The MCU’s ‘Thunderbolts*’ Didn’t Give Us the Real Thunderbolts

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for Marvel's Thunderbolts*.Marvel's Thunderbolts* showcases a group of unconventional anti-heroes banding together to save the world. But what about the film's Marvel comic book counterpart? Based on the comic of the same name, the film offers a twist with the asterisk in the title. While the new live-action MCU installment showcases a group of anti-heroes, assassins, and ex-villains becoming a team of unlikely heroes, similar to Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, the original Marvel comic book series begins with a much different take on the story. The original Thunderbolts are not unlikely heroes at all. They are a group of career supervillains, disguised as superheroes, as part of a more elaborate plot! It's time to unpack the original comic book version of the Thunderbolts!