The Only Thing ‘Thunderbolts’ Did Way Better Than Every Avengers Movie

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One standout aspect where the film *Thunderbolts* excelled more than any *Avengers* movie was its effective introduction of the team. Unlike the *Avengers* films, which usually required years of setup spread across numerous solo movies, *Thunderbolts* skillfully established its primary characters with both clarity and high emotional impact in a comparatively shorter timeframe. This daring decision gave the film a unique flavor that differentiated it from its precursors when it came to team-up movies.

It was surprising that Thunderbolts didn‘t make much of an impact compared to the Avengers, yet it managed to achieve something no member of Earth’s strongest heroes had ever fully accomplished – creating an authentic sense of camaraderie within the team, making them feel more like a family.

The Marvel Studios’ Avengers series offered epic spectacle and high-stakes universe-shaping events, whereas Thunderbolts focused on a more intimate narrative that carried significant emotional weight. By doing so, it crafted one of the most relatable conclusions to a superhero movie within the MCU.

*Please note that Thunderbolts is not an actual Marvel film but a hypothetical one for this example.

At the climax of this family connection, it’s clear where the strength lies as Bob (Lewis Pullman) is saved from the edge of his mental collapse not through aggression or compulsion, but by a shared embrace. This poignant scene, stark in its emotional sincerity, vanquishes the film’s main antagonist not with divine intervention or elaborate CGI combat, but with love and understanding.

The scene is strikingly honest and sensitive, emphasizing the core themes of Thunderbolts: the bond forged by a makeshift family, the journey towards healing, and the struggle of those with immense power who find themselves enveloped in darkness due to a lack of connection and meaning in their lives.

*Assuming Thunderbolts is the name of a comic book series or similar media.

In contrast to the Avengers movies, a sense of emotional finality or resolution was not fully attained. Despite growing camaraderie among the original Avengers group, there was often tension, notably between Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), which remained unresolved.

In the 2012 film “The Avengers,” the relationship between Steve and Tony was marked by immediate tension, often manifesting as disagreements over leadership, Tony accessing S.H.I.E.L.D.’s database without permission, or Steve expressing his criticism of Tony’s ego. At one point, Steve made a sharp remark to Tony, saying, “I know people with less arrogance who are worth ten times you. I’ve seen the footage. The only thing you really seem to fight for is yourself.” Their relationship in the movie was more about dealing with conflict rather than promoting harmony.

In their most robust phases, the team sometimes appeared more like acquaintances putting up with one another, as opposed to a sincere network genuinely empathizing with each other’s worries and emotional conditions.

During their peak periods, the team might have seemed more like a group of Super Friends tolerating each other, rather than an authentic support system that actively connected with one another’s fears and mental states.

In “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the team dynamics had become more refined yet were still strained, with underlying tensions. Tony Stark, fearful of cosmic dangers like Thanos, collaborated with Bruce Banner (portrayed by Mark Ruffalo) to develop Ultron in 2015, a project that would prove disastrous due to its lack of the team’s complete approval and resulted in an updated version emerging in 2026.

Steve made efforts to keep them united, emphasizing that they would either triumph or fail as a team, but those divisions only grew wider. The events stemming from Ultron ultimately resulted in Captain America: Civil War, a conflict that ultimately split the team apart.

In essence, Tony advocated for regulatory control through the Sokovia Accords, while Steve objected, preferring self-governance for their team. This philosophical difference reached its peak in a fierce clash, following Tony’s discovery that Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) was responsible for his parents’ death – a fact which Steve had concealed from him. Bucky’s past struggles with trauma were hinted at in Thunderbolts, making him an ideal candidate to lead the freshly formed team.

The deep-seated emotions from their past lingered throughout “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” In fact, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers barely interacted during “Infinity War,” as the Avengers were still divided into separate teams.

In the movie “Endgame,” their reunion was initially cold. When Tony came back to Earth, he harshly criticized Steve for not being present when things fell apart. However, they eventually made up for a higher cause and provided the basis for the story of “Eternals.” Yet, the affection or reciprocal emotional bond between them never quite developed to the level seen among the members of the fictional team known as the Thunderbolts.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, emotional support often plays a crucial role, and one poignant illustration is the character of Wanda Maximoff, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen. Following the loss of Vision in Infinity War, her despair deepened when Thanos extracted the Mind Stone from his head, leaving her heartbroken.

Although she played a crucial role in vanquishing Thanos in “Endgame”, her deep-seated sorrow remained untouched. Lacking a solid support network – devoid of a team or close companions to confide in – she plunged into depression following the harrowing events, eventually establishing the Westview hex as seen in “WandaVision”. With no genuine emotional bonds around her, she surrendered to darker impulses, metamorphosing into the Scarlet Witch, ultimately assuming the antagonist role in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”.

It’s plausible to think that if Wanda had encountered the family Bob was part of in the movie “Thunderbolts“, who were open to welcoming and nurturing her rather than engaging in conflict with her, her journey might have culminated in healing instead of destruction.

The reason Thunderbolts stands out is because the team in this movie didn’t come together through mere necessity or strategic planning, but rather due to shared hardships and gradual trust-building. As hinted at during the closing credits, they’ve been working together for 14 months as “The New Avengers.” During this time, they’ve evolved beyond just a task force; they have become a chosen family.

As “Avengers: Doomsday” is set to release in December 2026, the heartfelt themes developed in “Thunderbolts*” could potentially continue, ushering in a fresh chapter of Marvel storytelling where power isn’t the only source of strength, but also love plays a crucial role.

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2025-08-22 12:05