Alright, comic crew. Let’s try to be serious for a minute. You know how the MCU timeline can sometimes feel like a tangled mess of different designer collections from past seasons? It’s a lot. Well, it seems Thunderbolts: The New Avengers is meant to be that one straightforward, ready-to-wear piece that helps make sense of the whole line-up. It’s offering a much-needed anchor in the middle of this sprawling saga.
So, the movie is set in 2027, picking up right after the events in Captain America: Brave New World. We apparently start with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in some serious hot water, facing impeachment as the head of a secretive group called O.X.E. The key detail here is her mention of the President turning into a rampaging red monster. It’s a very direct nod that pins the movie down firmly on the map, which, honestly, is pretty helpful in the current Multiverse chaos.
Okay, that’s the basic setup. Now, for the really big, spoiler-heavy reveal from the post-credits, I’m just going to give you the straight-up, unvarnished info as it’s been reported. No flair, just the core facts, because this is major.
One of the film’s most exciting moments is the post-credits scene, where the Fantastic Four make their long-awaited entrance on Earth-616, setting up the next big MCU event, Avengers: Doomsday. This happens 14 months after the main story, meaning the future is wide open for new conflicts and alliances, especially with Sam Wilson’s Avengers team already established.
Yelena Belova’s Emotional Journey
Yelena Belova’s return in Thunderbolts: The New Avengers is one of those moments that feels both familiar and surprisingly fresh. She kicks off the movie on a mission in Kuala Lumpur, tasked with disposing of some pretty sensitive evidence linked to the failed “Project: Sentry.” But what stands out isn’t just the action, it’s the emotional weight she carries.
Yelena isn’t your typical assassin who’s all in for the kill; there’s this palpable sense of weariness, a kind of quiet desperation beneath her tough exterior. She’s grappling with the emptiness that comes from a life spent as a hired gun, and you can almost sense her wondering if there’s any way out of that cycle.
Her relationship with her adoptive father, Alexei Shostakov, aka Red Guardian, adds another layer to her story. Their interactions feel genuine, sometimes awkward, but always grounded in a shared history that’s complicated by their dangerous lives. Yelena’s desire to leave the assassin world behind isn’t just a plot point; it feels like a real, human struggle.
You get the sense she’s caught between loyalty, survival, and a longing for something more meaningful. Maybe she’s not entirely sure what that “more” looks like yet, but the fact that she’s questioning her path makes her all the more relatable.
It’s interesting, too, how the film doesn’t rush to neatly resolve her conflict. Instead, it lets her hesitation and doubts linger, which, honestly, is refreshing. It’s like watching someone think out loud, wrestling with their past and future in a way that doesn’t always come with clear answers. And that, I think, is what makes Yelena’s arc stand out; she’s not just a character ticking off mission objectives; she’s someone trying to find her place in a world that’s anything but simple.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine: Puppet Master or Victim?
At the center of Thunderbolts is Valentina, who commands the shadowy O.X.E. Her organization’s goal was to create superhumans through Project: Sentry. It was Valentina’s ambitious attempt to create superhumans akin to the Avengers, a venture that, on paper, sounds like the next logical step in the MCU’s evolution. But, as with many things in this universe, the reality is far messier. An effort that ended disastrously, leaving many casualties and sparking government scrutiny.
Valentina’s trial is a gripping mix of political intrigue and personal vendetta, portraying her as neither purely villain nor hero. Instead, she is a morally ambiguous figure navigating a corrupt system, raising questions about loyalty, power, and the cost of ambition in a world full of secrets.
Read: Thunderbolts vs Suicide Squad: Marvel’s Take on the Anti-Hero Team
Bucky Barnes’ Political Shift
In a surprising twist, Bucky Barnes trades battlefield for politics as he becomes a congressman investigating Valentina and O.X.E. His skepticism about the super soldier serum’s replication adds tension and complexity.
Bucky’s political role feels real and messy, reflecting modern-day power struggles. His uneasy alliance with Mel, Valentina’s assistant, adds layers of doubt and intrigue, showcasing that in the MCU, battles for justice often happen in courtrooms as much as on the battlefield.
At times, Bucky’s political role feels almost at odds with his past as a soldier. You can almost hear him thinking, “Is this really what I signed up for?” There’s a hesitance, a subtle tension between his old identity and this new one.
Mel: The Secret Songbird
Mel, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, might seem minor, but hints at a bigger future. Fans recognize her as Melissa Gold, aka Songbird, a character with a rich comic book history. Her sonic powers and journey from villain to hero promise exciting developments ahead.
Mel’s subtle introduction, like the songbird necklace, signals her importance in the Thunderbolts’ story, a quiet but powerful presence with a complex past.
So, while Mel might seem like a small piece of the puzzle now, her roots in the comics and the subtle clues in the film suggest she’s someone to watch. Whether she fully embraces her Songbird identity or struggles with the shadows of her past, her story adds depth and nuance to the Thunderbolts’ narrative. It’s a reminder that in the MCU, even the quieter characters often have the most interesting stories waiting to unfold. And honestly, isn’t that part of the fun?
Sentry and The Void: A Battle Within
Bob Reynolds, better known as Sentry, and his dark alter ego, The Void, serve as one of the most compelling, and honestly, quite haunting aspects of Thunderbolts: The New Avengers.
The film doesn’t just use The Void as a typical villain or a shadowy force to be defeated; instead, it presents this entity as a deeply personal and psychological metaphor. The Void embodies all the suppressed negative emotions, trauma, and anxiety that Bob has carried since childhood, making it less of a monster and more of a manifestation of his inner turmoil.
What’s striking here is how the movie chooses to focus the climax not on a flashy battle but on Bob’s internal struggle. Watching Bob confront The Void is like witnessing someone wrestling with their own depression or overwhelming fears, except, in this case, those feelings take on a literal, monstrous form.
The Void doesn’t kill. It traps its victims in a shadow dimension where they relive their darkest moments over and over. It’s a chilling allegory for how mental health struggles can feel like being stuck in a loop of despair, unable to break free.
This portrayal adds empathy and realism that’s often missing in superhero films. Instead of glossing over mental health, Thunderbolts: The New Avengers dives into it headfirst, showing how anxiety and trauma can consume a person from within.
Bob’s battle is less about physical strength and more about emotional resilience, and the support he receives from Yelena and the team highlights the importance of connection and understanding in healing. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the hardest fight is the one inside ourselves and that having people who care can make all the difference.
In a way, the film’s handling of The Void challenges the usual superhero narrative. It’s not about defeating an external enemy but about confronting and accepting the parts of ourselves we’d rather hide. This nuanced take makes Thunderbolts: The New Avengers stand out, offering a story that’s as much about mental health awareness as it is about action and adventure. It’s a bold move, and while it might leave some questions unanswered, it feels honest.
Thunderbolts: The New Avengers – A Motley Crew
Yelena, John Walker, Red Guardian, Ghost, and Bucky … and Bob, form the uneasy team known as the Thunderbolts. Their clashing personalities and conflicted pasts create realistic tension, making their alliance both fragile and compelling.
When Valentina publicly rebrands them as The New Avengers, it’s a surprising and ironic twist, a reminder that heroes come in all forms, and sometimes the most unlikely groups have the biggest impact.
Thunderbolts: The New Avengers
Thunderbolts offers an interesting mix of action and emotional depth, especially with its focus on mental health themes. The team dynamics and character introductions, like Melissa Gold/Songbird, add fresh energy to the MCU. However, the complex timeline and some underdeveloped characters can make the story feel a bit confusing and uneven. The pacing slows down in parts, which might test the patience of some viewers. Overall, it’s a solid addition to the MCU that fans will appreciate, despite its flaws.
Positives:
- Thoughtful exploration of mental health through Bob/Sentry’s story
- Strong team chemistry among the Thunderbolts
- Expanded background on Melissa Gold/Songbird for comic fans
Negatives:
- Confusing MCU timeline for casual viewers
- Some characters lack sufficient development
- Pacing issues in the middle of the film
Rating: 7 out of 10
