Thunderboltsexplores the underbelly ofMCUheroism, depicting conflicted characters who lack the idealism of the Avengers. It brings together antiheroes, former villains, and morally complex figures who have already been established inthe MCU timeline. TheMCU’sThunderboltsmoviedepicts the eponymous team, operating in the shadows and taking on missions that more conventional heroes might shy away from.
The Thunderbolts first appeared inThe Incredible Hulk#449 in 1997, created by writer Kurt Busiek and artist Mark Bagley. In their original incarnation, the team was led by Baron Zemo, who formed the group to fill the void left by the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Originally introduced as a group of villains masquerading as heroes, the Thunderbolts are often a blend of antiheroes, reformed criminals, and morally ambiguous characters.
Bucky Barnes Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Bucky Barnes, also known as the Winter Soldier, is a super-soldier with enhanced strength, speed, agility, and durability. His cybernetic arm, which has been upgraded multiple times, gives himincreased strength and combat versatility. Bucky is also an expert in hand-to-hand combat, marksmanship, and espionage, trained by both the U.S. military and Hydra. His super-soldier serum variant enhances his healing factor, making him more resistant to injuries.
Bucky Barnes first appeared inCaptain America Comics#1 in 1941, created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby as Captain America’s teenage sidekick. During World War II, Bucky fought alongside Cap but was presumed dead in an explosion. However, in 2005’sCaptain America#6, writer Ed Brubaker revived Bucky as the Winter Soldier,a brainwashed assassin working for the Soviet Union. For decades, Bucky carried out covert missions across the globe, with no memory of his past, until Captain America helped him break free from Hydra’s control.
Bucky Barnes first appeared inCaptain America: The First Avenger. Played by Sebastian Stan, Bucky is Steve Rogers’ friend who joins the army with him. After his apparent death from falling from a train, he is revealed to have survived and been brainwashed by Hydra, becoming the Winter Soldier. He fought against his former friend inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier,but eventually regained his memories. After fighting Thanos inAvengers: Infinity War, Bucky was blipped, returning inAvengers: Endgame.Buckycontinued his journey of redemptioninThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
Yelena Belova Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Yelena Belova is a master spy and assassin trained in the Red Room, just like her adoptive sister Natasha Romanoff. She possesses peak human physical conditioning, expert martial arts skills, and proficiency with firearms, knives, and various other weapons. Though shedoes not have superhuman abilities, her training in psychological warfare, espionage, and assassination makes her a formidable opponent. Yelena is also skilled at stealth tactics and infiltration.
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Yelena first appeared inInhumans#5 in 1999, created by writer Devin Grayson and artist J.G. Jones. She was introduced as a rival to Natasha Romanoff, having also been trained in the Red Room to be a perfect spy and killer. In the comics,Yelena initially seeks to surpass Natasha’s legacyand become the true Black Widow. Over time, however, her relationship with Natasha grew more complex, and Yelena began to question her loyalties and the morality of her actions.
Yelena made her MCU debut inBlack Widow(2021), portrayed by Florence Pugh. As Natasha Romanoff’s younger sister, she was a key figure inexposing the corruption of the Red Room and its leader, Dreykov.After Natasha died inAvengers: Endgame,Yelena was recruited by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who manipulated her into targeting Clint Barton in the Disney+ seriesHawkeye.
Red Guardian Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Red Guardian, also known as Alexei Shostakov, possesses enhanced strength, speed, and durability, thanks to theSoviet version of the super-soldier serum. Though not as powerful as Captain America, Alexei’s combat abilities are formidable. He is an expert hand-to-hand fighter, skilled with his iconic shield, which he uses both defensively and as a throwing weapon. His years of military training also make him a seasoned strategist.
The Red Guardian first appeared inThe Avengers#43 in 1967, created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema. In the comics, Alexei Shostakov wasa celebrated Soviet test pilot who was selected by the governmentto become the Red Guardian, the USSR’s answer to Captain America. Unlike his MCU counterpart, the comic version of Alexei was more stoic and dedicated to Soviet ideals, and his rivalry with Captain America was a recurring theme.
In the MCU, Red Guardian is portrayed by David Harbour and was introduced inBlack Widow.Alexei is depicted as Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova’s adoptive father, and while he possesses great strength,his glory days as the Soviet Union’s hero are long behind him. He provides comic relief inBlack Widow, often boasting about his exploits and longing for a rematch with Captain America.
John Walker Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
John Walker, also known as U.S. Agent, was given enhanced physical abilities similar to Captain America’s after receiving a version of the super-soldier serum. This gives himsuperhuman strength, agility, endurance, and reflexes. He is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and marksman, trained in military tactics. In the comics, Walker wields a Vibranium shield, though his methods are often more brutal than Steve Rogers'.
John Walker debuted inCaptain America#323 in 1986, created by Mark Gruenwald. Initially known as Super-Patriot, Walker sought to replace Captain America, promoting a more aggressive form of patriotism. Eventually, when Steve Rogers stepped down as Captain America, Walker took up the mantle butquickly realized the pressure and moral dilemmas that came with it. Walker struggled with balancing his ideals and the legacy of the shield, leading him to eventually adopt the U.S. Agent persona.
John Walker was introduced inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier(2021), portrayed by Wyatt Russell. Chosen by the U.S. government to replace Steve Rogers as Captain America, Walker initially tried to live up to the role, but the weight of the responsibility and the complexities of being a hero led him down a darker path. After using the super-soldier serum and killing a Flag Smasher in public,Walker was stripped of the Captain America title. By the end of the series, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine recruited him, giving him a new black-and-red suit and the title of U.S. Agent.
Taskmaster Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Taskmaster possesses “photographic reflexes,” an ability that allows them to perfectly mimic the physical movements and combat styles of anyone they observe. This means Taskmastercan replicate the fighting techniques of heroeslike Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, making them an incredibly versatile and dangerous combatant. Though Taskmaster lacks superhuman strength or durability, their skill in mimicking others' moves makes them a formidable opponent in hand-to-hand combat.
Taskmaster debuted inThe Avengers#195 in 1980, created by David Michelinie and George Pérez. In the comics, Taskmaster’s real name is Tony Masters, a mercenary and trainer of supervillains who uses his photographic reflexes to fight multiple heroes. Taskmaster hasoften served as a villain or antihero, working for criminal organizations or training henchmen but occasionally acting as a reluctant ally to the heroes.
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Taskmaster appeared inBlack Widowbut with a major change to their backstory. In the MCU, Taskmaster is revealed to be Antonia Dreykov, the daughter of the Red Room’s leader, who wasbrainwashed and used as an assassin after a failed assassination attempt by Natasha Romanoff. Antonia’s photographic reflexes come from technology implanted in her suit, allowing her to replicate the moves of various Avengers.
Ghost Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Ghost, also known as Ava Starr in the MCU, can phase through solid objects due to molecular instability. This power allows her to becomeintangible, invisible, and move through walls, making her extremely difficult to capture or hit. Ghost can also create disruptions in electronic systems and uses stealth to her advantage. However, her powers are unstable, and in the MCU, she requires special technology to stabilize her condition.
Ghost first appeared inIron Man#219 in 1987, created by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. In the comics, Ghost is a male character whose real name is unknown. He was initially an industrial saboteur and mercenary with a grudge against corporations, particularly Stark Industries.Ghost’s powers come from his technologically advanced suit, which allows him to phase through matter and become invisible. Though primarily a villain, Ghost has occasionally acted as an antihero, especially when facing corrupt corporate powers.
In the MCU, Ghost is portrayed by Hannah John-Kamen and was introduced inAnt-Man and The Wasp(2018). Ava Starr gained her powers after an accident involving quantum energy killed her parents and left her molecules in a constant state of instability. Desperate to survive, she worked with Bill Foster to find a way to stabilize her condition. By the end of the film, she isgiven hope of a cure thanks to the quantum healing particlesrecovered by Scott Lang.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine does not possess superhuman abilities but is a highly skilled operative and manipulator. She is a master of espionage, strategy, and political maneuvering. Her expertise in intelligence operations makes her one of the most dangerous power players in the MCU, as shecan orchestrate events from the shadows and pull strings that affect heroesand villains alike.
Valentina first appeared inStrange Tales" #159 in 1967, created by Jim Steranko. In the comics, Valentina is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who initially served as a love interest for Nick Fury. Over time, shebecame a key figure in the world of espionage, often walking the line between ally and adversary. In some storylines, Valentina is revealed to have ties to Hydra, even adopting the alias Madame Hydra, though her loyalties remain ambiguous.
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In the MCU, Valentina is portrayed by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and first appeared inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. She is a mysterious figure recruiting powerful individuals with questionable morals, including John Walker, and Yelena Belova during theBlack Widowpost-credits scene. De Fontaine appears inBlack Panther: Wakanda Foreveras the new director of the CIA. Thoughher true motives remain unclear, Valentina appears to be assembling her own team of operatives.
Bob Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History Explained
Bob fromThunderbolts*is actually the character Sentry. Also known as Robert Reynolds, Sentry is one of Marvel’s most powerful superheroes, often considered an equivalent to Superman. He possesses the power of“a million exploding suns,”granting him vast superhuman strength, speed, durability, flight, and energy projection. The Sentry also has a powerful healing factor and can regenerate from nearly any injury. His abilities extend to molecular manipulation, enabling him to reshape matter at a fundamental level.
The Sentry was introduced inSentry#1 in 2000, created by Paul Jenkins and Jae Lee. He was initially depicted as a forgotten hero who had been erased from the collective memory of the Marvel universe. Robert accidentally acquired his powers after consuming a serum and became the Sentry. Hisimmense power made him both a hero and a threat, as his darker personality, the Void, would emerge alongside his heroism. Throughout his history, Sentry has been a member of the Avengers and the Dark Avengers, constantly struggling with his dual nature and the immense burden of his abilities.
Sentry makes his MCU debut inThunderbolts*, after years of speculation over his introduction.Little is revealed about himin theThunderbolts*trailer, which simply names him Bob. However, his inclusion will have drastic consequences for the MCU’s future and add a thrilling layer to theThunderbolts*line-up.
Thunderbolts*
Cast
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories to survive and achieve their goals.
