As a seasoned Marvel gamer and comic book enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the mystery surrounding the asterisk in Thunderbolts* has definitely piqued my curiosity. The hints at adaptations from the comics tied to the Avengers have me on the edge of my seat!
After seeing the first trailer for Marvel’s Thunderbolts, fans might be puzzled by the asterisk at the end of the title. This asterisk was added last year when Marvel Studios revised their release schedule. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, confirmed that the asterisk is indeed part of the official title, but didn’t clarify its meaning. While we don’t have a definitive answer yet, the asterisk could hint at adaptations from the comics that are connected to the Avengers.
In the upcoming movie titled “Thunderbolts,” a vibrant ensemble of characters takes center stage, led by Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, David Harbour as Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. As hinted in the trailer, each character in Thunderbolts has a questionable history. Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” it seems there isn’t an active Avengers team within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This gap could be ideal for the Thunderbolts to step into. Furthermore, Valentina might be the one who acquired Avengers Tower, which could potentially suggest a connection to the Thunderbolts. It’s intriguing to consider if the Thunderbolts are intended to succeed the Avengers and even adopt their name.
Are the Thunderbolts really the Dark Avengers?
After the “Secret Invasion” storyline where the Skrulls invaded and attacked Earth, Marvel Comics started their “Dark Reign” publishing phase. In this new era, Norman Osborn took control of S.H.I.E.L.D., a global peacekeeping organization, following his contribution in defeating the Skrulls during “Secret Invasion”. He then renamed S.H.I.E.L.D. to H.A.M.M.E.R., and transformed some of Marvel’s most notorious villains into popular heroes, who were called the Dark Avengers. This increase in power for Norman was a result of his actions during “Secret Invasion”.
In this revised team, Norman Osborn took on the Iron Patriot role, Mac Gargan became Venom in place of Spider-Man, Bullseye assumed Hawkeye’s position, Noh-Varr was Captain Marvel, Moonstone stepped into Ms. Marvel’s shoes, and Daken, Logan’s son, portrayed Wolverine. The main objective of the Dark Avengers was to help Norman Osborn win the public’s confidence and admiration despite his infamous reputation as the Green Goblin, arch-nemesis of Spider-Man.
In much the same vein as seen in “Thunderbolts,” it’s possible that the same underlying pattern is at work. Following Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s unexpected cameo in “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” she appears to be forging links with various characters, seemingly with the aim of forming a team. To date, she has brought US Agent onto her side, and served as Yelena Belova’s handler when Belova was tasked with assassinating Clint Barton in “Hawkeye.” Could these events be leading up to the end-credits of “Thunderbolts” unveiling that the title is actually a code for “Dark Avengers”?
Or are the Thunderbots the Secret Avengers?
The Thunderbolts could serve as substitutes for another Avengers squad known as the Secret Avengers. After the Avengers regrouped to bring down Norman Osborn during the “Dark Reign” era, the publishing initiative shifted to the “Heroic Age.” Steve Rogers assumed control of the U.S.’s security and law enforcement from Norman, leading to the reformed Avengers team. However, Steve also established a covert ops group that operated in secrecy called the Secret Avengers.
The initial Secret Avengers squad, which includes characters such as Black Widow, Beast, Moon Knight, Nova, and Sharon Carter, has seen members join and depart over time. Notably, a variant of this team has previously appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). After Captain America, Black Widow, and Falcon went against the Sokovia Accords in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, they chose to covertly carry on their heroic work and combat terrorism without government oversight. This clandestine team was swiftly labeled as the Secret Avengers by fans, and the group was also incorporated into the animated series Avengers Assemble. Compared to the Thunderbolts, who are often portrayed as the Dark Avengers, the Secret Avengers would appear somewhat more heroic.
The Thunderbolts asterik is a huge MCU mystery
Dark Avengers and Secret Avengers are only two of the theories floating around regarding the asterik in Thunderbolts*. David Harbour, who returns as Red Guardian in Thunderbolts*, recently teased what the film is about, while adding fuel to the fire with the asterik speculation.
Harbour explained to ComicBook about his position as BoxLunch’s brand ambassador, “They added the asterisk afterwards,” he said. The idea of the asterisk originated from someone…But let me put it this way without causing any trouble…The asterisk is quite trendy. I get why someone might use an asterisk there. I’m looking forward to the audience seeing it too. However, I must repeat, I can’t reveal more information.
The secret surrounding the asterisk will be unveiled as the movie “Thunderbolts” hits theaters on May 2, 2025.
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2024-09-23 20:10