Summary

Marvel's Thunderbolts* movie features MCU characters like Yelena, Bucky, and Taskmaster in a unique lineup of antiheroes and villains.
Daniel Way and Steve Dillon's 2012 comic run features the best Thunderbolts team, led by Red Hulk, which consists of fan-favorite characters with unpredictable dynamics.
The Thunderbolts' future in the MCU depends on the success of the upcoming movie, potentially opening doors for new lineups and storylines.

Marvel's Thunderbolts* 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. The Thunderbolts team 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.

Split image of Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Red Guardian in Thunderbolts

MCU: 7 Confirmed Members Of The Thunderbolts*

From Yelena Belova to John Walker continuing their redemption arcs, the Thunderbolts* movie features multiple darker heroes of the MCU.

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By Melody MacReady

The Best Thunderbolts Team Is A Ruthless Combination Of Marvel's Dark Antiheroes & Villains

Daniel Way and Steve Dillon launched a new run of Thunderbolts comics in 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, the team Red Hulk put together consisted of fan-favorite characters, such as Deadpool and The Punisher, which helped make it the best lineup of Thunderbolts.

Why The Thunderbolts* Movie Features A Different Lineup Of Characters Than The Comics

The Thunderbolts* 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 a Guardians 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 his Wilson Fisk in Daredevil: 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?

If Thunderbolts* 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 in Captain America: Brave New World, The Punisher in Daredevil: Born Again, and Deadpool in Deadpool & 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 that Daredevil: Born Again features Fisk as Mayor, the possibility exists. Still, any future the team has lies in the box office returns. The Thunderbolts* 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.

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