As of this post, Thunderbolts*, also known as New Avengers, is a financial flop. Don’t shoot the messenger, it’s the truth. The film has barely made $380 million globally. Even though most critics and fans seem to love it, people are not going to see it. While it’s debatable that superhero fatigue is real, what is real is that comic book film fans are done with mediocre films. While it is a shame, the best Thunderbolts stories are found in the comic books.
The Thunderbolts are antiheroes, villains, and assassins who work for the common good instead of themselves. It is not a new concept, but it was done very well in the comic books. Here are eight Thunderbolts stories you should read now.
1. The 1997 Thunderbolts Era
In 1996, the Avengers were thought dead after the “Onslaught” event. Since there was a superhero team void that needed filling, the Thunderbolts emerged. However, on the last page of issue #1, it was shown that each member was a supervillain posing as new superheroes. Their leader was Baron Zemo in disguise.
It may not sound like a big deal now, but in 1997, this was a big deal. Comic books don’t pull off big reveals like that anymore. This comic is the blueprint for Thunderbolt stories.
Thunderbolts Classic Vol. 1 is a 265-page paperback. It collects the first five issues of the landmark 1997 Thunderbolt series and several tie-in issues. Buy it now from Amazon for $34.99.
2. Wanted Dead or Alive
The Thunderbolts’ true identities are now publicly known. No one trusts the villains in disguise anymore and a new era of Thunderbolt stories is born. After the team escapes a death trap in space, they return to Earth. However, S.H.I.E.L.D. is now hunting them. The Thunderbolts get a chance at redemption, but the offer comes with a high price.
Thunderbolts Epic Collection: Wanted Dead Or Alive is a 428-page paperback. It collects issues #13 through #25 of the original series. Buy it now for $28.33 at Amazon.
3. Targeted for Death
After the public deception is revealed, the Thunderbolts must reform. Baron Zemo is out as leader, and they must find a new leader whom the public trusts. Additionally, one of the Thunderbolts must go to prison to repent for their past evils. Also, every villain they fought before now wants revenge.
Thunderbolts Epic Collection: Targeted For Death is a 464-page paperback. It collects the Thunderbolt stories from issues #26 through #41 as well as several tie-in issues. Get it now at Amazon for $38.37.
4. Thunderbolts Omnibus Vol. 3
The 1997 Thunderbolts team has been split into two factions. The original team, led by Baron Zemo, finds itself stuck on an Earth in a parallel universe. They must decide if it is worth it to return to Earth, where no one trusts them, or stay and become the heroes of a new world. Meanwhile, on Earth, Hawkeye and Songbird, one of the original Thunderbolts, consider making an all-new Thunderbolts team.
Thunderbolts Omnibus Vol. 3 is a 1,216-page paperback. It collects issues #64 through #75, #100 through #109, and several tie-in issues. Buy it now at Amazon for $98.
5. Thunderbolts: Uncaged Omnibus
This omnibus continues the new tradition of Thunderbolts stories that are really Marvel versions of DC Comics’ Suicide Squad. Instead of the 1997 deceptions of villains pretending to be heroes, villains now volunteer to become Thunderbolts. Luke Cage oversees a program in a prison and offers Juggernaut, Crossbones, Ghost, and others a chance at redemption as Thunderbolts.
This 1,192-page omnibus collects the 2023 series and dozens of other tie-in issues. Buy it now for $69 at Amazon.
6. Thunderbolts Red Omnibus Hardcover
These Thunderbolts stories from 2012 had become more acceptable of publicly known villains working for the public good relative to 1997. Thunderbolts Red is a team of antiheroes, villains, and killers with a government mandate to terminate threats. Red Hulk leads a team featuring Deadpool, the Punisher, Elektra, and Agent Venom.
Thunderbolts Red Omnibus is a 744-page hardcover that collects all 32 issues of the series. Buy it now at Amazon for $74.75.
7. Dark Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection: Osborn’s Reign
The Thunderbolts comic book series almost reached 200 issues before it got a name change. Now known as Dark Avengers, it was an era of 2009 Thunderbolts stories that kind of went back to basics with a new team. A group of deceptive villains pose as heroes; Norman Osborn, now the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., forms his own team of Dark Avengers who replace the Thunderbolts.
Buy this 552-page paperback for $49.99 at Amazon now.
8. Thunderbolts: Worldstrike
Bucky, formerly known as the Winter Soldier, is now known as, “The Revolution, in Marvel Comics. He has taken information on global conspiracies from an evil organization and now wants to stop them wherever he can. Bucky recruits Black Widow, White Widow, U.S. Agent, Shang-Chi, and others for this endeavor as the most current Thunderbolts team.
Thunderbolts: Worldstrike is a 136-page paperback that collects all four issues of the 2023 series. Buy it for $14 at Amazon now.
Thunderbolts Stories
While most MCU fans only found out about the MCU Thunderbolts recently, Marvel has been publishing Thunderbolt stories since 1997. Sometimes they are villains pretending to be heroes, and sometimes they are bad guys for hire, saving the world for their own reasons.
It is disappointing that the MCU film is struggling financially and is a flop. Still, there are decades of Thunderbolts stories that you can read right now, so take solace in that fact.
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