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Thunderbolts ending explained: We finally know what that asterisk means

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Thunderbolts ending spoilers follow.

Initially, it may have seemed like Thunderbolts didn’t play a significant role in the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this assumption has been thoroughly debunked over time.

This upcoming adventure signifies the conclusion of Phase 5 in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, and moreover, introduces an entirely fresh superhero squad. By the finale, this newly christened team will undoubtedly assume a significant role.

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If you have an idea about the significance of the asterisk in the title “Thunderbolts“, you’re likely correct. However, if there are still some queries lingering after viewing the movie, we’re ready to delve into it thoroughly and clarify aspects such as the reason behind the name change, among other intriguing details.

Major spoilers await if you haven’t seen Thunderbolts* yet.

Who dies in Thunderbolts?

In the comic book series “Thunderbolts“, there is a significant character death that was widely anticipated due to promotional hints.

In the trailers, Taskmaster seems to be noticeably missing, yet she’s linked to Yelena. This is likely due to the fact that she meets an untimely end at the hands of Ghost in the film.

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine covertly gathers Ghost, Taskmaster, Yelena, and US Agent at an unidentified OXE facility. Each individual has been assigned a specific target. The ultimate objective is to have them all eliminate each other, thereby resolving various outstanding issues for Valentina.

In this scenario, it’s Ghost who accomplishes their objective by fatally shooting Taskmaster. To be clear, Taskmaster’s demise doesn’t seem to affect anyone significantly, but Yelena makes an effort to prevent others from taking Taskmaster’s weapons as loot.

In the story of Thunderbolts, no character meets their end. Even Val manages to survive and continue deceiving. As for those targeted by the Void, they reappear unchanged after the Void is supposedly vanquished by Bob.

It’s like the Snap and the Blip, but with shadows.

Thunderbolts ending explained: What does the asterisk mean?

It seems likely that Val takes delight in the fact that the Thunderbolts managed to evade her deadly trap previously, as this incident ultimately revealed Bob. He delved into Val’s Sentry Project, an endeavor dedicated to forging a new superhero, and he was the lone survivor of the project.

After Val transforms Bob into Sentry, she plans to exhibit his abilities by publicly defeating the Thunderbolts with Sentry. However, the newly minted superhero soon comes to understand that, as one with divine powers, he should not be obeying commands from a human.

Regrettably for Sentry, Val set up a mechanism that, at the precise moment he (Sentry) intended to eliminate Val, was triggered by Mel. Contrary to what one might expect, this device didn’t terminate Sentry; instead, it transformed him into The Void – a tangible embodiment of his deepest, darkest thoughts.

In a new turn of events, The Void employs his freshly acquired abilities, casting New York into darkness and trapping each citizen in a tormenting time loop that repeats their most distressing recollections.

Yelena voluntarily ventures into the abyss where she encounters Bob struggling with his deepest recollections. At first glance, it appears that Bob defeating the Abyss would resolve the situation, but Yelena discerns that this is exactly what the Abyss desires instead.

As I stood alongside my fellow Thunderbolts, who had chosen to join me in this void, I turned to Bob and said, “I want you to know, you’re not battling this emptiness on your own. We’re here with you.

In New York, things are functioning smoothly again, as if nothing unusual had occurred. Everyone who was affected seems to be unharmed and accounted for. Interestingly, Bob can’t recall any details about the incident, just as he couldn’t when he momentarily transformed into a void during the Sentry Project trials.

The Thunderbolts aim to ensure that Val faces the consequences of her actions, yet as they believe they have trapped Val, they unexpectedly find themselves at her public press conference instead.

Val claims responsibility for the group who bravely rescued New York, and coins their fresh title – The New Avengers, a name she says she’s long been developing.

In the surprising climax of the film, as the team is applauded as the city’s newest heroes on stage, Yelena subtly lets Val know they won’t forget her actions: “You belong to us now.

When the credit “Thunderbolts*” appears at the end, it signifies that the asterisk was a hint at their new identity, as the emblem transforms to represent “The New Avengers”.

Initially, it was assumed that the asterisk represented a specific meaning, but many believed that given their status as antiheroes, a more fitting title for them would have been “Dark Avengers” instead of “The New Avengers.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but ponder about what could lie ahead for Val, considering the initial scenes during the credits depict the global response to their groundbreaking press conference.

As a dedicated Marvel enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the buzz around titles like “These Aren’t My Avengers” and “The B-Avengers”. It seems the fandom isn’t quite ready to embrace this new team as the successors of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes just yet.

The story carries over into the post-credits segment (a detail I’ll expand on later), where it’s disclosed that Sam Wilson has submitted a copyright claim for the title “Avengers,” possibly intending to assemble his own team under that name.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but wonder if our beloved New Avengers are heading towards a more ominous chapter. Only time will tell, my friends. Since we haven’t seen this specific team composition in the comics yet, we’ll have to keep our eyes peeled for any hints that might drop along the way.

Thunderbolts post-credit scene explained

Following a delightful mid-credits sequence showing Red Guardian’s joy over Thunderbolts appearing on a Wheaties box, the real action unfolds in the post-credits scene of the movie known as Thunderbolts, or The New Avengers. That’s where the interesting details are found.

14 months after the end credits, we find the team settled into their fresh headquarters. Earlier discussed, Sam is working on a copyright claim for their team name, while Red Guardian proposes a change to a more modern-sounding moniker, “New AvengerZ.

Yelena believes it’s crucial for them to pay attention to the “secretive space situation” that’s currently unfolding, and they may get additional details soon since an unknown spacecraft has entered Earth’s orbit.

After examining the satellite image, an enigmatic vessel appears, and upon its rotation, the emblem of the Fantastic Four becomes visible, accompanied by a burst of music from Michael Giacchino’s composition.

Although it’s unclear who specifically is aboard the vehicle, we anticipate that we won’t have to wait much longer since “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” seems likely to culminate in a pivotal moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

For more on Thunderbolts, check out:

• Thunderbolts movie review

• Explanation of Thunderbolts’ credit scenes

• What is the running time of Thunderbolts?

• When does Thunderbolts become available on Disney+?

Thunderbolts* is out now in cinemas.

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2025-05-02 14:21

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