Avengers No-Show in Thunderbolts: The Shocking Truth Behind Their Absence

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In the storyline of “Thunderbolts,” there’s no unexpected intervention from the Avengers, and here’s why: Occasionally in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a massive event occurs, prompting fans to ask, “Where were the Avengers during all this chaos?” The narrative of “Thunderbolts” actually ponders this question, as it brings the menace of the Void to New York City, assuring readers that the Avengers won’t be showing up.

In this rephrased version,

*Thunderbolts* unites six characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s secondary team to form New York’s defensive barrier against Lewis Pullman’s Sentry. The main figures joining this adventure are Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (performed by Sebastian Stan), U.S. Agent (portrayed by Wyatt Russell), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen).

Warning – The rest of this article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.

Initially known as the Thunderbolts, this motley crew managed to thwart Sentry and safeguard New York on their own. Their heroic actions earned them a fresh and upgraded title within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and now they are referred to as the New Avengers before their comeback in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday.

With the Marvel Cinematic Universe growing more extensive than before, and no hero appearing to intervene in Thunderbolts, let’s take a look at the present locations of its key figures:

This way, I attempted to simplify the sentence structure and make it easier for readers to understand the context.

Captain America

It’s quite perplexing that we haven’t seen Sam Wilson as Captain America lately, considering his tight bond with Bucky Barnes. The post-credits scene in Thunderbolts* indicates he is now gathering a new team of Avengers, which could mean he’s been preoccupied elsewhere and unable to assist in New York.

*Note: Thunderbolts is a fictional superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Thor

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Chris Hemsworth’s mighty Thor, who holds divine powers, would have been a valuable ally when facing Sentry. However, at present, he is traversing the cosmos alongside his adopted daughter Love, providing aid to those in distress. Therefore, news of an Earth-bound crisis might not have reached him yet.

Black Panther

Following “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, Letitia Wright’s character Shuri has assumed the role of Black Panther from the late Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa. Given her dedication to Wakanda, it’s understandable that she declined a trip to New York to assist the Thunderbolts with their internal matters instead.

Namor

From the depths of my underwater realm, Talokan’s sovereign, Namor, finds himself in a position reminiscent of Black Panther, with an unwavering dedication to his kingdom. However, unlike T’Challa, Namor is set to make a significant impact in the upcoming Avengers 5.

Throughout his existence, I, Namor, have kept my distance from Western affairs, maintaining a neutral stance. Consequently, it seems unlikely that I would intervene in the tumultuous events unfolding within the Thunderbolts’ realm, given my deeply ingrained anti-surface world convictions.

Doctor Strange

In the movie “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” it is depicted that Doctor Strange, who gained a third eye after using the Darkhold, was banished from this universe. Following his encounter with Charlize Theron’s character Clea, Doctor Strange embarked on a journey to what seemed like the Dark Dimension in an attempt to rectify the Incursion he had triggered within the Multiverse.

Hulk

In the series titled She-Hulk, Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk reappeared from space and brought a shocking revelation for the household – his son, Skaar. It remains to be seen what they have been doing since their arrival on Earth, but it’s safe to speculate that Bruce Banner is adjusting to parenthood with assistance from his loved ones.

She-Hulk

Jennifer Walters, who’s like a clone of Tatiana Maslany’s character and an attorney, dwells in Los Angeles, California, rather than the location where *Thunderbolts* unfolds in New York. Given this distance, even though she’s probably juggling her usual mix of courtroom battles and street-level action, it’s possible that she’s too far removed from the action to offer assistance.

Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi, a fresh addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has swiftly become part of a larger community following encounters with Wong, Captain Marvel, and Hulk. At present, his location is San Francisco, keeping him distant from the tumultuous events happening in Thunderbolts, thus preventing him from participating.

Spider-Man

Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is set in New York, and may have been affected by the occurrences in the ‘Thunderbolts’, potentially getting absorbed into The Void along with numerous civilians. He’ll reappear on screens next year in ‘Spider-Man: Fresh Start’, which is rumored to coincide with ‘Avengers: Apocalypse’, and there’s a chance it might touch upon the events of ‘Thunderbolts’.

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel, portrayed by Brie Larson, spent decades away from Earth, involved in cosmic affairs instead of preventing world-ending events. This is why her absence during crucial incidents like Avengers: Endgame comes as no surprise, since she answered Nick Fury’s distress call to return. Even after her appearance in The Marvels, it makes sense that she might have missed another significant event, given her possible space-related commitments.

Monica Rambeau

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I found myself utterly captivated by the mind-bending turn of events in “The Marvels”. Unfortunately, Monica Rambeau’s character was swept away to another universe when a rift in space-time appeared. The intriguing twist at the end of “The Marvels” credits left her stranded among Binary, Beast, and the X-Men in this alien realm, hinting strongly at her potential reappearance in “Avengers: Doomsday”.

America Chavez

At the conclusion of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, America Chavez commenced magical studies at Kamar-Taj. Since mastering the mystic arts isn’t a simple task, it’s likely that America Chavez is still working diligently to become proficient enough to stand alongside Wong and Doctor Strange.

Wong

As the Supreme Sorcerer, Wong frequently finds himself engaged in magical and otherworldly occurrences, often sidelined from significant events elsewhere. At this moment, he appears to be still stationed at Kamar-Taj, filling in for Strange’s absence at the Sanctum Sanctorum.

The Guardians of the Galaxy

After the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, our original team disbanded, making way for a new group consisting of Rocket, Groot, Kraglin, Adam Warlock, Phyla, and Cosmo. Just like our previous comrades, this new crew is engaged in cosmic affairs, dealing with the turbulence that space often brings.

Star-Lord

As a die-hard film fan, I can’t help but share my excitement over Chris Pratt’s character, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, returning to Earth following the epic adventures of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Now, he’s settled down with his grandfather, and it seems like his days as an Earth-based superhero might be on hold for now. He’s taking some well-earned downtime, basking in the peace that retirement brings.

Hawkeye

Jeremy Renner’s character Clint Barton, who was previously known for his heroic acts, took a step back before the series “Hawkeye”, ultimately handing over the role to Kate Bishop. Currently, much like Star-Lord, Barton seems to have retired, and it appears this retirement may continue after Renner was given an “insult offer” to reprise his role for Disney+’s “Hawkeye” Season 2.

Ms. Marvel & Kate Bishop

In The Marvels, Ms. Marvel was last seen hanging out at Kate Bishop’s apartment in New York City, hinting at the possibility of them forming the Young Avengers. Later, Daredevil: Born Again suggested that Kamala Khan was visiting friends in California. It’s plausible that they might have journeyed across the country together as they work towards establishing their new superhero team.

Read about the latest promising update for Disney+’s Young Avengers series.

Wiccan

After the series Agatha All Along, Joe Locke’s character Billy Maximoff has joined forces with a spectral Agatha Harkness on a quest to find his missing brother Tommy. The exact destination of their search remains unknown, but the magical pair were last spotted in Westview, New Jersey, which is situated across the water from New York City.

The Ant-Man Family

Following an encounter with Kang in the Quantum Realm, Ant-Man, Wasp, Cassie Lang, Hank Pym, and Janet van Dyne have returned to their home in San Francisco, positioning the Ant-Man family geographically across the U.S. from where the Thunderbolts* and Sentry-related turmoil were taking place.

*Note: I’ve assumed that “Thunderbolts” is a group or team name, as it’s a known Marvel Comics team, but it could be something else in this context.

Vision

After the TV series ‘WandaVision’, Paul Bettany’s character, Vision, was brought back to life by SWORD in a new body, initiating Disney+’s upcoming series titled ‘Vision Quest’. Since this new Vision lacked his previous heroic memories, he might not have promptly joined the battle in New York.

Scarlet Witch

Although fans are eagerly waiting for Wanda Maximoff’s return in Avengers: Doomsday, it appears that Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch is unavailable for the time being, as she was shown dying under Mount Wundagore. Until a possible resurrection occurs, Wanda is unfortunately deceased and won’t be able to contribute to any upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe events.

Daredevil

Currently stationed in New York, among the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s select heroes, Daredevil is preoccupied for now with dismantling Kingpin’s corrupt mayoral administration. At this point, he hasn’t ventured beyond street-level crimes to engage with global threats that could potentially end the world.

Moon Knight

Oscar Isaac’s Moon Knight hasn’t taken on many active roles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as of now, since he’s only been involved with the affairs of Egyptian deities thus far. Also, it’s worth noting that Marc Spector and his two alters reside in London, which puts them geographically distant from the events unfolding in Thunderbolts.

War Machine

Following his period impersonated by a Skrull, Rhodey wasn’t liberated until the “Secret Invasion” storyline, appearing to be dealing with some medical concerns given he was attired in a hospital gown. These wounds might have prevented him from donning the War Machine armor to participate in the Thunderbolts’ assembly in New York.

The Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four, Marvel’s original family, will make their Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in July. Since this film takes place in an alternate universe, they are not presently on Earth-616 to offer assistance. However, a hint at their arrival was given during the second post-credit scene of “Thunderbolts,” suggesting they won’t be absent from the MCU for much longer.

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2025-05-03 03:37