The New Avengers Pushes Marvel Audiences Outside Their Comfort Zone

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[This story contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*]

Director Jake Schreier’s movie Thunderbolts took many viewers by surprise this weekend, not just because of the mystery surrounding its title, but due to its unconventional nature. The Marvel Studios film has been praised by critics who have become less tolerant of certain Marvel tropes recently. The favorable reviews hint at a significant shift for the MCU moving forward. This change isn’t about breaking box office records or audiences leaping and shouting in theaters. Instead, it’s a more subtle, profound, and potentially more impactful kind of transformation that demonstrates once again that Marvel Studios excels when it supports underdogs and challenges expectations.

The endless loop of statements declaring “Marvel is finished!” only to be followed by “Marvel is reborn!” has become monotonous, as neither statement accurately reflects the truth. Marvel, like any long-standing franchise and its comic book roots, experiences highs and lows, and it’s been that way since 2008 when Iron Man took flight, and The Incredible Hulk, focusing on a character more recognized and cherished at the time, received mixed reactions. Opinions about subsequent films have fluctuated up and down ever since. This fluctuation is largely influenced by our personal expectations of these movies and what we think they should be or represent, fueled by rumors spread by insiders. However, occasionally, an MCU film emerges that defies our expectations, making us reconsider our preconceived notions about how the films should be or as the comics have presented them.

Discovering the true identities of the Thunderbolts at the end of “The New Avengers” movie has rekindled a sense of fellowship in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that’s been somewhat lacking since the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” With every hero seemingly pulled in different directions, it’s refreshing to see a new team taking shape. Even though this incarnation of the Thunderbolts deviates from their original comic book lineup, the allure lies in its ability to disrupt the established order and add an unexpected twist to Captain America’s (Anthony Mackie) Avengers roster, making “Avengers: Doomsday” feel more unpredictable and engaging. In many ways, this new team mirrors Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch’s 2004 comic series, “The New Avengers,” which was formed after the original team disbanded – it’s exciting because it’s not what we expected.

Initially, The New Avengers was met with both admiration and bewilderment among Marvel Comics fans, as it featured an unexpected roster of characters. Although stalwarts like Captain America and Iron Man were present (up until the Civil War event), the team also comprised less conventional members such as Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, Echo, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Sentry. The presence of Wolverine and Spider-Man, two of Marvel’s most beloved characters, was somewhat puzzling because Wolverine is traditionally associated with the X-Men, and Spider-Man is often portrayed as a lone hero, making them seem out of place in this team.

In the late ’80s onwards, Spider-Woman mainly appeared in minor roles, while Luke Cage was recognized primarily as a supporting character in Bendis’ series Alias, focusing on Jessica Jones. Echo, disguised as Ronin, was seldom seen in Daredevil stories. Sentry had been absent for almost four years, with his story seemingly concluded. This wasn’t the Avengers team that readers were accustomed to, providing Bendis an opportunity to challenge expectations, develop the voices of less frequently used characters, introduce a darker tone for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and initiate one of Marvel Comics’ most thrilling eras. Despite Marvel Studios being influenced by fan reactions, a compelling vision can persuade audiences to accept not just what they want but what the narrative necessitates.

When it was initially unveiled in 2022, the announcement of Marvel’s Thunderbolts sparked a wave of uncertainty among fans. At that point, director Jake Schreier wasn’t widely recognized for his work, with only the release of Beef (2023) yet to come. If he was known at all, it was for his adaptations like John Green’s YA novel, Paper Towns (2015), and indie science fiction dramedy, Robot & Frank (2012), along with some TV projects. Few had high hopes that Schreier would prove to be a groundbreaking filmmaker, and he seemed like another case of Marvel Studios opting for directors who were considered affordable but lacked experience in handling large-scale VFX fights and managing diverse characters.

There were complaints about the roster being criticized for having characters that seemed too much alike and lacking well-known characters such as Red Hulk, Deadpool, Punisher, Songbird, Atlas, Moonstone, and others who have been part of the team in different versions. Additionally, there was confusion over the absence of Daniel Bruhl’s Baron Zemo, a character who created and led the Thunderbolts in the comics. While it makes sense for Zemo’s mission in the MCU to be against superpowered individuals, his leading a team of them seemed unusual, causing fans to worry that *Thunderbolts* might not live up to its name and instead become something more akin to a… suicide squad.

Interestingly, it seems that screenwriter duo Schreier, Eric Pearson, and Joanna Calo have creatively constructed Thunderbolts as a team reminiscent of a suicide squad. Unlike the DC’s Task Force X, this reluctant group – composed of former Red Room assassin Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), reformed terrorist-turned-superhero-turned congressman Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), exiled Russian super-soldier Red Guardian (David Harbour), disgraced ex-Captain America John Walker (Wyatt Russell), a victim of a childhood lab accident and tormented SHIELD operative Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and mentally unstable former meth addict given experimental serum Bob (Lewis Pullman) – are not forced to act due to bombs implanted in their necks. Instead, they are united by personal struggles such as mental illness, depression, and suicidal thoughts.

In the beginning of the movie, it’s hard not to feel that none of these characters will survive, and the swift demise of Taskmaster (played by Olga Kurylenko) underscores this. The ending of Black Widow (2021) granted Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) a second chance, yet she made it clear to the liberated Widows that her experiences surpass those of any of them, urging them to be careful with her. Even so, it’s evident that once freed from her programming, she continued her life as an assassin, for it was all she knew. As Yelena tells Ghost, Natasha did many wrong things and met her end at the hands of someone else perpetrating evil, a destiny that awaits us all. Taskmaster’s death in Black Widow is significant because it doesn’t serve as comic relief or inflict pain on another character, but rather provides an opportunity to confront the choices we’ve made and the limited potential for redemption that seems to define our lives.

It’s striking to notice that the Marvel Cinatic Universe (MCU) film, Thunderbolts*, handles complex issues in a way that feels genuine to each character, setting it apart from previous films. While grief and psychological depth have been explored in the MCU before, particularly in Phase 4, Thunderbolts* delves deeper, focusing on characters’ internal struggles like shame, lack of faith, and questionable morals. Instead of centering the plot around who will perish or how they will die, the movie explores how these characters can endure when survival is barely on their agenda. Contrary to expectations, the casting announcement for Thunderbolts* actors in Avengers: Doomsday didn’t spoil the characters’ fates, but rather removed the anticipation of death as a major plot device. Instead, Thunderbolts* emphasizes survival not as a matter of physical existence, but as a testament to the characters’ resilience in the face of overwhelming odds.

In my perspective, the relentless emptiness, that universal sensation we all grapple with, finds a tangible expression in the transformation of Bob into Sentry, and his other self, The Void, sweeps across New York City. Yet, the way this void manifests within each character is unique. For instance, Yelena attempts to suppress her guilt by numbing her memories with alcohol, while John Walker pushes away his wife, child, and feelings of inadequacy, overcompensating excessively. Each character wrestles with their own struggles, and though the film maintains a humorous tone, it never underplays the gravity of these individual and collective battles they face.

The film certainly doesn’t aim to provide all-encompassing psychological understanding for every viewer. Some critics found issue with the film’s portrayal of depression and ideation, suggesting that they can’t be cured but merely managed, and that external support can make coping easier. However, it’s important to note that Thunderbolts* is not intended as a personal therapeutic session, but rather as mass entertainment. Yet, the film’s unique ability to tackle complex mental health issues while still delivering an engaging superhero movie sets the Marvel Cinatic Universe apart and pushes it beyond its conventional boundaries.

It might seem paradoxical to say that the Thunderbolts push the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) beyond its usual comforts, given that the universe’s conflicts are often resolved through physical strength, powerful objects, and destruction of iconic structures. However, this team is unique in a way that they challenge the MCU by disrupting its familiar dynamics, as these characters find solace and unity amidst chaos, contrasting the usual group hug that holds The Void at bay.

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It’s unexpected for the Thunderbolts to push the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) beyond its comfort zone, considering how often villains are defeated by physical prowess, magical objects, and the destruction of iconic structures in the universe. Yet, this team is special because they challenge the norms of the MCU by breaking away from its familiar dynamics and offering a unique perspective on unity amidst chaos, as they provide a contrast to the usual group hug that holds The Void at bay.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel electrified when I think about how Thunderbolts mirrors the magic of Guardians of the Galaxy (2014). Just like our beloved misfits in the Guardians, this new team isn’t perfect – they’re not always virtuous or super-smart. But their unique flaws make them so relatable that it’s impossible not to cheer for them. Where the Guardians found family and triumphed against evil with an unexpected dance-off, Thunderbolts is all about friendship. It’s a team of imperfect individuals coming together, ready to create their own legend.

These characters have distinct differences compared to the Avengers, who were both colleagues and friends (mostly), yet capable of managing situations independently when necessary. However, their interdependent traits offer intriguing possibilities for the future. Fans may not have anticipated this team, but they represent an electrifying squad that has arisen from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in more than ten years. Here’s hoping these New Avengers surpass fan expectations and fill a long-standing gap in the MCU for an underdog team.

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2025-05-06 19:57