10 Ways Thunderbolts* Sets Up The MCU's New Avengers Team For Avengers: Doomsday

Thunderbolts*

came out more than a year before Avengers: Doomsday, but the movie does a lot to set up what is coming in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

. It’s fair to say that the Thunderbolts* was perhaps one of the most unpredictable movies in the MCU to date. After initially being announced, and appearing to highlight a team made up of largely background characters, the idea that this film would be so instrumental and pivotal in setting up what comes next was nowhere in sight before its release.

However, with the Thunderbolts* essentially setting the stage for the end of the Multiverse Saga, there is a lot of ground to cover in terms of everything it sets up. And on top of that, the movie also helped to put the members of the team into a much stronger position ahead of what is sure to be their toughest mission to date. All of this stems from Thunderbolts* and the way it ties so many moving parts of the MCU together.

10

The Team Has Had 14 Months To Train Together

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

First things first; while the team, now known as The New Avengers, may contain several experienced ᴀssᴀssins and mercenaries, before their first joint mission in Thunderbolts*, these characters do not have a lot of experience working together. Thankfully, after their public debut in New York, the team has a solid 14 months of time to train and work together, learning how to support and strengthen each other.

This is essential because, as noted above, the team is made up of solo operatives. And like the Avengers before them, they were thrown into working together with no experience before a major disaster hit New York. But with 14 months of the team living under the same roof and going out on ᴀssignments, they are sure to have some synergy that could rival the original Avengers.

9

The New Avengers Are About To Get Compeтιтion From Sam Wilson’s Avengers

Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson grimaces while holding his shield in Captain America: Brave New World

However, The New Avengers also has challenges that the original team never faced, such as a rival group of heroes who have a claim on the name Avengers. Sam Wilson began setting up his own team of heroes at the end of Captain America: Brave New World, and since he has fully embraced his role as the new Captain America, it’s unlikely Sam will just give up the position he has worked hard to achieve.

On the other hand, The New Avengers are government-sanctioned heroes, working under the direction of legal bodies. This means that Sam Wilson’s Avengers team may not be supported by the government, and this could lead to a rift that further divides these two hero teams. Interestingly, this invokes a similar sort of rivalry as the one that existed in Captain America: Civil War, when two groups of heroes were at odds.

8

Ghost Likely Has More Backing & Support Than Her Lab Experiment Days

Hannah John-Kamen's Ava Starr a.k.a. Ghost looks into the distance in Thunderbolts

Ava Starr has a tragic backstory, having lost her parents at a young age, and simultaneously losing the ability to maintain a tangible form. After some time in orphanages, Ava was taken in by Bill Foster and SHIELD, where tests were carried out to try and help her, but she was also being used as an ᴀsset. Hopefully, with much more public backing as a hero, Ava may finally get support from experienced scientists who could further try to help her manage her condition.

Of course, Ava has learned to embrace her unique gifts, and they make her a useful part of the team. But Ava also appears to continue to experience pain, and rely on suits to try and regulate her condition. If Ava gets more support, she could potentially get more control of her powers, unlock new gifts and rid herself of the endless pain.

7

John Walker’s Reputation As A Hero Was Restored

Wyatt Russell's John Walker a.k.a. US Agent stands on a NYC street without his mask in Thunderbolts_

John Walker was very publicly discredited after he killed a man in broad daylight with the shield of Captain America. This was never going to be an easy thing to recover from, but if he is a part of The New Avengers, it makes sense that his reputation has been restored. Which presumably includes several accolades from his time serving as a soldier.

Walker is largely defined by his time as a soldier, and when that was taken away from him, it wasn’t long before he lost every other part of himself. Walker lost his family, and the respect and love of people who used to be close to him. Now, he finally has a chance to work on himself, without being weighed down by the fact that it was all taken away.

6

Bucky Barnes Leaves Politics To Pursue Being The White Wolf

Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes looks up in the Thunderbolts character poster

Bucky gave politics a go, and he clearly had the support of his consтιтuents who voted him in, but that was never the life he was made to live. Bucky needs to feel like he is making a difference, and see the impact he has first-hand. In this way, it’s a lot more satisfying for him to be in the field and saving people. This is also due to his need to redeem himself after his decades as a brainwashed ᴀssᴀssin.

While Bucky owns his idenтιтy as the Winter Soldier, that is a name that was ᴀssigned to him as an agent of HYDRA. But when he was in Wakanda, helping the people there, he was gifted a new name that likely helps him to see his value: The White Wolf. Now, as a member of The New Avengers, Bucky can take control of his story, and become the hero he always wanted to be.

5

Alexei Shostakov Is Now An American Hero… With Brand Deals

Alexei Shostakov a.k.a. Red Guardian looks up in the Thunderbolts character poster

Alexei is highly motivated by patriotism and recognition. So, while he lived an unfulfilling life in the US as a disgraced and discarded Russian superhero, Alexei needed a new purpose, and a new home. Now, as a member of The New Avengers, Alexei can feel accepted in the US, and become one of the Mightiest Heroes on the face of the Earth.

And also, money and sponsorship appear to be a big motivator for Alexei. So, when he sees his face next to his daughters and teammates on the front of the Wheaties box, it is evidently a dream come true. All of this adds up to Alexei feeling accepted, welcomed, and embraced by his new home.

4

Yelena Belova Has Found Her Purpose After Her Sister’s Death

Yelena Belova looking confused in Thunderbolts*

Yelena has very different motivations compared to her adoptive father. And after her sister Natasha Romanoff died, Yelena has been struggling to find her purpose. Having been raised as a killer-for-hire, Yelena turned to this line of work in the US and became an incredible ᴀsset to Valentina. However, it led her to experience depression and feel a void in her life.

Now, Yelena has been able to literally confront her dark past, and embrace a new family of equally troubled heroes. And despite their struggles, they came together to save people, and change the world. Yelena appears to be a strong leader to The New Avengers, and saving lives is proving a lot more fulfilling than her previous line of work.

3

Bob Reynolds Is Seeking Balance In His Mind

I’ve-Completely-Changed-My-Mind-About-Lewis-Pullman’s-Sentry-Suit-After-Watching-Thunderbolts — image by Yeider Chacon

Bob Reynolds has had a troubled life. From an early age, he experienced abuse, and he felt worthless and hopeless. Later in life, he turned to drugs and various other means to try and rid himself of his trauma. However, none of this proved to make his life any better. Then, he found a lab experiment that turned him into a literal superhero.

While Bob has the power and ability to become Sentry at any moment, he recognizes that, due to his inner conflict, he struggles to hold back the powerful Void who can extinguish life with the wave of a hand. For now, Bob is focusing on recovering his own mental health, but it seems likely that he will one day be able to command greater control of his alter egos.

2

The New Avengers Saved New York

New York has experienced some devastating chaos in the last few decades inside the MCU. However, when aliens invaded in 2012, The Avengers ᴀssembled to protect the people of the city and put a stop to the destruction. Now, when the Void appeared in the sky, The New Avengers ᴀssembled and rescued the city from the terrifying nightmares that they were likely all trapped inside.

This not only creates a brilliant symmetry with the previous team of heroes, but it also helps the team to gain the trust and respect of the public. Without them, who knows how long they’d survive in that mental prison, or if they would ever be able to escape?

1

The New Avengers Are On A Collision Course With The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four stood on a platform together in The Fantastic Four First Steps trailer

As seen in the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, The New Avengers pick up a warning on their system. This led them to see none other than the spaceship belonging to The Fantastic Four hurtling through the sky. The Fantastic Four: First Steps releases just a few months after Thunderbolts*, which will likely explain how this moment came to be, but beyond that, both of these hero teams have been announced to be part of the cast in Avengers: Doomsday.

While this scene alone suggests spoilers for how The Fantastic Four movie will end, it also gives an important insight that proves The New Avengers and The Fantastic Four will likely have a conflict when they first meet in Avengers: Doomsday. By all accounts, the team breached Earth-616’s reality, and crossed into the Sacred Timeline. The New Avengers need to be sure that these people can be trusted, and Thunderbolts* suggests that they will be some of the first faces that The Fantastic Four may see in this reality.