Thunderbolts’ Villain Void: How the Trailer Perfectly Captures His Menacing Aura

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Summary

  • The Thunderbolts* trailer introduces the menacing Void, who is wiping out lives with his dark powers.
  • The killing effect used for the Void in Thunderbolts* is minimal but truly terrifying, setting up high stakes.
  • The character of Bob is revealed to be Sentry, the alter ego of the Void, posing a major threat to NYC in the film.

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but get chills down my spine when recalling the Superbowl teaser for the upcoming blockbuster, Thunderbolts. For the first time, we caught a glimpse of the sinister antagonist known as The Void, who promises to be the menacing adversary in the forthcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Admittedly, the trailer didn’t delve too deep into its origins or motivations, but it did effectively set the tone with a haunting visual effect that left an indelible mark on me.

In the movie “Thunderbolts,” Lewis Pullman’s character initially appeared enigmatic, but recent developments suggest a clearer picture is emerging. Previously known only as Bob, the latest trailer released during the Super Bowl strongly hints that he is actually Sentry, which implies he is also The Void. The ominous black entity shown in the trailer appears to be swallowing New York City whole, causing massive destruction and loss of life.

How Thunderbolts* Sets Up A Terrifying Villain

The Void’s Killing Spree Feels Truly Menacing

In a chilling start, the latest trailer for Thunderbolts poses a disquieting query from CIA Director Valentina in a courtroom. She ominously queries, “‘The Avengers won’t be here.’ Who will safeguard the American people?’” The question carries an air of menace, as images of New York City skyscrapers collapsing into darkness flash across the screen. Marvel seems to have masterfully struck a nerve with this portrayal, employing a subtle yet chilling technique in the trailer to heighten suspense.

Frightened innocents scatter in fear, while an enigmatic figure seemingly turns them into mere wisps of ash upon the pavement. The malevolent force responsible for this mass extermination is none other than The Void, a sinister manifestation of Sentry’s darker side. Although only fleetingly glimpsed, The Void exudes a palpable sense of dread, primarily because of the lethal ability to vanish entire groups of people. Such a destructive power is on par with the caliber of threats that the Avengers often face.

The Void’s Killing Effect Sets Up The Stakes For The Movie

A Terrifying Method Without Revealing Too Much

Marvel strategically highlights The Void’s lethal ability in this instance as a shrewd tactic. This implies that The Void is way beyond the Thunderbolts’ capabilities, yet without disclosing too many details. It subtly suggests that characters like Ghost, with quantum-phasing abilities, could potentially counter him. However, the Thunderbolts must collaborate to create an opportunity for her to strike. Given that they are intended to be the MCU’s upcoming powerhouse team of heroes, a formidable adversary such as The Void, who can only be vanquished by their collective strength and cooperation, is essential.

The Void’s method of taking lives by drawing victims into the earth serves as another demonstration of how Marvel manages to steer clear of R-ratings in its films, while nonetheless depicting a villain carrying out mass murder. Though there are no scenes of violence or gore, the notion of descending into utter darkness is truly frightening. It appears as though individuals are being transported to another realm via the ground, but it also seems possible that the Void is disintegrating them, leaving behind only their blackened residue on the pavement.

The Effect Used In Thunderbolts* Feels Disturbingly Familiar

Echoes of Past MCU & Real-World Tragedies

Earlier, Thanos eliminated half of the universe in the movies ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’. A distinctive visual effect, people turning into dust, was used to depict this event. Interestingly, something reminiscent of this dust-to-ashes killing technique has been seen in the MCU before. For instance, the aftermath of the Extremis explosions in ‘Iron Man 3’ left a similar trail behind.

To add to that, the imagery might have been influenced by an enduring and tragic episode of history – the “outline of human tragedy etched in stone.” Another name for it is the “human trace of demise,” which refers to a World War II artifact from Hiroshima. This artifact resembles the shadowy silhouette left behind when someone was instantly vaporized by the atomic bomb explosion, and their image was permanently etched onto the surface.

Sentry, Void, & Bob In Thunderbolts*, Explained

How Thunderbolts*’ Biggest Threat Works

This story, titled Thunderbolts, centers on a band of unconventional heroes who find themselves partnering with Valentina for a perilous assignment. In the Marvel Universe, one of these characters, Robert Reynolds, adopts the identity Sentry following his ingestion of an innovative super serum. Initially, he portrays the Void as his chief adversary to figures such as Doctor Strange and Mr. Fantastic. However, it becomes clear later that Sentry, Robert, and the Void are all one and the same. In this trailer, The Void is depicted as a menacing, cloud-like entity, while Robert is the individual causing death by merely shaking his hand.

In the world of Marvel comics, Sentry’s dark counterpart is believed to be stronger than any other character. To break his bond with the Void, Bob’s memories were wiped out in the storyline. In a similar vein, the Thunderbolts team might need to employ psychological strategies instead of physical attacks when dealing with Sentry, as brute force may not work. Interestingly, like other Thunderbolts members such as Bucky Barnes, U.S. Agent, and Red Guardian, Sentry acquired his powers from a failed Super Soldier Serum experiment.

Sentry’s Future In The MCU

The Void May Not Be Fully Defeated

It would be wiser to limit the Void’s powers but preserve Sentry’s physical form for future use, instead of annihilating it. Initially portrayed as “Bob” in Thunderbolts, Lewis Pullman’s character may hold more than one identity according to his July 2024 interview with Entertainment Weekly, hinting at a complex persona.

All I’ll say is that everyone has their own nicknames and Bob is not his only name.

It’s almost certain that Bob is a nickname for Robert Reynolds, which suggests his character embodies both the Sentry and The Void personas. The fate of this character will be unveiled when the movie “Thunderbolts” premieres in theaters on May 2, 2025, marking the conclusion of Phase Five in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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2025-02-13 02:27