemo, Moonstone, Beetle, Screaming Mimi, Goliath, and Fixer – using new monikers and identities to deceive their heroic enemies.
The subsequent issues tackle how these villains, Zemo in particular, plot to take over the world, how their plans are eventually revealed to the public, and how each member grapples with whether they want to be a villain or hero. Thunderbolts could definitely take aspects from Busiek’s run by having some of the more villainous characters operating as normal, but posing as heroes. They do have some obstacles to overcome in that they are supposedly featuring several characters who have already gone through some sort of heroic arc, so they might need some new villainous blood to really make it reflect the team in the comics.
Dark Avengers
Dark Avengers #1
Alternatively, Thunderbolts could actually introduce the team as a government-sanctioned replacement for the Avengers, which would for the likes of Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine or Secretary of State Ross as the creators. This sort of introduction could draw from the Dark Avengers run by Brian Michael Bendis – another prominent team yet to be introduced in the MCU. It could mean that some of these characters take over for other heroes, like Abomination filling Hulk’s role or Yelena Belova as the new official Black Widow.
In Dark Avenger it is an evolution of the Thunderbolts created by Norman Osborn and has anti-heroes and villains literally taking up heroic names. Moonstone becomes Ms. Marvel and Bullseye is the new Hawkeye. While posing as heroes, they were still largely operating as villains. It does seem highly likely that the MCU’s Thunderbolts will have some sort of tie to the government or an organization with nefarious schemes like the Dark Avengers.
A Hero Among Villains
Thunderbolts #4
Even from the start, the Thunderbolts were never all bad. Early on, Hallie Takahama s the team as Jolt, eager to do good as a superhero and unaware that it was really the Masters of Evil in disguise. She serves as a catalyst in helping open several characters’ eyes to become more heroic. Thunderbolts would need Jolt or a new character like Jolt in order to provide that dissonance between intentions – Songbird could be a popular choice if they’d want to alter her true origins.
The best bet currently for serving that role is Winter Soldier and/or Yelena Belova. Neither character would go along with any dastardly scheme, so maybe they are brought in to lead, unaware of what the villains are really planning. It does seem more likely that Thunderbolts could operate heroically from the start, but just be doing evil missions for whomever – however, that might make the film too similar to The Suicide Squad.
Deal With The Devil
Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #22
Fans have long been pining for the arrival of one major marvel villain throughout Phase Four: Mephisto. They have looked at nearly every new release as the place where he could finally be introduced – starting with Werewolf by Night Halloween Special, but Thunderbolts could be also included in those discussions.
Thunderbolts could venture into the supernatural as it did when Ghost Rider was a member of the team during its second volume, written by Charles Soule. They struck a deal with Mephisto to return to Earth from Hell in exchange for returning him to the power of the realm after he was deposed. This was a humorous arc – no surprise with Deadpool in the group – and something that could make Thunderbolts an unexpected entry in the MCU.
Loyalties Tested
Thunderbolts #136
A major element throughout some of the best Thunderbolts comics has been team loyalty. Some characters move towards the light and oppose their more villainous colleagues. Some came to disagree with Zemo’s plans or methods for world domination in the original run, and during Andy Diggle’s time as a writer, it was featured heavily. This involved longtime Thunderbolt, Songbird, facing execution for betraying the team, which was currently under Norman Osborn’s leadership.
This type of arc could definitely be applied to Thunderbolts if they are also being led by someone evil or nefarious, like Zemo, Ross, or the Contessa. An important element to a team-up is each character proving their resolve and loyalty to each other, and that could be twisted and corrupted here – forcing them to confront who they really want to be in this world and who deserves their loyalty.
Secret Invasion
Thunderbolts #122-125
Although Secret Invasion has been revealed as not being the major crossover event it is in the comics, according to Kevin Feige, it still could have some incredibly long-lasting implications for following projects, including Thunderbolts. Christos Gage wrote a four-issue tie-in with the ongoing Secret Invasion series in which the team helps combat the Skrulls, not without their own in-fighting.
Osbourn is leading the team and exaggerates their heroics in the war to gain more from the public, setting up the team's darker evolution in later issues – weeding out the few who did not his plans before transitioning into the Dark Avengers. Secret Invasion could provide the premise to form the team in the MCU, in that they need to track down renegade Skrulls. Whether their truly successful or irable in their actions, the team could be leveraged to be a more trustworthy replacement for the Avengers in the public’s eye.
Luke Cage's Back
Thunderbolts #144-147
Throughout Phase Four fans have noticed the peculiar breadcrumbs Marvel had been leaving to tease the arrival of the Thunderbolts, and therefore there was speculation about Captain America: Civil War.
Following Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans are eagerly waiting to see more formerly Netflix-Marvel characters return to the MCU, and Luke Cage is no exception. Thunderbolts could finally bring him back into the fold. Alternatively, they could adapt his involvement and apply it to Winter Soldier as he tries to lead the team to be a force for good – something he also does in the comics later down the line.
Red Hulk and the Leader
Thunderbolts Vol. 2
Another element The Incredible Hulk. He could make a good adversary for the team overall as an evil genius and strategist, but it could start with him as a team member first. This could finally showcase his full transformation into the Leader, perhaps drawing from the second volume of Thunderbolts.
Due to the unfortunate ing of William Hurt, it seems unlikely that Thunderbolt Ross’s Red Hulk will be included, so it would be a good decision to reincorporate an important Hulk character. However, they could instead introduce General Robert Maverick, who is the second Red Hulk in the comics, to fill that role, and the team could be named in Ross’s honor.
