Since Thunderbolts is currently showing in theaters, we decided, as is tradition, to focus on the best Easter eggs from the new Marvel film. Here are the 19 best references that we found in Thunderbolts. WARNING SPOILERS!
19) L'O.X.E.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, introduced in the MCU during Falcon and the Winter Soldier, is back in Thunderbolts. The character, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, first appeared in 1967 alongside Nick Fury. Later, we learn in the comics that Valentina is the leader of an organization called O.X.E. This secret organization made its first appearance in 2011 in the comics, but remains rather vague. This group, administered by Valentina, has long worked with The Outer Circle, another influential group that is said to have secretly ruled humanity for nearly a century. The goal was to manipulate governments and societies to prevent international conflicts. In Thunderbolts, the O.X.E. is not very well defined either, but is the origin of the creation of Sentry.
18) The Marvel opening credits
The famous MCU opening credits are a little different in Thunderbolts since they focus on Sentry and Void.
17) Red Hulk
Thaddeus Ross is absent from Thunderbolts. This does not, however, prevent Valentina Allegra from Fontaine refers to Captain America: Brave New World by recalling that the President of the USA transformed into the Red Hulk.
16) Bucky has become a politician
Introduced in Brave New World, Bucky Barnes' new career is developing as we learn in Thunderbolts that Bucky has become a Congressman, representing Brooklyn, where he grew up with Steve Rogers.
15) Mel
Played by Geraldine Viswanathan, Valentina's assistant is still an enigma. Not much is known about this character who helps Bucky. But some fans speculate about her true identity. And some theories suggest that it could actually be Melissa Gold AKA Songbird, one of the original Thunderbolts in the comics. A hypothesis reinforced by Mel's bird-shaped necklace.
14) Loki's scepter
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is hosting a grand reception at a political gala. A sequence that refers to the first Avengers since we can find Chitauri objects and even Loki's scepter.
13) The name of the team
In the comics, the name Thunderbolts comes from Baron Zemo, the creator of this team. Zemo found this title in reference to a poem by Thomas Randolph. In the film, Thunderbolts refers to Yelena's football team when she was a child. Red Guardian shares this story.
12) 1000 Suns?
In the comics, Sentry possesses the power of a million exploding suns. We don't really know what that means, but Sentry is clearly one of the most powerful characters in the entire Marvel Universe. In the film, his power was reduced to 1000 exploding suns. Why? No idea.
11) The old Avengers Tower
The former tower of Tony Stark, which served as HQ for the Avengers, has become the property of the O.X.E, and the administrative base of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The latter confirms that Avengers Tower has been renamed The Watchtower, a name that directly references Sentry Tower.
10) Sentry the New God
As Valentina tries to control Bob Reynolds, the latter finally realizes his power. He realizes he is more powerful than the gods themselves, and even makes reference to Thor, a member of the Avengers.
9) Ghost
In Thunderbolts, we learn that Ghost was a rejected agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.. A direct reference to the comics since Ghost actually worked for Nick Fury.
8) On your left
When the Thunderbolts try to escape from the O.X.E., Yelena tries to hack into a control panel. John Walker, aka U.S. Agent, decides to blow up the panel in question with his shield. He takes the opportunity to deliver the classic line "On your left," which is obviously a reference to Steve Rogers.
7) Bucky's grenade rifle
Bucky Barnes reuses a grenade rifle. A famous weapon that he had already used in Captain America: The Winter Soldier to attack Nick Fury's vehicle.
6) Alexei and Bucky
Red Guardian can't help but point out the similarities that bring him and Bucky together. This is a fun nod to season 3 of What If…?, in which the two characters share an episode.
5) Bucky's Signature Move
While facing Sentry in a completely unbalanced fight, Bucky uses his signature move, when he switches his knife from one hand to the other. A gesture he has already produced in The Winter Soldier and in Falcon and the Winter Soldier.
4) Red Room
The Red Room, the terrible training program of the Black Widows, especially developed in the film Black Widow, is regularly cited and staged in Thunderbolts.
3) The attack on New York
When Void takes control of Robert Reynolds, he attacks New York, sending poor, innocent victims into a Shadow Realm. Unlike the comics, in which Sentry commits a veritable genocide in New York, in Thunderbolts, his victims don't actually die...
2) New Avengers
Against all odds, at the end of the film, the Thunderbolts become the new Avengers. Since the Avengers are no longer in place, Valentina decides to make the Thunderbolts the New Avengers. A name that obviously refers to the comics. And a totally unexpected team choice.
1) The post-credits scene
Obviously, the second post-credits scene is full of references and information for the rest of the MCU:
- Bucky Barnes refers to Sam Wilson. The latter was supposed to become the leader of the Avengers under Thaddeus Ross. In the end, Valentina made the Thunderbolts the New Avengers. A change of plan that visibly angers Sam Wilson.
- Sentry is still present, and seems, as in the comics, to keep his distance from the rest of the world.
- But the biggest piece of information obviously concerns The Fantastic Four. Yelena specifies that something is happening in space, something dangerous, that no one seems to be able to control. Then, an unidentified device appears in the Earth's atmosphere. It is a Fantastic Four ship. The team's famous logo is clearly visible on the bodywork. The question remains, however, where this ship comes from and who is actually on board the vehicle. In any case, this post-credits scene obviously sets the stage for Doomsday and Secret Wars.
0 Comments