`Thunderbolts* Can’t Explain Why Avengers Aren’t Coming`

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Summary

  • Marvel’s new Thunderbolts* trailer reveals details on the “big bad” in the upcoming movie.
  • The absence of the Avengers in Thunderbolts* raises questions about why other superheroes aren’t helping.
  • Thunderbolts* might face a similar problem to Eternals with powerful heroes sitting out of major fights.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’m always looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday for more reasons than just the game. And when it comes to blockbuster advertising, Marvel Studios is undoubtedly one of the biggest players. With their upcoming film, Thunderbolts, set to grace our screens in a matter of months, they didn’t disappoint their loyal fanbase.

The latest trailer for Thunderbolts offered more than just a glimpse of a motley crew coming together. It provided some intriguing insights into the actual storyline. One of the most compelling revelations from this new teaser was a first look at the primary antagonist in Marvel’s second major release this year, giving us a hint about the direction the Marvel Cinematic Universe is heading.

The latest Thunderbolts trailer revealed an intriguing detail that left many viewers pondering an answer to a significant query. In one scene, Valentina speaks to congress and declares, “Let’s confront the truth. The Avengers won’t be returning. Who will safeguard the American people instead?” This is followed by Bucky informing Yelena Belova, the Red Guardian, the Ghost, and John Walker that they are the team assigned to combat the imminent threat that has struck New York. However, this development raises another question commonly associated with these interconnected movies that the MCU cherishes so dearly: Why specifically are the Avengers absent from this mission?

The Thunderbolts* Could Use Some Help

The latest trailer appears to reveal who Bucky and his team are up against, and it looks like they have some familiarity with this foe due to previous hints. Although we only saw an outline in the trailer, it strongly suggests that the adversary the group will confront is none other than Bob, also known as Sentry.

In Marvel comics, Sentry is often portrayed as a hero, but he does possess a troubled past that sometimes leads to chaos. Given his current state of amnesia and the attacks by Valentina’s troops, it seems fitting for him to take on an antagonistic role, or undergo a heel turn, as it’s commonly referred to in storytelling.

If the trailer isn’t deceiving us, there seems to be an issue with Sentry as the main antagonist since he resembles Marvel’s equivalent of Superman but without the vulnerability to his home planet fragments. Given this background, it would be logical for the Thunderbolts to seek assistance from seasoned superheroes who have previously subdued cosmic threats. However, these heroes are conspicuously absent as New York is under attack. This doesn’t seem to align with common sense.

As a moviegoer, I can’t help but notice that some of our beloved Avengers are missing from the latest film – Black Widow, Iron Man, and Steve Rogers have all met their untimely ends. Yet, there are still others who continue to protect Earth from crime and danger. Captain America, now Sam Wilson, is one of them, carrying on the legacy of his mentor and friend. His past with Bucky, or should I say the Winter Soldier, has been tumultuous, but it appears they’ve managed to bury their hatchets. However, it seems strange that he would not join forces with the remaining Avengers in this critical moment, especially considering his history of selfless service.

It appears that War Machine, Smart Hulk, Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Thor are all still in action. Given their previous roles, one might expect them to intervene in a crisis involving a city in grave danger. However, for some reason, they’re not engaging in this particular fight. Meanwhile, Spider-Man, being a New York resident, seems unlikely to be joining this battle.

Thunderbolts* Might Have a Reverse Eternals Problem

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has faced similar predicaments in the past, and it appears that managing a shared universe remains challenging for them. Characters like Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and the Guardians of the Galaxy can be excused as they might be away on other planets (Thor could also fit this category). However, there are certain heroes who should undeniably be present amidst the peril, yet their absence is noticeable.

Written By
  • Eric Pearson
  • Lee Sung Jin
  • Joanna Calo
Directed By Jake Schreier
Starring
  • Florence Pugh
  • Sebastian Stan
  • David Harbour
  • Wyatt Russell
  • Olga Kurylenko
  • Lewis Pullman
  • Geraldine Viswanathan
  • Chris Bauer
  • Wendell Edward Pierce
  • Hannah John-Kamen
  • Julia Louis-Dreyfus

The predicament of Marvel’s Eternals, being superpowered entities idling during a monumental battle, raised eyebrows among MCU fans when the movie debuted. It seemed illogical that these god-like beings would be lounging on Earth while Thanos waged war against the Avengers and came close to winning twice, only to remain aloof. The film attempted to clarify their inaction by stating their mission was not to interfere in such events directly. Although this explanation didn’t entirely resolve the inconsistency since Thanos had previously decimated half the universe, it at least provided a rationale for why they chose not to join the fray.

In Thunderbolts, those who remain of the Avengers no longer have the convenience of a pre-existing justification to avoid conflict. They haven’t sworn an oath to keep themselves out of battles. If circumstances similar to the Sokovia Accords arise, it would be logical for the U.S. to issue a call-to-action and mobilize any heroes who comply with such agreements.

Regardless of agreements such as the Sokovia Accords, it’s logical to assume that, should a situation arise, the U.S. might summon and engage any heroes who are in compliance with those accords.

Thunderbolts shouldn’t rely solely on the single statement about the Avengers for their approach; there needs to be more depth to their storyline. While the movie seems promising and entertaining, if the creators fail to provide a compelling reason as to why this particular group of underdogs can emerge victorious, they might find themselves at a disadvantage from the start.

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2025-02-10 21:57