Please Marvel, Don't Actually Make The Thunderbolts* Team The New Avengerz With A Z

Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*.Thunderbolts* is the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that feels like the turning point for the Multiverse Saga, but I hope its new Avengers team does not have to be burdened by a disappointing name after the superhero squad’s debut. My biggest criticism of the Multiverse Saga is that it has mostly felt directionless. A lot of that was due to the absence of Marvel’s Avengers movies, which had not only become staples of the franchise, but also overarching events that brought together heroes from all over the MCU. Without them, a lot of heroes have yet to interact.

That issue was heightened by the mandate to increase the number of MCU projects with the arrival of Disney+. As such, several new characters were introduced in movies, shows, and credits scenes. Sadly, I don’t think Marvel knows what to do with some of them, like Harry Styles’ Eros. Thunderbolts*‘s post-credits scene is more directly focused on the future of the franchise in a tangible way, as was the movie itself, setting up the return of the MCU’s Avengers movies, but there is one choice that I hope was more of a joke by Marvel than something bigger.

Sam Wilson Is Building A New Avengers Team

The MCU Now Has Two Avengers Teams After Years With None

While Thunderbolts* sets up the MCU’s New Avengers, I don’t think that takes away from Captain America’s story. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson was asked by Harrison Ford’s President Thaddeus Ross to restart the Avengers. I understood Sam’s hesitancy, as working for the government would create limits to what Earth’s Mightiest Heroes could do, something the MCU’s original Captain America, Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers, had stood against when he refused to sign the Sokovia Accords. However, at the end of Captain America: Brave New World, Sam decided that he was going to restart the Avengers with Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon.

I’m excited about Captain America’s Avengers team. I think Sam Wilson has shown in Brave New World and in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier that he is worthy of Steve Rogers’ legacy as Captain America and is not only a good man, but a great leader. Sam’s Avengers team could pull in MCU characters like Thor, Black Panther (Shuri), and Shang-Chi, all of which have been confirmed to be part of Avengers: Doomsday‘s cast. While I’m rooting for Captain America’s Avengers team, I can’t help but be mad at one decision he made following Thunderbolts*‘s ending reveal.

The Thunderbolts Have Become The New Avengers After They Earned The Upgrade

The Anti-Heroes Changed In A Fundamental Way In The 2025 MCU Movie

When I went into Thunderbolts*, I did not expect to fall in love with the team like I did, but here we are. At the start of the MCU’s latest movie, the characters were nothing more than anti-heroes the world had forgotten or did not even know about. Marvel set out to change that, with the MCU showing how worthy of a higher position these characters are. Not only did they team up to stop the Void, but the Thunderbolts managed to save Bob, become a family, and ascend to a new level in the franchise.

Thunderbolts* has one of my favorite scenes in any MCU movie, and it is not a fight between heroes and villains, but a moment that shows how the team cares about those without powers. Thunderbolts* features a sequence where every member of the team gets a spotlight moment where they show off their abilities by saving civilians from debris that came from the Void’s initial attack. For a group of characters who started Thunderbolts* as anti-heroes with morality issues, dark states of mind, and such, this was the moment that cemented to the MCU’s population that they were heroes.

Like the MCU’s original Avengers team, the heroes operate out of Avengers Tower.

Given everything that happened in the movie, I would say that the heroes deserve the status boost they got at the end, with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine introducing the former Thunderbolts as The New Avengers to the world. Like the MCU’s original Avengers team, the heroes operate out of Avengers Tower. Valentina is under their thumb, so they have access to extensive resources. The characters proved they are heroes and deserve to become The New Avengers, and that is why the MCU turning it around in the post-credits scene did not sit well with me.

I Loved The Thunderbolts’ Dynamic & Calling Them The New Avengerz Feels Like A Disservice After The Team’s Growth

The MCU Can Have More Than One Team With The “Avengers” Name

The Thunderbolts walking after saving civilians in Thunderbolts*: The New Avengers — Image by Diana Acuña

Sure, it might have just been used for a comedic moment, which I hope is the case, but Red Guardian suggests that the heroes could change their name to The New Avengerz, with a “Z,” which I think would feel like a demotion. That all comes from Sam Wilson wanting to take control of the Avengers trademark so that his team can be the only Avengers. I understand why Captain America would go for that approach, as he would not approve of a government-related Avengers team like The New Avengers, plus he is setting up his own team.

Every MCU Avengers Movie
Movie	Release Date
The Avengers	2012
Avengers: Age of Ultron	2015
Avengers: Infinity War	2018
Avengers: Endgame	2019
Avengers: Doomsday	2026
Avengers: Secret Wars	2027

However, the Thunderbolts deserve to be recognized as The New Avengers after their growth and crucial role in saving New York City. In the comics, there have been multiple Avengers teams, like the Avengers, the West Coast Avengers, the Young Avengers, and more running at the same time. Based on that, the MCU could do the same, calling the Thunderbolts now The New Avengers and Sam’s team only “Avengers.” I loved the found family dynamic of the team and want to see them thrive after emerging from their dark past. Becoming The New “Avengerz” would feel like a tragic demotion.

I Hope The New Avengers Find A Legal Loophole To Keep The Team’s Name

There Are Superhero Lawyers Who Could Help The Marvel Team

Bucky tried talking to Sam, but since that did not work, The New Avengers might have to go for a legal battle to try to keep their name, as Captain America is fighting for the team’s trademark. Thunderbolts*‘s credits sequence included updates about how the media had been covering the team as The New Avengers over the 14-month period of the time jump between the film’s ending and its second post-credits scene. As such, the world is already used to the characters being The New Avengers, and I hope that could help their legal case.

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With The New Avengers famous, a legal battle with Sam Wilson for the team’s name could attract major lawyers. There are two superhero lawyers who I believe could be pulled into Avengers: Doomsday to solve the issue. Those would be Daredevil and She-Hulk. While the latter might have her secret idenтιтy known by everyone, Matt Murdock has a successful law firm in New York City, where The New Avengers are, and has represented multiple heroes in the MCU. If anyone can find a legal loophole to ensure The New Avengers keep the тιтle they earned in Thunderbolts*, it’s Daredevil.