The Thunderbolts* team has been in theaters since April 30, 2025, in a film that could look like a redemption for Marvel, so rave reviews. But did you know that these characters—Bucky, Yelena Belova, US Agent, Ghost, and Taskmaster—all belonged to one of the many iterations of the Thunderbolts in the comics? By the way, here are some other MCU characters who have also joined the Thunderbolts team, for a longer or shorter time.
#9 Bullseye
Bullseye, aka Benjamin Pointdexter, is well known to MCU fans for being one of Daredevil's main antagonists in the Netflix series and its sequel on Disney+. In the comics, the mercenary who can eliminate his target by throwing anything and everything joins a version of the Thunderbolts in the Civil War event. Some time later, he joins Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers by posing as Hawkeye.
#8 Abomination
Played by Tim Roth, the villain of The Incredible Hulk, recently seen in Shang Chi and She-Hulk, appears in the Devil's Reign arc of Daredevil in 2021. Along with Crossbones, Kraven the Hunter, Electro, and US Agent, he hunts down New York's superheroes on behalf of Mayor Wilson Fisk.
#7 Crossbones
This legendary comic book character — too quickly eliminated in Captain America: Civil War — joins two Thunderbolts teams. He is part of Luke Cake's team (2006) alongside, among others, Man-Thing and Ghost. Then, in 2021, he helps Mayor Wilson Fisk hunt down superheroes who have become unwanted in New York.
#6 Luke Cage
The impenetrable-skinned hero, who could soon return to the MCU in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, took command of the Thunderbolts in 2006. The idea was to reform a team to give a second chance to some villains imprisoned in the Raft. With the help of Songbird, he attempts to rehabilitate criminals like the Scourge, Crossbones, and Moonstone.
#5 Punisher
Frack Castle officially returned to the MCU after appearing in Daredevil: Born Again. He, too, is a former Thunderbolt in the comics, when he joined General Ross's, aka Red Hulk, training alongside Elektra, Agent Venom, Ghost Rider, Deadpool, and the Leader. This team of madmen will explode when the Leader manipulates the Punisher into hunting down his teammates.
#4 Red Hulk
Thaddeus Ross isn't called "Thunderbolt" for nothing, even though he never played a role in the original creation of the Thunderbolts in 1997. It wasn't until he became the Red Hulk in the early 2010s that he became interested in the team. He then recruits other heroes who share the color red, such as Agent Venom, Elektra, and Deadpool, to correct some of the mistakes of the past.
#3 Deadpool
The comical, ultra-gory side of Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool would be a perfect addition to the MCU's Thunderbolts. In the comics, Deadpool spends more time on teams like the X-Force and the Mercs for Money. But Wade Wilson also briefly joined the chaotic gang led by Red Hulk.
Baron Zemo is very important in the Thunderbolts comics, simply because he created this team from scratch! It's 1997, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four have disappeared following the mega-event Onslaught. Taking advantage of the vacuum, Baron Zemo and the Masters of Evil take on false names and pretend to be a team of superheroes, the Thunderbolts. In the MCU, Zemo (played by Daniel Brul) had been considered to join the Thunderbolts. He plays the role of main villain in Captain America: Civil War, then teams up with Sam Wilson and Bucky in Falcon & The Winter Soldier, however, remains too different from his comic book counterpart.
#1 Hawkeye
After the Devil's Reign arc, Luke Cage succeeds the Kingpin as mayor of New York City. The Thunderbolts still operate as the city's only legitimate superhero force. However, their image has been severely tarnished due to the very... brutal nature of the former members. Mayor Cage then decides to recruit Hawkeye as leader of the Thunderbolts. This one calls upon several superheroes, including Monica Rambeau and America Chavez, two characters who are also part of the MCU.
And you, which MCU characters would you like to see as Thunderbolt? Leave us your opinion in the comments.
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