It’s hard to believe we’re already diving into Phase 5 of the MCU. While plenty of heavy hitters from the comics are still waiting for their big-screen debut, Marvel is starting to dig deeper into its roster of characters.
This means lesser-known teams are finally getting their moment to shine— one such team is the Thunderbolts. Created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley, the Thunderbolts made their first appearance in The Incredible Hulk #449 back in January 1997.
At first, they seemed like a group of superpowered individuals stepping up to become heroes after the Avengers and Fantastic Four were seemingly killed during the events of Onslaught.
But then came the twist. A few months later, in April, the debut issue of the Thunderbolts series revealed a carefully guarded Marvel secret: these so-called heroes were the Masters of Evil in disguise, led by none other than Baron Zemo.
Since that jaw-dropping reveal, the Thunderbolts have had a long and complicated history. From their origins under Zemo to the ever-changing lineups and missions that followed, their journey has been anything but straightforward.
Origin Story
The Thunderbolts were a stroke of opportunistic brilliance by Baron Zemo. After the Avengers and Fantastic Four were declared dead Zemo and his Masters of Evil decided to pose as heroes. His plan was fairly simple.
He and the Masters of Evil would pretend to be heroes and gain the trust of the public. Once that happened they would leverage this fame and adoration and ingratiate themselves on S.H.I.E.L.D and the world governments. Eventually, they would gain S.H.I.E.L.D’s trust and in turn access to the secrets of S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers.
Each member of the Masters of Evil adopted a new name and costume. Baron Zemo became Citizen V, Beetle became MACH-1, Fixer became Techno, Goliath became Atlas, Screaming Mimi became Songbird, and Moonstone became Meteorite. Calling themselves Thunderbolts the team was quickly heralded as Earth’s newest superhero team.
However, Baron Zemo would never see his plan come to fruition. Just as he was gaining the trust of S.H.I.E.L.D. the Avengers and the Fantastic Four returned. Rather than double down on his ruse and potentially gain the trust of the real heroes, Zemo outted the Thunderbolts as the Masters of Evil.
There was one problem Zemo didn’t foresee. Some of the villains had begun to buy what they were selling. They enjoyed being heroes. In the ensuing fight all but Techno turned on Zemo and fought alongside the Avengers.
After Zemo’s defeat, the Thunderbolts agreed to turn themselves over to S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers. However, they vanish just before they can.
They have a brief adventure in another dimension before returning and settling in Colorado planning their next move.
Continuing Adventures and Retirement
The Thunderbolts decide to continue acting as heroes and create new civilian identities hoping to leave their criminal pasts behind them. During one of these adventures, the team is approached by Hawkeye.
Hawkeye eventually convinces the team to name him a leader in exchange for full pardons. A deal Hawkeye made without S.H.I.E.L.D. authorization. However, the team gets their chance to prove themselves when they help defeat Dominex with the Avengers.
As a result, the Avengers agree to let Hawkeye and his team continue to operate as heroes. The Thunderbolts would continue their heroic adventures under Hawkeye’s leadership for quite awhile until the assassin Scourge was sent by Henry Peter Geyrich to kill them all.
The Thunderbolts turned Scourge against Gyrich and uncovered a conspiracy with the Commission on Superhuman Activities. In exchange for their silence, they received full pardons. Hawkeye was arrested for helping the Thunderbolts escape while they were fugitives. Without Hawkeye’s leadership, the original team of Thunderbolts disbanded and began life as civilians.
Ultimate Fate
The team would not get to enjoy their civilian lives for long. The villain Graviton sought revenge against the Thunderbolts. The original Thunderbolts were eventually reformed and were transported to Counter-Earth except Songbird after defeating Graviton.
On Earth Hawkeye led a new team of Thunderbolts with Songbird in exchange for a full pardon. The two teams would eventually unite against an overpowered and crazed Moonstone.
The fight against Moonstone left a resurrected Zemo disfigured and vowing revenge as he escaped, Moonstone catatonic, and Atlas once again depowered. The Thunderbolts were officially no more.
The Thunderbolts Legacy
While the original Thunderbolts were no more, there would be quite a few teams that would don the name Thunderbolts and carry on their legacy.
Beetle would lead a new team of Thunderbolts immediately after the defeat of Moonstone. This team consisted of Atlas, Songbird, Blizzard, Photon, Joystick, Speed Demon, Radioactive Man, and Nighthawk.
During the Civil War storyline, the Thunderbolts were made up of villains given a choice, reform and join the Thunderbolts in tracking down non-registered superhumans and imprisoning them. This was under the direction of Norman Osborne.
Osbourne would lead the Thunderbolts through the Dark Reign storyline. After his failure, a new team would form at the behest of Captain America. This new team would be led by Luke Cage and based out of the Raft.
There would go on to be a total of 12 different versions of the Thunderbolts throughout Marvel history. Each with its own roster and purpose.
The Thunderbolts Today
The Thunderbolts have never been a team that sticks to the script—or even sticks together for long. After their climactic battle with Moonstone left Baron Zemo disfigured and vowing revenge, the team officially disbanded. But like most things in Marvel, nothing stays gone forever.
Over the years, the Thunderbolts have been reimagined and reassembled more times than anyone can count. Their most recent incarnation is led by none other than Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier. This modern lineup mixes espionage pros like Black Widow, Sharon Carter, and U.S. Agent with heavy hitters like Shang-Chi and Red Guardian. It’s a team that thrives in the shadows, taking on missions too messy—or too morally gray—for your average superhero squad.
True to the Thunderbolts’ legacy, this new team isn’t about fame or glory. They’re about doing what needs to be done, no matter the cost. Their adventures show that the line between hero and villain isn’t just thin—it’s downright blurry.
As Marvel gears up to bring the Thunderbolts to the big screen in December 2024, now’s the perfect time to dive into their story. Whether it’s through their latest comic series or their classic runs, the Thunderbolts remain one of Marvel’s most unpredictable and compelling teams. Because with the Thunderbolts, one thing’s for sure: you never know what’s coming next.
