“Thunderbolts*,” a Marvel Cinematic Universe film directed by Jake Schreier, was released on May 2. The thought-provoking action film tells the story of a new hero battling mental health, a uniquely vulnerable theme not explored in previous Marvel movies, and brings together antiheroes in the Marvel universe.
“Thunderbolts*” stars Yelena Boleva (Florence Pugh), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov (David Harbour) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell), heroes who have already been featured in the Marvel Universe as side characters and brings them together as a group that call themselves ‘The Thunderbolts’. In previous films, all of these characters served minor roles, but in “Thunderbolts*,” they were the leading figures of the movie.
Amidst all of the returning faces, a new character, Bob (Lewis Pullman), is introduced. Beginning as a normal citizen, he inherits superpowers of flight, memory projection, and more after a series of medical trials and undertakes the superhero name “Sentry.” However, due to Bob’s unpredictable anxiety, post-traumatic stress and bipolar disorder, the Thunderbolts, who at the film’s start encountered Bob when trapped in a warehouse, must defeat a physical void that has taken over Bob’s mind and powers.
Through Bob’s new character, the film shows that despite experiencing bouts of loneliness and depression, individuals can overcome such moments of darkness through the emotional support of others. Mainstream studios like Marvel showing mental health in movies helps people experiencing mental illnesses feel more accepted, and a film centered around mental health made by a dominant movie studio has been long-desired and was executed compassionately by Marvel.
Furthermore, the sound effects of the movie were intense and rapid. Especially when consumed by the void, Bob would disappear people into shadows and trap them in their own worst memories, making a dark whooshing sound and a spectral effect. The intense sound effects were a memorable and entertaining part of the “Thunderbolts*,” succeeding in frightening viewers in theaters and dramatically showing the effects of Bob’s distinctive powers, which were unlike any character’s style in Marvel films made before.
Overall, “Thunderbolts*” delivers a powerful story about battling mental health struggles and finding a new family through an unlikely group of people, and the movie’s introduction to fresh personalities while simultaneously bringing back beloved characters was a refreshing combination that was enjoyed by the majority of viewers, according to NPR. In a surprising twist, the Thunderbolts are revealed to be The New Avengers, explaining the meaning behind the asterisk in the movie title which was put to show how the Thunderbolts was just a temporary team name, and Marvel Studios confirmed that The New Avengers will return in “Avengers: Doomsday” which is set to be released on May 1, 2026.
