Marvel: Rise of the Thunderbolts

In 2025, Marvel has presented its second film, Thunderbolts, following the discreet theatrical run of Captain America: A New World.

But all indications are that this new feature film will be a box office smash, as it got off to a great start in terms of reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave it an 88 out of 100 and fans a 95 out of 100.

In the story, an unconventional group of supervillains is recruited to carry out missions for the government. After finding themselves caught in a deadly trap masterminded by "Valentina Allegra de Fontaine," these outcasts must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest recesses of their past.

The arrival of a new “Black Widow” (Florence Pugh); the irreverent “Red Guardian” (David Harbour); “Bucky” (Sebastian Stan); “Bob” (Lewis Pullman); “John Walker” (Wyatt Russell) or “Ghost” (Hannah John-Kamen) brings to the big screen this innovative adaptation of “Thunderbolts”, a team that emerged in 1997 in the comics, however, the original members are not the ones that appear in the feature film.

The Avengers and Fantastic Four vanished after the 1996 Onslaught. There were no heroes, so it was in that context that the Thunderbolts were born.

Comic book experts were introduced to this team of saviors, who had previously been villains or had committed acts that society considered evil.

At first, their intentions were not good, but as they lived together, their ideals changed.

A seed of good that they don't know how grew around them began to bear fruit.

The first members were “Citizen V”, “Meteorite”, “Atlas”, “Songbird”, “Techno” and “Mach-1”.

"Baron Zemo," leader of the "Masters of Evil," was the one who led them under the alter ego of "Citizen V," but his intentions were never positive. Everything changed when "Hawkeye" became their leader, and "Jolt" and "Charcoal" joined the ranks.

Over time, the Thunderbolts have been in the spotlight or in the shadows, depending on who leads them. In addition to those mentioned above, Norman Osborn, Wilson Fisk, Luke Cage, and Red Hulk have also served in this capacity. They have faced major threats or even personal challenges.

It was at the 2017 “Secret Empire” event when “Bucky” became the leader of the group to confront “Steve Rogers,” who was being manipulated by none other than “Hydra.”

For July 2023, Marvel delivered a new “Thunderbolts” comic under the direction of “Winter Soldier” and “Valentina Allegra de Fontaine” which features “Black Widow”, “Sharon Carter”, “White Widow”, “Red Guardian”, “US Agent” and “Shang-Chi”.

This latest version provided the inspiration for the feature film, which, according to experts, could gross around $175 million this weekend in the United States and Canada. In the Laguna region, theaters were packed on both April 30 and May 1.

Founders

The first “Thunderbolts” were:

• “Citizen V”
• "Meteorite"
• "Atlas"
• "Songbird"
• “Techno”
• “Mach-1”.