10 Essential Thunderbolts Comics for New Fans

Posted on April 28, 2025

by Eric S

The 36th film to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or, the last movie in Phase Five, if that’s how you keep track of these things), Thunderbolts* looks to rely on the tried and true superhero formula of assembling a ragtag group of misfit antiheroes and/or villains looking for redemption (see: Guardians of the Galaxy, Runaways, Doom Patrol, Red Hood and the Outlaws, X-Force, Suicide Squad, Secret Six, The Defenders, B.P.R.D., Copra, Bloodstrike, Midnight Sons, and probably hundreds more). I mean, there’s a reason we keep seeing this pattern: it works.

Much like Suicide Squad (from which the Thunderbolts* film appears to be drawing a lot of influence), the Thunderbolts have had an ever-evolving lineup of weirdos from all corners of the Marvel comic book universe, although the first iteration, written by Kurt Busiek, is perhaps the most beloved among comic fans (the end of issue #1 still has one of the greatest surprises in superhero history—don’t worry, I won’t spoil it). The cinematic debut follows suit by giving us an eclectic team consisting of B and C-list characters, including U.S. Agent, the Red Guardian, Yelena Belova, and of course, Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier. With many of the heavy hitters of the MCU sidelined for now (like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Chris Hemsworth), will Thunderbolts* connect with audiences and continue the momentum of Captain America: Brave New World to pull the Marvel Universe out of its current cinematic slump? In anticipation of the film’s release, we’ve selected some of the best Thunderbolts comics to catch you up on one of Marvel’s weirdest, most interesting teams.

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