Movies

Final ‘Thunderbolts’ Trailer Gives a First Look at Its Villain

BBG News

In this latest trailer for “Thunderbolts,” referred to as “Thunderbolts*” by punctuation purists, it’s billed as the final one, but it’s actually the first that offers a peek at (and some sound of) the Void. The appearance isn’t very promising; there isn’t a close-up of any character. However, it does convey a sense of his immense power. It’s clear that the Thunderbolts team, made up of former villains with no superpowers for the most part, will be facing significant opposition in this battle, as they seem to be the underdogs.

Indeed, if you’re familiar with Marvel comics, you’d recognize who is portraying the Void character and understand his connection to the team, as well as another potential member of the group that has been speculated about. For those unfamiliar with the comics, I’ll leave the details for your own exploration elsewhere. (Rest assured, I don’t intentionally share spoilers.)

Watch the “final” trailer for Thunderbolts below:

In this movie, I’m fortunate to be sharing screen time with a stellar cast consisting of Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, Wendell Pierce, David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. (Noticing the actors present in the trailer versus those not yet revealed might provide some hints about the film’s mysterious ‘Void’ plotline.)

Here is the film’s official synopsis:

Marvel Studios gather an unusual lineup of anti-heroes for “Thunderbolts”, which includes Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker. When they’re lured into a deadly trap by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, these disenchanted characters are compelled to embark on a perilous journey that will make them confront the deepest shadows of their pasts. Will this fractious team fall apart or discover redemption and become something greater before it’s all over?

Thunderbolts* is set to debut in theaters everywhere on May 2.

What One Man Learned Reading All 27,000 Marvel Comics

1. You Should NOT Try To Read Them All In Order

Wolk’s recommendation for readers delving into Marvel history is to steer clear of following a strict chronological order. He notes that many individuals attempt to create a linear reading list starting from the beginning, but may find themselves overwhelmed by less engaging stories such as early Ant-Man tales or unimpressive Human Torch narratives. Wolk argues that these comics were never intended for sequential consumption and advises focusing on specific stories, characters, and artists that resonate with individual interests rather than treating it like a chore. In essence, he encourages readers to approach Marvel comics as a source of pleasure, fun, and joy instead of a task to be completed in an orderly fashion.

2. Reading Digitally Is A Different Experience Than the Original Comics

In the past, it was difficult to read old Marvel comics without hunting down original issues, many of which were scarce or pricey. Nowadays, readers enjoy a wealth of vintage titles in trade paperback editions or digital platforms like Marvel Unlimited. However, as pointed out by Wolk in “All of the Marvels,” the reading experience of these reprints doesn’t always mimic that of the original issues. Features such as letter columns and Marvel’s monthly “Bullpen Bulletins” page are often omitted. Additionally, the artwork in older issues may appear differently due to recoloring, not necessarily representing the creators’ original vision.

Wolk remarks, “The tactile experience of holding the original, feeling the pulp paper, observing the off-register printing — that’s priceless to the overall experience.” But he acknowledges that if you can’t acquire or afford the back issues, the digital versions are satisfactory. “If you only have the opportunity to read the story on a screen, without the additional components, you’re still receiving the story,” Wolk asserts. “The ability to access the core of it — the narrative itself — outweighs what you sacrifice and not having all the extra details surrounding the presentation.

3. Some Marvel Comics Are Hard to Find — And a Couple Are Lost Forever

The Marvel Unlimited app grants access to numerous comics, but it’s not the complete Marvel collection. Some older comics have been overlooked, even with digital reprints and trade paperbacks. For instance, certain comics produced for America Online during its peak period are barely traceable on the internet today.

In his mission to read every Marvel comic ever published, Wolk found that some of the most elusive issues were promotional comics created for corporations. For example, he mentioned a specific issue of Fantastic Four intended exclusively for Target stores, and an unusual issue of Iron Man promoting a drone manufacturer.

“Iron Man: Remote Possibilities #1 showcases Iron Man advertising drones around the same time when drone technology was being used as a weapon in Iron Man comics,” Wolk explains. “Iron Man stories often explore our feelings towards the military-industrial complex. Here, we have an Iron Man story where he’s using a drone for combat purposes, yet it’s marketed as a toy. That’s intriguing to observe.

4. Romance Comics Had An Enormous Influence on the Marvel Universe

As a devoted fan of comic books, I can’t help but trace back the roots of Marvel Comics’ iconic superheroes. Before the Silver Age superheroes graced our screens, Marvel published romance comics such as “Millie the Model” and “Patsy Walker.” These stories, unfortunately, faded into obscurity by the end of the 1970s and were rarely reprinted since. However, these forgotten tales, according to Wolk, played a crucial role in shaping Marvel Comics’ unique essence.

In Wolk’s words, “Superhero comics assimilated [romance comics], just as they absorbed monster comics, western comics, and war comics. These genres became the building blocks of these stories, contributing to the grand superhero epic.” To illustrate this, consider the transformation of “The Amazing Spider-Man” after John Romita Sr., a former romance comics artist, took over the series’ illustrations. Almost overnight, the nerdy scientist Peter Parker morphed into a hunk.

5. No Comic, No Matter How Silly, Is Completely Worthless

Discussing Marvel comics with Douglas Wolk, particularly the lesser-known titles, is always engaging as he can delve into their significance and justify why they’re worthwhile. For instance, I’ve been intrigued by a brief series named “NFL SuperPro,” which chronicles the life of a former football star turned superhero who fights crime while dressed as a football player. I dared Wolk to find any merit in “NFL SuperPro” and he didn’t disappoint.

In response, Wolk stated, “Even poorly made comics are fascinating as cultural artifacts.” He pointed out that issue #0 of NFL SuperPro includes a satire of the men’s movement of the early ’90s. There’s a scene where someone is leading a group of men, dressed in togas and sitting around a fire, through a ritual celebrating their masculinity. The dialogue reads, “Tonight, we gather to celebrate our maleness to link his brothers in the common bond testosterone.” The guys are thinking, “This is so ridiculous.” You won’t find such a scene about the men’s movement in popular titles like X-Men. Instead, you’ll find it in less famous comics like NFL SuperPro. And that makes it extraordinary.

6. You Can Learn A Lot About Our History By Reading Comics

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at how my journey through the comic book realm left me in awe of their unique ability to encapsulate moments in time. It was like unlocking a secret treasure trove, especially when it came to uncovering historical events and circumstances that shaped these comics.

The comics themselves, whether intentionally or not, mirrored the times they were created in, providing fascinating insights into societal fears, hopes, and reliance on certain things. One aspect that particularly captivated me was the role of science and knowledge as a driving force within the Marvel universe. While our world hasn’t changed as drastically as the Marvel universe, it has certainly evolved significantly over the past 60 years. Science, discovery, and learning have been the engines propelling this change, shaping not just the story but also our culture. It’s fascinating to see how these elements have influenced both the narrative and the broader cultural landscape of the last six decades.

Read More

2025-04-17 21:37

Previous post Selena Gomez’s Racy Item Spotted: Fans Freak Out!
Next post How a $1.25B Ripple Deal Made Hidden Road the New King of Wall Street