Marvel’s Thunderbolts* Hides Its Biggest Twist In Plain Sight, Right From the Start

The Marvel Universe is renowned for executing unexpected plot turns skillfully. For instance, in Iron Man 3, Ben Kingsley’s character initially seems to be the villainous Mandarin, but a later reveal unveils that it was all a fabrication by Aldrich Killian to further his objectives. In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos demonstrates a new level of shocking twists when he coldly kills his own daughter, Gamora, to obtain the Soul Stone, bringing him one step closer to eliminating half of life in the universe with the Infinity Stones. Unlike those carefully guarded surprises, another unexpected moment within the MCU stands out differently.

One delightful surprise for Marvel Studios in recent times has been the movie known as “Thunderbolts“. Initially, it didn’t create much buzz, but it offers a moving portrayal of friendship and self-discovery in life. Interestingly, this film also introduces one of the most crucial characters in Marvel lore in an unexpected twist. While “Thunderbolts” doesn’t exactly conceal its villain reveal, it hints at their introduction from the very start.

Marvel Studios’ Intros Are as Important as the Movies Themselves

Enjoying a theater experience, you’ll typically endure thirty minutes of previews before the Marvel Studios emblem graces the screen. Often, footage from previous productions is repeated to emphasize the magnitude of their franchise. Yet, there are instances when the introduction serves a more significant role. For example, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever showcases Chadwick Boseman’s finest moments in the series, and Captain America: Brave New World uses its opening scenes to establish its narrative tone. At first sight, Thunderbolts* seems to follow the usual pattern, displaying characters from Marvel Comics. However, as darkness envelops the logo, the film subtly hints at what’s coming next for the audience.

In the opening scenes of “Thunderbolts”, there’s an unadvertised character depicted. Dressed in a vibrant yellow suit, he exudes immense strength, giving off vibes reminiscent of Thor or Captain America. However, as the narrative unfolds, this enigmatic figure is portrayed in less heroic scenarios. Initially, these introductory scenes may be overlooked once the movie commences, but their meaning becomes apparent upon the arrival of Bob on the scene.

The MCU Has Big Plans for Sentry

In the comic book series “Thunderbolts“, Bob makes it clear early on who he is, leaving the rest of the team puzzled about him. They stand by him during battles against Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s troops, but eventually lose control of the situation, prompting Bob to take action. Shockingly, Bob withstands multiple gunshots and soars into the air, which leaves everyone astounded. Valentina then capitalizes on this moment by capturing Bob and transforming him into a superhero named Sentry. With newfound confidence, Sentry confronts his former friends to defend his newly acquired hero status. However, working for Valentina turns out to be detrimental for Bob as she plots against him when he challenges her power.

Within Sentry, there’s a failsafe mechanism that doesn’t eliminate the hero but rather triggers his alternate persona, The Void. This entity nearly devoured New York City, but it stopped due to the intervention of the Thunderbolts who managed to penetrate the Void and reach Bob. Though Bob indicates he’s stepping down after his recent events, his Sentry alter ego isn’t done yet. Villains like Doctor Doom should have watched the beginning of Thunderbolts as they’ll be in for a shock when they engage in conflict with Sentry, as they’ll soon discover.

Thunderbolts* is streaming now on Disney+.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/thunderbolts-mcu-set-up-avengers-doomsday-new-avenger/embed/#

Read More

2025-08-29 19:40