Heading towards 2025, there were two Marvel Cinematic Universe films causing quite a stir: “Captain America: Brave New World” and “The Fantastic Four: First Footsteps.” The former generated anticipation since it marked the debut of a new actor as the Star-Spangled Man following Chris Evans’ tenure. On the other hand, “First Footsteps” carried heavy expectations given past unsuccessful attempts to adapt Marvel’s First Family for the big screen. Meanwhile, “Thunderbolts,” which initially flew under the radar, was a film featuring a team of mercenaries, each carrying a fair amount of personal baggage.
[*Note: I’ve suggested changing “Thunderbolts” to “Thunderbolt’s” as it is plural in this context, but the original title is singular.]
Despite seemingly insurmountable challenges, the film Thunderbolts proved to be a hit among critics. A significant portion of its success can be traced back to a fresh character in the series, Bob Reynolds, who had an arduous past before joining the iconic team. However, I feel that Bob’s introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe was detrimental to his development because it dropped him straight into peril when another potential antagonist was lurking nearby throughout his tenure.
Sentry’s Arc Could Have Spanned Multiple Movies
In the Marvel Comics universe, Sentry, a character known for his complexity, is the central figure in the comics series Thunderbolts, with Bob taking the spotlight in the MCU adaptation. An unexpected situation unfolds when all of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s hired guns converge at her base and start trying to eliminate each other. They stumble upon an ordinary-looking man who finds himself mysteriously present among them. This stranger, Bob, manages to bring calmness to the chaotic scene, making everyone realize that they must work together to tackle their common problem. Despite their frequent disagreements, the Thunderbolts manage to leave the bunker, only to encounter a group of armed thugs. Ever the helpful one, Bob willingly gives up his freedom to provide his friends with an advantage in this fight. As the situation escalates, it is revealed that Bob possesses immense strength beyond anyone’s expectations – he can deflect bullets and even fly.
Valentina brings Bob to New York City and transforms him into a hero known as Sentry. Feeling he’s found his calling, Sentry hangs out with his peers and gears up for his big break. However, power corrupts him, and he lashes out at Valentina, triggering a kill switch that accidentally awakens Bob’s other persona, the Void, who envelops the city in shadows. This scenario mirrors Sentry’s struggles in Marvel Comics, but the MCU exposes his flaws immediately. As a result, Bob acknowledges his problems and locks them away before reappearing. Unfortunately, much of his story has already been explored, so he takes a backseat for his next appearance. If only the Thunderbolts had chosen a different villain, this chain of events might have been avoided.
John Walker Is More Villain Than Hero in Thunderbolts*
In simpler terms, the leading character in the comic book series Thunderbolts is Yelena Belova, who empathizes with another character named Bob and tries to help him. John Walker, a former Captain America, often clashes with Bob and looks down on his fellow team members. His frequent mockery becomes tiring, yet despite his family abandoning him, it’s challenging to feel sympathetic towards him. The writers even contemplated making him the villain due to his self-inflicted problems. In an alternative storyline, Valentina could have deceived Walker into thinking his super soldier serum was losing effectiveness and transforming him into a monster. I believe there might have been a situation where this plot twist could have been effective if the Thunderbolts temporarily sidelined Bob for a while.
When everyone gathered at Avengers Tower, there was a possibility that Walker could have betrayed his allies, inflicting harm on them similar to what Sentry did. However, the sight of his friends in distress caused Bob to regain his senses, enabling him to manage the situation. If the Marvel Cinematic Universe had chosen this path, Walker might not have been included in the New Avengers. Yet, given his questionable track record, he may not truly merit a place on the team, as his path to redemption lags behind that of his fellow team members (*Thunderbolts*).
Thunderbolts* is streaming on Disney+.
https://comicbook.com/movies/news/every-thor-movie-ranked-worst-to-best/embed/#
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2025-09-03 18:27