In 2025, the Thunderbolts are making their cinematic debut. A team composed of anti-heroes or heroes who have lost their spark are teaming up. The trailer just dropped and a few details about the film were revealed. There was some mistrust, family reunions, some catch up, violent meet n’ greet and even some Terminator vibes. The team will bring back characters that have already been in films. All characters will obviously have a chance to expand their arcs, but some will have this chance to perhaps redeem themselves among fans. Members include Winter Soldier, Yelena, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and U.S. Agent. But with any other story that assembles colorful characters together, there must be a big enough threat. The threat is Sentry, an ultra-powerful, nigh invincible super strong, being with a cruel dark side. A flattered attempt to bring a Superman type character to Marvel. But what if that type of story is brough over to DC? Which misguided characters will team up to defeat a Superman who has crossed over.
So, all the characters making up the Thunderbolts are former military operatives to some degree and anti-heroes. Some of them even being enhanced by a serum or an accident. And like a lot of teams, some members have a role to fil out. So, the DC characters will fit those credentials in some capacity.
Deathstroke is one of the most dangerous assassins in the DC universe. He has military training but when a military experiment gave him physical and mental enhancements, Slade Wilson became a living weapon. On top of mastering many martial arts, he knows how to perfectly use a whole list of firearms and explosives. Deathstroke is able to make the entire Teen Titans team uncomfortable, put Batman off balance, and is always packing enough heat to keep Superman timid. Him being a mercenary, Deathstroke is always looking for the biggest stack of money to take out anyone from a street level hero to a supernatural threat. Deathstroke has the familiarity with super enhanced beings, the physical traits to at least buy him some time, and the intellect to devise a plan to take them down. And of course, his expertise with many forms of weaponry, give him more offense to keep his opponent on their guard and more defense to keep him alive long enough. Deathstroke has that drive to get the job done and the tenacity that even Superman will be wary of.
When a team doesn’t have much superpowers, they need firepower which Red Hood could double down on. Red Hood may not have the extensive arsenal that Deathstroke has but does have enough to strengthen the amount of firepower. Red Hood knows how to handle a great variety of weapons; guns, blades, and explosives. In addition, he is trained by one of the best combatants and strategist in all of DC; Batman. Batman may not have taught a young Jason Todd all that Batman knows, but has taught him enough to make Batman worried when they do clash. He may have even been trained a bit by the League of Assassins. So, it may be controversial among fans, but because Red Hood was resurrected by a group threaded with mysticism, he may have to access to it too. Red Hood is also an alley to a Superman clone; Bizzaro. Being around someone who is a copy of Superman, Red Hood has seen first hand what that power could do, and perhaps see its limits and loopholes. That could come in handy when facing an evil Superman or Zod or someone of the like. And going back to Batman, Red Hood could have seen or heard some contingency plans Batman has created for Superman. So, even though his access to gunfire is overshadowed by Deathstroke’s larger arsenal, Red Hood brings a lot more, well crafted, intel against a threat on the same level of Superman.
Bane may look solely like a brute. He towers over most of Batman’s rouge gallery and even Batman himself thanks to the drug Venom. That strength – powerful enough to break the bat – won’t be able to stand against Superman though. But he is way more than that. He is a cunning mastermind as well. Even though he enjoys to get physical with his opponents, Bane does prefer to beat an enemy before a single punch is thrown. Much like Batman, Bane has a thought-out plan for nearly everything. Bane is definitely one of the best strategists in all of DC. So much in fact, it’s his intelligence that gets the better of Batman just as much as his physicality. If Batman is seen as the best planner against Superman, that would make Bane a more polished and lethal organizer since Bane aims to kill with his intent. That could be a deadly combination for a corrupt Superman or Zod or someone of that caliber. And being as smart as he is, Bane knows he isn’t a physical match for Superman. He knows, he’ll be outmatched, but is fully confident in using his intellect to beat Superman. With a team that’s going to be embarrassingly outpowered by someone like Superman, the team will have to rely heavy on tactics and strategy. Because of that, Bane will be one of the most important members. On top of all that, Bane has a cruel army dedicated to him. He controls that army in a way similar to a cult leader. They will gladly go after Superman if Bane demands it. It would be entertaining to see the mind of Bane clash with the might of Superman.
Talia al Ghul is a lethal assassin. She was literally born into that type of nature and has that type of nature in her DNA. Being the daughter of Ra’s al Ghul has some of it’s cruel perks. She was trained in many martial arts, tradecraft, thievery, psychic warfare, weapons, espionage, politics and tactics. The perfect person to lead the League of Assassins in Ra’s absent (if he didn’t have his replacement in mind with Batman). Talia is cunning as she is deadly. Much like the best assassins in the DC universe, she prefers to rely on her mind before her physicality. She sets up plans to get her enemy where she wants them. And she knows how to operate in the shadows to get the intel she needs, or uses her charm to get the same thing. Talia also has a league of devoted assassins at her disposal, much like Bane has with his army. So, in the event that Superman goes rouge, Talia could utilize a cutthroat mindset, her ability to gain intel and the foot soldiers to attack Superman physiologically. And with access to the Lazarus Pit, Talia may have the elixir to help the team stay in the fight against Superman. She proves to be an enemy that punches above her weight.
Black Canary is one of the best combatants in all of DC. Even surpassing Batman. She has great leadership skills and the drive to get the job done. She also has experience working with a team of vigilantes who have to work in the shadows to get the job done. And unlike the rest of this team, she has seen Superman’s powers up close. Seen his strengths and limits but more importantly the way he thinks. That of course will come in handy. She may be the only one apart of this team that I the most outright hero but that may come in handy to keep the team quarreled. Give the team so guidance. Black Canary is also the only one with an outright special ability; the Canary Cry. That skill could crack the side of mountains. And with Superman’s super hearing, a high pitched frequency could wobble him, giving the team an opportunity to get him down. And if Superman is brainwashed or blackmailed or under mind control, seeing a family face could help him out.
When it comes to ex-military turned assassins, Deadshot takes the title. Much like Deathstroke, Deadshot goes after anyone if the pay is good enough…or if he is threatened to have his head blown off. He prefers to be far from the scene since he prefers guns more than up close combat. However, that could be crucial in a fight with a twisted Man of Steel. Deadshot has to know his enemy well enough to get them down so he could get the cash that was promised or to keep his head intact. And since it’s public knowledge Kryptonite takes out Superman, Deadshot will have many bullets and shells laced with the alien rock. Being further out from the scene, may give Deadshot enough time to find his opening to take the shot against Superman. He’ll also have experience of working with a team of criminals that make it a literal living to take out people beyond their level. And some of those times, Deadshot is the one who is calling the shots. In a match with arguably the most powerful hero in the DC universe, experience against someone of that caliber may be enough that gets the team out alive.
Having a team with little to no superpowers fighting an over the top powerful being like Sentry or Superman may look off. However, that sets up creative writing to make the match up more plausible, more balanced. And this lineup of DC characters are probably more suited than the line up in the Thunderbolts. From Deathstroke to Black Canary, these types of characters are expected and demanded to take on threats well beyond their own power level. They’re prepared and experienced with threats like Superman. Whatever side of the street this type of story is told; it is an interesting one. It sets up unique matchups and more importantly, takes a comic book story in a different route. Makes it seem captivating because it’s a clash of styles.
