Without spoiling the film, Thunderbolts* was the deepest movie Marvel Studios has produced in years. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a close second, but only because that focused mostly on Rocket's past. This movie, however, touched on all of the Thunderbolts’ problems in their past and personal lives. It was something that many of us weren't expecting, especially considering the trailers made it look more silly than serious.
Each of the characters in the Thunderbolts* (now titled New Avengers) has been in the Marvel Comics for decades. Some of them mirror what you see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while others are vastly different. This article will explain them. Hopefully, it’ll make you curious enough to learn about them in the comics.
Yelena Belova
Played by: Florence Pugh
First Marvel Comics appearance: Inhumans No. 5
Yelena Belova pops in and out of Marvel Comics. She was a member of the Red Room, Hydra, and a team called Vanguard (Blade, Dominic Fortune, Micromax, and Retcon). She even made up with Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) with whom she had a bitter rivalry.
Honestly, her Marvel Cinematic Universe personality is more interesting than the one in Marvel Comics. It wouldn't be shocking if the comic book version becomes more similar to her MCU counterpart as the years go on (if it hasn't happened already). However, if you want a good representation of her, read Kelly Thompson’s Black Widow.
John Walker / US Agent
Played by: Wyatt Russell
First Marvel Comics appearance: Captain America No. 323
John Walker is a befuddling character in Marvel Comics. Sometimes he’s someone who looks like a hero. Other times, you see the impostor syndrome in John and want to root for him to win. Then there are moments when he’s awful and you want him to lose. In short, the creative team in both The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Thunderbolts*/New Avengers have done a great job adapting him to their projects.
Walker is a complex individual who experiences some character growth along the way too, and the MCU showcases that really well.
Sentry
Played by: Lewis Pullman
First Marvel Comics appearance: The Sentry No. 1
Sentry is also a complex character. He is looked at as the strongest being on Earth, but his mental state is weak thanks to various factors. That’s why you’ll see him rip gods in half one minute and fly away into space the next. Considering how powerful he is, his struggles makes sense. Otherwise, he’d be unstoppable.
As seen in Thunderbolts*, they also capture the depth of character behind the super powers.
Mel
Played by: Geraldine Viswanathan
First Marvel Comics appearance: Marvel Two-in-One No. 54 as Screaming Mimi and The Incredible Hulk No. 449 as Songbird
If Thunderbolts* Mel is Marvel Comics' Melissa Gold, then you’re looking at a founding member of the Thunderbolts in the source material. More than being one of the first members of that team, Songbird is an example of how the Thunderbolts program works by turning villains into heroes (Melissa was once a villain called Screaming Mimi).
Well, in some cases. A lot of their team members remain evil jerks.
Taskmaster
Played by: Olga Kurylenko
First Marvel Comics appearance: The Avengers No. 195
It’s understandable that people hated what Marvel Studios did to Taskmaster in Black Widow. The Marvel Studios representation lacked all of the flair and entertainment that Tony Masters has in the comics. She was as skilled as the source material's Taskmaster, but you never see it on-screen.
"Tasky" (as Deadpool loves to call him) is a guy Captain America, Spider-Man, and others hate fighting because of how good he is.
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine
Played by: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
First Marvel Comics appearance: Strange Tales No. 159
Just like we see in the MCU, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine isn’t someone who can be trusted in the pages of Marvel Comics. She’s been a terrorist, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, and a triple agent working for Leviathan. A big difference between the portrayals is that the Marvel Comics version is also a fighter and more skilled at planning attacks. Despite sending Yelena and the others on covert missions, the MCU character is more of a politician than a spy.
Red Guardian
Played by: David Harbour
First Marvel Comics appearance: Avengers No. 43
Red Guardian isn't as well known as his Thunderbolts* counterparts. He is, however, the Russian version of Captain America, has failed more times than he’s won, and sometimes works with/leads a team called the Winter Guard. Another notable thing is that the comic book version is quite different to his MCU portrayal, with the source material's version being serious, while the MCU Red Guardian is goofy.
Ghost
Played by: Hannah John-Kamen
First Marvel Comics appearance: Iron Man No. 219
The Ghost that we meet in the comics is nothing like his MCU portrayal. The Marvel Studios’ character - Ava Starr - is likeable, has a sympathetic backstory, and intentionally makes jokes. In Marvel Comics, however, he’s untrustworthy, unintentionally funny, and (apparently) smells terrible because he doesn’t clean his suit. You learn the latter as one of Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts during Dark Reign.
Bucky Barnes / The Winter Soldier
Played by: Sebastian Stan
First Marvel Comics appearance: Captain America No. 1 as Cap's sidekick and Captain America No. 6 as Winter Soldier (full appearance)
James Buchanan Barnes went from being Captain America’s first sidekick during World War II to a mind-controlled assassin for hire. After regaining control of his mind, Bucky fought Hydra, became Captain America after Steve Rogers died, an Avenger, and a Thunderbolt.
It’s doubtful Bucky's evolution will stop. Marvel Comics seems to understand that it can do a lot, and it shows. Maybe being an Avenger again is in his future with the Thunderbolts* name change in the MCU.
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