Avengers: Doomsday is set to see several teams within the Marvel Cinematic Universe crossing paths, but there is one collection of heroes that is getting overlooked. While Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be the chief antagonist of the epic forthcoming superhero adventure, with so many superhero teams involved this time around, a lot of them will likely come into conflict with each other. Indeed, some of these teams are as exciting as Downey’s MCU return.
It is confirmed that Sam Wilson, a.k.a. Captain America, leads a new Avengers squad, though the roster is not yet confirmed. Following their MCU debut this summer, the Fantastic Four are also making an anticipated return. Of course, many fans are eagerly awaiting the original Fox X-Men returning as well. However, one team that gets overshadowed in all of this deserves much better.
The Thunderbolts / New Avengers are the MCU’s best team
The Thunderbolts weren't a Marvel team that everyone knew about, and their first appearance in the MCU has thus far lived up to that underdog status. The team is populated with some of the best anti-heroes of the cinematic universe, including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and Red Guardian (David Harbour). They were a ragtag group of outsiders with no big names, and that is one of the reasons they have become such a bright spot in the MCU’s future.
Thunderbolts* came along at a time when the MCU needed a win. There were plenty of criticisms about where the franchise was heading, and after the disappointment of Captain America: Brave New World, there were even more concerns about which heroes could step up to carry things forward. Not only was Thunderbolts* the biggest critical hit on the movie side of the MCU in years, it also took a bunch of obscure characters and made them the most interesting members of the franchise.
The Thunderbolts might not be as powerful as Thor or as inspiring as Steve Rogers, but they are characters fans could watch for years. They represent the more relatable characters that have been missing from superhero movies recently. They are all consumed with feelings of guilt, inadequacies, and outright failure. Even the most powerful member, Bob (Lewis Pullman), is a heartbreaking representation of mental health struggles.
If considering which of the Avengers: Doomsday teams would win in a fight, it is a safe bet that the Thunderbolts might come in last place (although with Bob on their side, things might go differently). However, when it comes to strong and exciting characters, they rank ahead of the other rosters heading into this massive showdown. It is not enough to simply show audiences characters they want to see. They need to see themselves grow as characters, like the Thunderbolts do.
There will be a lot of heroes vying for screentime in Avengers: Doomsday. Hopefully, the MCU is wise enough not to turn it into a popularity contest and let these underrated characters shine.
The MCU needs to put the Thunderbolts front and center
Ever since Avengers: Endgame, the MCU has greatly struggled with finding characters to fill the void left behind by the exit of some of its biggest heroes. While the likes of Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel were strong contenders, they simply haven’t been featured enough to really step into that position. Meanwhile, newer heroes haven’t connected as successfully with audiences.
The Thunderbolts represent the best effort yet to fill that void without simply trying to redo what worked before. So many of the members of this team are warped images of the heroes who were lost. Yelena follows in Natasha’s footsteps but perhaps has too much “red in her ledger” to wipe out. US Agent (Wyatt Russell) and Red Guardian represent versions of Captain America unwanted by their respective countries. Bob is as powerful as Thor and Hulk, but is afraid of his power.
Together, the team even fills the void left by the Guardians of the Galaxy. They are the MCU’s new team of underdogs, made up of characters who should never work together but have to. We love seeing the bond they gradually build, and they still have a lot of progress to make. Marvel Studios clearly knows the potential of this team, as they were confident enough to name them the New Avengers, but even that has been used to amplify their underdog status.
The sneaky hidden title reflects the fact that no one expected these misfits to be the next Avengers. This is reinforced with the Thunderbolts* post-credit scene in which it is revealed that most of the world doesn’t even accept them as the true Avengers, choosing Sam Wilson’s team instead. What better way to reform the Avengers in the MCU than by making them a superhero team that nobody wants?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe indeed has plenty of big names to lean into going forward. The Fantastic Four look prepped to play a big role, while the massive X-Men roster will soon come into the fold. However, the Thunderbolts are a shining example of the best of the MCU right now, and the struggling franchise would be mistaken to overlook that fact.
Avengers: Doomsday will be released on December 18, 2026.