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The New Avengers Are Way Weaker Than the Originals—Here’s Why Marvel Waited to Introduce Them

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It now becomes evident why Marvel Studios delayed introducing the New Avengers in the Thunderbolts, as they are a distinctly different superhero team from the original Avengers. By analyzing these new members alongside their predecessors, it’s apparent that Marvel Studios strategically chose to unveil them following Avengers: Endgame – or even Captain America: Civil War – to ensure maximum impact.

The finale of “Thunderbolts” brought about a major change in the post-“Endgame” MCU: Valentina Allegra de Fontaine hosted a press event to reveal the government’s upcoming project – a new version of the Avengers team designed for public interaction. Named “The New Avengers,” the lineup includes Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier), Red Guardian, US Agent (John Walker), Ghost (Ava Starr), and Sentry, who now goes by his real name, Bob Reynolds. This change from the original team is why Marvel took a longer time to introduce them.

The MCU’s Original Avengers Are Clearly More Powerful Than The New Avengers, Bar The Complicated Matter Of Sentry

The Original Avengers Are Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow, Thor, & Hawkeye

Back in 2012, when the first Avengers teamed up, they presented an almost unbeatable combination of might, technology, and combat ability. Thor and the Hulk possess a level of raw strength and resilience that overshadows every member on the New Avengers squad, except perhaps Sentry who stands out as an exceptional exception. Iron Man’s technology was in a league of its own, Captain America combined strategic genius with a superhuman body, and Black Widow and Hawkeye were highly skilled spies and assassins whose expertise balanced the team’s power level with finesse and accuracy.

Instead of comparing that with the New Avengers, let’s consider this: Yelena, Bucky, Red Guardian, and US Agent are combatants who have super-soldier-like abilities to some degree. Ghost possesses the ability to phase, making her a formidable opponent in certain situations, but she’s unpredictable and performs better in stealth than in direct confrontations. Overall, their powers are more human-scaled or urban-focused compared to the original six. They can engage in battles, but they may not be equipped to fight against deities, extraterrestrials, or threats from other dimensions.

Although Sentry seems capable of matching or surpassing characters like Thor and Hulk given his immense power, it’s important to note that this is only possible if he remains stable. However, as the comics Thunderbolts have shown, maintaining stability for Sentry is a significant challenge.

Thunderbolts Makes It Clear The New Avengers Wouldn’t Be Able To Use Sentry’s Powers In Any Normal Fight

Bob Using Powers As Sentry Unleashes The Void

In the movie “Thunderbolts,” Bob Reynolds initially appears as a possible hero, but it’s soon uncovered that he’s more of a ticking time bomb. His sinister counterpart, The Void, causes chaos in the final part of the film, compelling the Thunderbolts to join forces to vanquish him. After a grueling battle, Bob reclaims his body and subdues The Void – at least temporarily, as long as he refrains from using his powers again.

Following the end credits of “Thunderbolts”, there’s a leap in time where we see Bob residing peacefully at the New Avengers Headquarters, no longer assuming the role of Sentry. Although he’s an integral part of the New Avengers squad and joins them in group appearances, it’s strongly suggested that he won’t engage in any combat missions. In fact, the team has been instructed to keep Sentry’s powers in check due to his volatile nature – using him as a weapon could potentially unleash the Void once more, which carries an unacceptable risk.

This effectively knocks Sentry out of the top tiers. In his absence, the New Avengers would struggle significantly against the original Avengers. Despite their abilities, tactics, and training, they lack the raw power or cosmic-level capabilities to contend with such challenges. Consequently, Marvel strategically introduced them at this point in the MCU’s storyline.

Introducing The New Avengers Before Sam Wilson’s Avengers Appear To Be Properly Set Up (& After The Original Team Essentially Ended) Makes Most Sense

The Avengers Broke Up Officially In Captain America: Civil War

In the grand scheme of things within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the arrival of the New Avengers seems quite strategically planned. The original Avengers squad disbanded following the events of Captain America: Civil War, but they temporarily reunited, albeit unofficially, to vanquish Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. At this point, Sam Wilson’s Avengers team hasn’t been fully assembled yet (though it’s hinted at in the Thunderbolts post-credits scene). This transitional phase in the MCU provides an optimal opportunity for a team with less power to shine without being overshadowed by direct comparison.

If the New Avengers had debuted earlier, specifically during the storylines of Civil War or Infinity War, they would have appeared remarkably weaker in comparison to heroes such as Thor, Hulk, Doctor Strange, and Scarlet Witch. Their inclusion might have seemed unnecessary or even amusing given the immense power these characters possessed. However, by delaying their introduction until the original Avengers team disbanded, Marvel enables this imperfect, morally ambiguous, and realistic group to establish their credibility on their own merits.

This setup also leaves room for independent stories as the smaller Avenger groups take care of their missions. When Avengers: Doomsday comes, having multiple unique Avenger teams, such as Sam Wilson’s, will result in a more complex and multifaceted dynamic, rather than just one unified supergroup.

I’m Fascinated To See How Captain America’s Avengers Roster Compares To The New Avengers

Sam Wilsin Began Building His Own Avengers Team In Captain America: Brave New World

It’s widely believed that Sam Wilson’s Avengers squad will primarily include classic heroes who possess genuine superpowers, essentially serving as a reincarnation of the original team. Previously, it was thought that some of the New Avengers would be part of this team, providing both Super Soldier and spy capabilities. However, without these more earthbound heroes, Sam Wilson’s Avengers would consist of significantly more powerful substitutes instead.

Currently, the prospective team members encompass Shang-Chi (accompanied by the Ten Rings), Thor who’s still engaged in cosmic affairs, Black Panther under the leadership of Shuri, and naturally, Sam as the latest Captain America. Characters such as Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, or Monica Rambeau may participate based on the storyline. The only individuals without superpowers will be Sam himself and the new Falcon, Joaquin Torres. This arrangement promises an intriguing tension between Sam’s Avengers and Yelena’s New Avengers.

Sam’s team is likely to embody a blend of idealism, strength, and tradition, resembling the original Avengers in spirit and magnitude. They might even surpass the power level of the initial squad. On the other hand, the New Avengers will be a tactical, utilitarian response force, adept at navigating moral gray areas and managing domestic or clandestine threats. The interactions between these two teams – both philosophically and operationally – could serve as a significant narrative element in upcoming MCU phases following the Thunderbolts.

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2025-05-12 01:37

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