The Thunderbolts, a team in the Marvel Universe, present a complex moral dilemma. Initially emerging as villains masquerading as heroes, their true nature has shifted over time. Led by figures like Baron Zemo, they were part of a scheme when the Avengers and Fantastic Four were thought dead. However, some members later genuinely sought redemption, and the team has had multiple iterations with varying alignments.
The Original Thunderbolts: Villains in Disguise Turned (Somewhat) Heroes
The Thunderbolts first appeared in the pages of "Thunderbolts" (1997) #1 by Kurt Busiek, Mark Bagley, Joe Rosas, and Vince Russell. At a time when the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were trapped in another dimension and presumed dead (the original “Heroes Reborn” arc), this team presented themselves as new heroes to the world. But in reality, they were the Masters of Evil in disguise, led by Baron Zemo under the guise of the patriotic hero Citizen V. The original members included characters like Goliath (who became Atlas), Screaming Mimi (who became Songbird), the Fixer (who became Techno), the Beetle (who became Mach-I), and Moonstone (who became Meteorite).
After operating as heroes for a while, most of these Thunderbolts started to genuinely want to reform. Zemo and Techno left the group, and teen heroes Jolt and Charcoal joined. Hawkeye took over as the leader, and Moonstone, Songbird, and Mach-I also led the team at different times. A somewhat repentant Zemo eventually returned, hoping to save the world through his harsh methods. Despite frequent legal troubles, this version of the Thunderbolts lasted until shortly after the Civil War. During the Civil War, Tony Stark brought numerous villains into the “Thunderbolts Army” as part of his pro-registration forces. This incarnation of the Thunderbolts established itself as a group of former villains trying to do good, though Zemo often tried to manipulate them for his own purposes.
Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts: Hero Hunters
After the Superhuman Registration Act passed following the Civil War, the Thunderbolts regrouped as a government-sanctioned team of hero hunters. The leader was a (seemingly) reformed Norman Osborn, as seen in "Thunderbolts" (2006) #110. This group included Songbird, Moonstone, Swordsman, and the Radioactive Man, joined by Venom (Mac Gargan), Bullseye, and Penance (formerly known as Speedball).
When Osborn's political power grew after the Skrull takeover in the Secret Invasion event, several Thunderbolts joined Osborn's Dark Avengers or left the team. In "Thunderbolts" (2006) #128, Osborn introduced a new Thunderbolts roster to serve as assassins for his H.A.M.M.E.R. organization. This group included Black Widow (Yelena Belova), Ant-Man (Eric O'Grady), Ghost, Paladin, Mister X, and Nuke (who led the team as the mysterious Scourge). These villains on Osborn's Thunderbolts teams were working for pardons, but they mostly spent their time fighting heroes until the team disbanded. Their actions were clearly self-serving, as they were doing Osborn's bidding, which often involved targeting other heroes who were seen as threats to Osborn's power and the government's control under his influence.
Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts: A Force for Good (Mostly)
After Osborn fell from power, the Thunderbolts regrouped under the leadership of Luke Cage. This team united veteran members like Songbird, Mach-V, Fixer, and Moonstone with Ghost, Juggernaut, Crossbones, and Man-Thing in "Thunderbolts" (2006) #144. The team was designed to help rehabilitate the supervillain inmates of the Raft prison.
This version of the Thunderbolts was almost entirely a force for good. They frequently battled monsters and even helped calm a jailbreak at the Raft. Their success led to the creation of a second Thunderbolts team that included Mister Hyde, Centurius, Troll, and Boomerang. Along with recruiting Satana, members of both Thunderbolts teams saved Chicago from an invasion and became lost in the timestream. During their adventures, this combined Thunderbolts team even encountered the first Thunderbolts squad, which led the Fixer to kill and replace his past counterpart. Cage was later assigned a new team of unstable Thunderbolts, including the Thor clone Ragnarok and the spider-god Ai Apaec. While that dangerous group quickly evolved into the Dark Avengers, the other Thunderbolts teams returned to the present and disbanded on good terms with Cage and each other.
Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts: Antiheroes with a Violent Agenda
General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, who had nothing to do with naming the Thunderbolts, formed his own Thunderbolts squad in "Thunderbolts" (2012) #1. Similar to his previous group, Code Red, this strike force brought together antiheroes like the Punisher, Venom (Flash Thompson), Elektra, and Deadpool. Ross wanted his Thunderbolts to put their violent tendencies and lethal methods to good use by taking out particularly dangerous targets.
Ross initially chose targets like General Awa, a dictator on the island of Kata Jaya, and Elektra's brother Or Estez, who was involved in building an army of Crimson Dynamos. Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze) eventually joined the team, and each group member got to select a target for their subsequent missions. Their methods were extreme, but they were aimed at eliminating threats that traditional heroes might not be able to handle or might approach differently.
The Thunderbolts in the MCU: An Upcoming Complex Team
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Thunderbolts are set to make their debut in the 2025 movie "Thunderbolts." The movie will focus on a group of characters who were once known as villains and are now being recruited by the government to carry out high-risk missions. The team members include characters like Yelena Belova (Black Widow), Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), Alexei Shostakov (Red Guardian), and Ava Starr (Ghost), among others.
Given their pasts as antagonists in the MCU, their alignment in the movie is likely to be complex. They are being brought together for a purpose, but whether they will truly become heroes or will be used as pawns in a larger game remains to be seen. The trailer for the movie shows them facing off against a mysterious opponent, and it seems they will be involved in an adventure that will test their loyalties and their newfound status as a team.
In conclusion, the Thunderbolts cannot be simply labeled as good or bad. Their nature has varied greatly depending on who is leading them and what their goals are at any given time. Some versions of the team have been made up of reformed villains trying to do good, while others have been used as tools by more powerful figures to further their own agendas. As the Thunderbolts continue to evolve in both the comic book pages and the MCU, their moral standing will likely remain a topic of debate among Marvel fans.