THUNDERBOLTS* Is Marvel at Its Most Contemplative (Review)

The Nerdist article reviews the original Thunderbolts comic book series, particularly the highly-regarded run by writer Kurt Busiek and artist Mark Bagley that launched in 1997. The review strongly positions this run as "required reading" for fans anticipating the upcoming MCU film.

The core praise is directed at the comic's brilliant premise: introduced after the supposed deaths of the Avengers and Fantastic Four, the Thunderbolts appeared as inspiring new heroes, only for a stunning twist in the first issue to reveal they were secretly the Masters of Evil in disguise, led by Baron Zemo.

The article highlights the series' exploration of redemption, as many members (like Songbird, Mach-I/Beetle, Atlas) genuinely wrestled with leaving villainy behind and becoming true heroes, creating compelling character arcs and moral ambiguity. It contrasts this with Zemo's purely manipulative intentions.

While acknowledging that the MCU movie's lineup is different (featuring characters like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, U.S. Agent, etc., likely working under Val), the review suggests the foundational themes and spirit of the Busiek/Bagley run – the struggle with identity, the potential for change in flawed characters, the complex team dynamics, and the gray areas of heroism – are crucial to the Thunderbolts concept and could heavily influence the film's direction.

In essence, Nerdist celebrates the original comic as a Marvel classic, valuable not just for its quality and iconic twist, but for understanding the potential depth and core ideas the Thunderbolts name represents, even if the MCU adapts the specifics differently.

Visit https://nerdist.com/article/thunderbolts-review-marvel-cinematic-universe/ to read or listen to the article.

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