Thunderbolts Can Still Avoid Becoming The MCU’s Suicide Squad

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Thunderbolts Can Still Avoid Becoming The MCU's Suicide Squad

Key Takeaways

  • Thunderbolts* trailer draws comparisons to Suicide Squad, but MCU aims for its own unique style.
  • Unlike DC’s Suicide Squad, Thunderbolts* may not rely on death threats to enforce loyalty.
  • MCU’s success lies in distinguishing itself from DC even when borrowing ideas, Thunderbolts* must follow suit.

As a long-time Marvel fan, I’ve seen my fair share of superhero movies and have been captivated by the MCU since its inception. The latest Thunderbolts* trailer has stirred some Suicide Squad comparisons, but as a seasoned comic book reader, I know that each universe has its unique take on these stories.

From the outset, it was bound to be noticeable that Thunderbolts would share some striking similarities with Suicide Squad, but there’s still room for the MCU film to carve its unique identity. The latest trailer has only intensified these comparisons, as it appears to echo the DC team in terms of characters, plot, and even the style and purpose of its storytelling.

Marvel has received criticism for drawing heavily from DC’s ideas in the comics world, and the similarities between the Thunderbolts and Suicide Squad serve as a common illustration of this trend. Essentially, both groups are teams of reprobates who carry out perilous assignments under the guidance of some government agency. Over time, these villains-turned-antiheroes strive to make amends for their past wrongdoings and gradually transform into reluctant heroes.

As a devoted fan, I’ve always appreciated the unique thrill that comic book stories and their cinematic adaptations bring. Yet, when it comes to the silver screen, Marvel has consistently outshone DC in terms of audience appeal. For example, while the Justice League may reign supreme on the printed page, the Avengers franchise, in its inspired form, has left them behind in movie theaters. Marvel Studios intends to replicate this triumph with the upcoming Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts Can Still Avoid Becoming The MCU's Suicide Squad

Additionally, since the DCEU is no longer active, the Suicide Squad films may not have much long-term importance, except perhaps for the Peacemaker spin-off series. On the other hand, Thunderbolts is a significant film in the lead-up to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, marking the culmination of Phase Five in the MCU. Interestingly, the asterisk (*) in Thunderbolts suggests that the team might undergo a name change following their first movie, setting it apart from being just an MCU equivalent to Suicide Squad. Instead, it could be seen as the spiritual successor to another problematic yet successful MCU group, the Guardians of the Galaxy.

As a dedicated fan, I believe it’s crucial for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to emphasize the intricate contrast between morally ambiguous anti-heroes like the Thunderbolts and clear-cut villains. This nuanced difference is beautifully portrayed in the comic series “Justice League vs. Suicide Squad” (2017), where the Suicide Squad seeks to keep the Justice League in line, even going so far as to confront them if necessary when they stray from the path of righteousness.

It’s evident that director Jake Schreier of Thunderbolts needs to steer clear of mirroring James Gunn’s distinctive style. While it’s challenging for any Marvel movie to evade the director’s signature wit and music choices, it’s essential for Thunderbolts to carve out its unique identity amidst similarities to The Suicide Squad or Guardians of the Galaxy series. The writers need to prevent the Thunderbolts from becoming a backup team for tasks that the main heroes decline due to busy schedules or excessive violence. Given Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes is already involved, Marvel Universe might want to emphasize incorporating older, well-known heroes into the new team, which could make Thunderbolts an instant hit among fans.

In their respective universes, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine and Amanda Waller oversee clandestine government operations, building teams for their franchises. Unlike Waller, Valentina doesn’t seem to use tactics such as holding team members hostage or implanting explosives in their heads. The implication of immediate death threats was effective for DC, but it doesn’t fit the current tone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To distinguish them from a Suicide Squad duplicate, if they were to introduce a twist and rename the Thunderbolts as the Dark Avengers, it would create a significant difference in their identity.

Drawing inspiration isn’t always a bad thing, but sometimes Marvel’s ideas taken from DC surpass the originals, particularly in terms of their popularity. One could make the case that they have counterparts for almost every DC hero or team – such as Iron Man and Batman, Quicksilver and the Flash, the Avengers and the Justice League, and as an example, the Thunderbolts and the Suicide Squad. Conversely, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe attempts to shine a light on a character that DC has already portrayed on screen, it often finds it difficult to step out of that shadow.

Captain Marvel was originally designed as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s equivalent to Wonder Woman, yet it didn’t quite resonate with fans to the same extent, although it matched its box office earnings. Post-Endgame, films like The Marvels (2023) and Eternals (2021) have underperformed at the box office and are largely forgettable, despite introducing new superhero teams to the universe. However, Marvel has a knack for staying unique even when adopting ideas from other sources, and Thunderbolts, set for release on May 2, 2025, might follow suit.

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2024-10-02 03:04