Thunderbolts: How a Team of Zeroes Beat a GOD!?! You Won’t Believe How!

by

Before the release of Thunderbolts in theaters, Marvel enthusiasts were left wondering about the film’s storyline. The upcoming MCU movie centers around a group of once minor villains seeking redemption. Although there are a few super soldiers within the group, the Thunderbolts do not possess the same level of power as the Avengers. However, the promotional campaign for Thunderbolts highlighted that it will feature Sentry and the Void, two incredibly powerful characters from Marvel Comics who are alter-egos of Robert “Bob” Reynolds (portrayed by Lewis Pullman). Given Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Yelena Belova, it seemed unfair to have her face off against a deity in the film.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Thunderbolts*

With Thunderbolts* now playing in cinemas, Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts can enjoy an unexpectedly mature and thoughtful superhero film that delves into themes such as trauma, mental health, and the power of human connection. The movie boasts some of the most impressive action sequences from the Multiversal Saga, and the ragtag team of heroes demonstrates they are anything but weaklings. Despite their inability to best the Void in a physical battle, Thunderbolts* manages to devise a clever strategy to neutralize its main adversary while still providing an exhilarating third act showdown.

What Is the Void? And What Does He Want?

Prior to the events of Thunderbolts, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) used her position as director of the CIA to conceal illicit human experiments carried out by the enigmatic corporation OXE, a company she had previously managed. With the Avengers having disbanded, Valentina believed the best way to preserve America’s dominant geopolitical standing was to create a new superhero dedicated to protecting national interests and reporting only to her. These experiments, known as “Project Sentry,” were designed to produce such a hero, but every test subject perished during the process… except for Bob.

Bob is an individual who has faced challenges such as bipolar disorder, a past marked by childhood trauma and drug addiction. In an attempt to find solace or possibly more substances, he embarked on a journey through Asia seeking enlightenment. When approached by OXE, Bob eagerly accepted the chance to receive an unusual injection, particularly when told it would improve him. To his surprise, Project Sentry bestowed upon him extraordinary powers – making him bulletproof, enabling flight, granting super speed and strength, and even endowing him with formidable telekinetic abilities. If mentally sound, Bob could be the most powerful hero in the MCU. Regrettably, his troubled mind gives rise to a sinister alter ego named “The Void.

On some days, Bob’s mental health enables him with an overwhelming sense of invincibility, making him ready to tackle any obstacle boldly. Conversely, he is sometimes overcome by his past traumas, feeling that life holds no purpose and the pain within him can never be alleviated. After receiving the Project Sentry serum, both aspects of Bob’s personality gained superhuman abilities. At his most hopeful, Bob transforms into the Sentry; however, his pessimistic outlook leads to him becoming the Void. The Void retains all of the Sentry’s powers and can additionally imprison individuals in a dark realm where they are compelled to endlessly re-experience their traumas. Since life seems meaningless and we cannot escape our past, The Void aims to accelerate things, spreading his influence globally by enveloping everything it touches in an encroaching shadow.

How Do the Thunderbolts Defeat the Void?

Valentina intends for Sentry to engage in a fake battle with Thunderbolts for the media, demonstrating her new hero’s strength. Despite recognizing that Bob is highly dangerous, Yelena empathizes with his struggles, as she has experienced depression herself. When the Void arises and vanishes people, Yelena bravely steps into the shadows, aiming to connect with Bob.

Within the confines of her recollections, Yelena is transported to the tragic evening when she carried out the initial trial for the Red Room, manipulating one of her comrades into a fatal encounter in the forest. Upon extricating herself from this tormenting prison, she finds herself ensnared in another, compelled to confront her harrowing past in Russia and her present struggles with alcoholism and isolation. Eventually, she encounters Bob, who has been hiding himself from personal turmoil within a tranquil attic sanctuary. There, Yelena extends her assistance, assuring Bob that he need not battle The Void on his own and that she will stand by him. The Void rebels, shattering the attic memory, but the rest of the Thunderbolts eventually appear, having been inspired by Yelena’s courageous actions.

Working as a unit, the team ventures through the recollections shrouded in shadow until they arrive at the Malaysian laboratory where the Void initially manifested. There, the Void employs telekinesis to ensnare the Thunderbolts within the walls using cables and distorted metal. The antagonist challenges Bob to engage him in combat, culminating in a fierce battle marked by bloodshed. In this conflict, the tormented man overpowers the Void, pinning him to the ground and repeatedly striking him in the face. The Void chuckles as the violence escalates, causing Bob to be gradually consumed by darkness. This intense scene portrays a solitary Bob, struggling to overcome his own demons, filled with anger due to the trauma he bears.

As a passionate film enthusiast, I found myself mirroring Yelena’s flight from her entrapment, rushing towards Bob and enfolding him in a warm embrace. Not long after, all the Thunderbolts followed suit, wrapping their arms around Bob as tears streamed down his cheeks, providing the solace he so desperately needed. The underlying message was profound – battling trauma on one’s own only worsens the situation, and we all require a supportive network to help us through difficult times. Human connection proves to be our greatest weapon against despair and loneliness. With the assistance of his newfound companions, Bob triumphantly vanquished the Void, and the ominous cloud hovering over New York City began to dissipate. In an instant, *Thunderbolts* delivered a captivating finale, tackled its central themes with the depth they deserved, and convincingly demonstrated how a motley crew of spies and soldiers could defeat the most formidable Marvel Cinematic Universe villain yet.

What Happens to Valentina?

Recognizing that she is bound for prison due to Project Sentry and seeing the crowd of New Yorkers cheer on the Thunderbolts as they rescued citizens from The Void, Valentina shifts her strategy. The cunning tactician coaxes the Thunderbolts into a public event where she promptly introduces them as a team of heroes she has assembled: “the New Avengers.” Initially taken aback, the Thunderbolts soon recognize this as an opportunity to transform their image and atone for past mistakes. Exchanging significant looks, the Thunderbolts decide to go along with Valentina’s deception and take on the role of government-approved New Avengers. Yet, Yelena warns Valentina that she now owes them a debt, as the New Avengers have the power to bring down the CIA director by exposing the truth about The Void.

In the final appearance of Valentina within Thunderbolts, it’s hinted that her story doesn’t end there. The movie’s closing scene discloses that the New Avengers have moved their base of operations to the Watchtower, a building previously known as the Avengers Tower which was purchased by Valentina from Tony Stark (portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.). This implies that Valentina continues to exert influence behind the scenes, ensuring that the New Avengers maintain their position as the leading superhero team in the country, as they now receive government funding and support for their operations.

Are the New Avengers The Only Superteam in the MCU?

In the post-credits scene of the movie “Thunderbolts”, it is revealed that the New Avengers are facing challenges with public acceptance due to their questionable past. Since they’re not widely accepted as Earth’s greatest heroes, many people find it hard to embrace them. To add to the confusion, Captain America (Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie) is leading his own team of Avengers. It remains unclear whether Sam has already found members for his team or is still in the process of assembling them. However, we know that he’s taking legal action against the New Avengers over copyright infringement and pushing for his team to be officially recognized by the government. This legal battle between the two teams could potentially hinder Sam’s plans to reform the Avengers. By the time “Avengers: Doomsday” rolls around, we should learn more about this clash of interests.

What’s Happening in Outer Space?

The after-the-end sequence in “Thunderbolts” offers intriguing tidbits of information. For example, casually mentioned by Yelena, there’s a hint that crucial details about a cosmic crisis have been kept from the New Avengers. Given that 14 months pass between “Thunderbolts” and this scene, it marks the latest point in the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. This suggests that whatever is happening in space could be linked to the Incursions and the plot of “Avengers: Doomsday”.

The final scene suggests that the New Avengers are alerted about an alien ship approaching Earth, adorned with the emblem of the Fantastic Four. In essence, this implies a potentially sad conclusion for Fantastic Four: First Steps, as the original family may be compelled to abandon their futuristic era and seek refuge in the Sacred Timeline. This significant event also indicates that the New Avengers will likely serve as the frontline team upon the Fantastic Four’s arrival, ensuring they act first when confronting Doctor Doom.

The movie titled “Thunderbolts” can now be watched in cinemas, while “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” will premiere on July 25th.

Read More

2025-05-02 22:11