Why Ghost Could Be the MCU’s Secret Weapon and Marvel’s Most Wasted Superhero

Attention! This piece may reveal key plot points for the upcoming Marvel Studios series, “Thunderbolts”. The reappearance of Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr (Ghost) in “Thunderbolts” underscores the potential that Marvel Studios has overlooked when it comes to one of the most visually striking anti-heroes introduced within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Phase 5 draws to a close and the MCU prepares for its largest crossover event yet, Jake Schreier’s “Thunderbolts” brings back characters who have been absent for some time, including the indestructible Bucky Barnes. Characters such as Yelena, Red Guardian, and Bucky have had significant roles in “Black Widow” and various other MCU productions. However, some of the characters in “Thunderbolts”, like John Walker and Ghost, haven’t had their own spotlight until now.

Except for Taskmaster, all Thunderbolts characters make it through their initial crossover film and gear up for future conflicts. Instead of a direct sequel to the Thunderbolts, their next joint outing will manifest in the movie titled Avengers: Doomsday, now known as the New Avengers. Remarkably, the new Avengers’ lineup features questionable former criminals such as John Walker, Yelena Belova, and Ava Starr. Among them, Ava Starr, once a villain then an anti-hero, seems to be the most powerful member of the team, although Sentry’s godly powers might outshine hers.

Ghost And Her Powers Were Introduced To The MCU 7 Years Ago

Ava Starr’s Status Was Uncertain For A While

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Ghost served as the primary antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp. However, she wasn’t essentially portrayed as an evil character. It was revealed that Elihas Starr’s exploration of quantum energy led to his demise along with his wife. A young Ava, traumatized by the event, developed a permanent need for quantum energy and gained the ability to become temporarily intangible and invisible.

She was then taken in by Hank Pym’s rival, Bill Foster. Later, Ava found employment with SHIELD, where her stealth capabilities made her an ideal operative. This is how she eventually became known as “Ghost”.

As her internal quantum energy dwindled and mistrust towards SHIELD mounted, Ghost decided to seize Pym’s Quantum Tunnel in a bid for the boundless energy of the Quantum Realm. This action sparked a confrontation between Ghost and Ant-Man, who found an unexpected ally in Hope van Dyne (also known as Wasp). With her quantum energy exhausted, just moments before being overcome by her powers, Ghost was rescued when Janet van Dyne emerged from the Quantum Tunnel, transferring some of her energy to Ghost. In the end, Ant-Man’s group allowed Ghost to flee, and she rejoined Bill Foster to evade capture.

Thunderbolts* Finally Makes Use Of Ghost’s Unique Powers (Sort Of)

Thunderbolts* Shows Just How Dangerous Ghost’s Phasing Powers Can Be

Among the four killers dispatched by Val in Thunderbolts, Ghost stands out as the most potent, lethal, and adaptable. She effortlessly dodges attacks from her adversaries like Yelena, John Walker, and Taskmaster more effectively than they can retaliate, and she’s the only one to successfully complete her assigned task. In truth, Ghost is so proficient at her role that she eliminates Taskmaster before anyone recognizes that Val’s instructions were a trap. Ghost’s ability to become intangible and invisible also plays a crucial part in the Thunderbolts’ escape, as she passes through walls to bypass various barriers within the vault, thereby facilitating her teammates’ progress.

Regrettably, after the vault sequence, Ghost seems to lose focus as Thunderbolts takes center stage. During the car chase with Red Guardian’s limo, Ghost doesn’t perform any memorable stunts, and her ability to become intangible proves ineffective against Sentry and the Void during their final battle. In the Thunderbolts’ climactic encounter within the Void’s domain, Ghost, along with the rest of the team, is restrained. Surprisingly, it’s Yelena who manages to escape first, making a beeline for Bob before the other Thunderbolts join her pursuit. Instead of using her phasing ability to navigate through debris, Ghost remains stationary.

I’m Glad Ghost Will Return For Avengers: Doomsday

Ghost’s Powers Might Be Useful For The New Avengers Against Doctor Doom

In the Thunderbolts series, Sentry and the Void proved too powerful for the team to handle with their abilities. However, these powers might prove beneficial against Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, given that his technology and magic may necessitate a more physical confrontation compared to the Void. In Avengers: Doomsday, Ghost’s invisibility could grant her access to Doom’s stronghold, while her ability to phase through solid matter could bring her very close to the villain.

In the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, the mysterious abilities of Ghost character offer numerous chances for collaborations in future scenes. Notably, both Ghost and Sue Storm will be invisible characters, potentially combining their powers creatively against Doctor Doom. If the multiversal X-Men team in Avengers: Doomsday lacks a Kitty Pryde variant, Ghost could take on her role as an unreachable savior capable of accessing almost any location. Although Ghost hasn’t officially been an Avenger in the original comics, she has the potential to significantly contribute to Earth’s mightiest heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

2025-05-02 22:48