A version of the team is set to make their MCU debut this summer, but the originalThunderboltsare returning to the comics before their feature film debut. Marvel’s resident villains-turned-heroes have amassed a rather large number of members throughout the years, but the original incarnation remains the most iconic, mainly due to their origins as the Masters of Evil.
Coming from the creative team of Colin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Tommaso Bianchi,Thunderbolts: Doomstrike#3 promises a showdown between Bucky’s team of T-Bolts and the originals, who have apparently been recruited by Doctor Doom during the upcomingOne World Under Doomcrossover.
April 30th, 2025
Cover Artists:
Leinil Francis Yu, Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Bucky, Songbird, Sharon Carter and the Midnight Angels launch a daring plan to target Doctor Doom’s supply of vibranium. But standing in their way are — THE THUNDERBOLTS?! It’s THUNDERBOLTS VS. THUNDERBOLTS — ’NUFF SAID!
While original member Songbird is on Bucky’s team, readers can also see what looks to be the original members facing off against the new team on the issue’s main cover - or, at least,a version of the original members, as the Citizen V on the cover looks to be a female character.
ThunderboltsContained One of the Greatest Plot Twists in Marvel History
Thunderbolts#1 by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, Vince Russell, Joe Rosas, Dave Lanphear, and Oscar Gongora
The originalThunderboltsseries debuted in 1997 and contained perhaps the greatest plot twist in Marvel history. Created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley, the Thunderbolts team first appeared inThe Incredible Hulk#449. Marvel fans of the day thought they were being introduced to a team of all-new heroes, butThunderbolts#1 ended with a shocker of a reveal: theThunderbolts were actually the super-villain team the Masters of Evil, and they were posing as heroes after the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were believed dead followingthe battle against Onslaught.
The original line-up of the Thunderbolts included: Citizen V/Baron Zemo, Meteorite/Moonstone, Atlas/Goliath, Mach One/Beetle, Songbird/Screaming Mimi and Techno/Fixer.
Baron Zemo concocted the plan for them to pretend to be superheroes to gain the public’s trust, hoping to gain access to both the Avengers’ and SHIELD databases and sell the information to the criminal underworld.The Thunderbolts quickly established themselves as a major new team, with many members finding that they enjoyed being heroes for a change. When the Avengers and the Fantastic Four returned, Zemo revealed the true identity of the Thunderbolts to the world, but his team turned against him. The remaining Thunderbolts were eventuallyjoined by new leader Hawkeye, who sought to teach them to be heroes for real.
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The Thunderbolts have gone through various changes in the decades since, including becoming a Suicide Squad-esque government strike-team ofincarcerated villains under the control of Norman Osborn. More recently, Bucky has taken up the leadership reins for his own version of the team, with the latest incarnation including Sharon Carter, Red Guardian, Black Widow, White Widow, Shang-Chi, and U.S. Agent. Whether Bucky’s new team survives the events ofOne World Under Doomremains to be seen, but it’s pretty exciting for old-school fans to see the originalThunderboltsback in action.
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 in order to survive and achieve their goals.
