
Overview of the Thunderbolts’ Upcoming Challenge
- The Thunderbolts brace for a daunting confrontation with the formidable Sentry, whose dark persona, the Void, poses a significant threat.
- The Avengers may opt out of intervention due to the Sokovia Accords, a commitment to accountability, or other pressing obligations.
- It’s plausible that the Avengers are off-planet, leaving the Thunderbolts to confront the anticipated peril without backup.
The latest Thunderbolts* trailer paints an alarming picture for the titular team. It confirms the uneasy reality that this band of antiheroes, including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), U. S.Agent (Wyatt Russell), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), are set to battle Lewis Pullman’s Sentry. They are in dire need of assistance from the Avengers, yet the footage reveals that their help will not be forthcoming.
In Marvel’s comic lore, Sentry possesses immense powers, including superhuman strength, flight, healing abilities, energy manipulation, and molecular alteration. However, these abilities come with a perilous catch—the presence of the Void, a potent and malevolent entity that resides within him.
Approximately 18 seconds into the trailer, a massive shadow engulfs New York City, likely signaling the Void’s emergence—an unparalleled menace that could surpass the numerous previous threats to the city in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).As Julia Louis-Dreyfus’s character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, points out, “Let’s face facts. The Avengers are not coming.”This leaves the Thunderbolts in a precarious position, having to face this formidable threat alone, despite being predominantly composed of street-level heroes who are likely outmatched in this scenario. But what could explain the Avengers’ absence when an “Avengers-level threat” looms large?
Implications of the Sokovia Accords

The Sokovia Accords have faded into the background of the MCU narrative, yet their influence is still significant. First introduced in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, these accords mandate that superhuman activities must be regulated by the United Nations. The current status of these regulations remains ambiguous—it’s uncertain whether they are still in effect. If they are active, this could explain the Avengers’ reluctance to engage in the escalating conflict within Thunderbolts*. The U. N.might perceive a clash with Sentry or the Void as likely to culminate in substantial collateral damage, reminiscent of past battles.
The Avengers’ Position on Accountability

If the MCU’s version of Sentry derives his powers from a serum—as is the case in the comics—the Avengers might argue that the responsible organization should tackle the ensuing crisis. Whether the claims about the serum’s oversight are accurate or if the organization intended the Void’s emergence—which might indicate a lack of intent to mitigate the situation—remains to be seen and provides a potential rationale for the Avengers to abstain from involvement.
The Avengers’ Concerns About Danger

It’s feasible the Avengers perceive the Void as an entity too perilous to confront, opting to sidestep engagement as a defensive tactic. Admittedly, this perspective might seem unheroic, yet there could be valid justifications. For instance, they may have suggested a New York City evacuation that went unheeded or prefer to await the return of key allies like Thor or Captain Marvel after their cosmic quests. If the Avengers deem the threat too formidable, and the Thunderbolts succeed, it would elevate the antiheroes’ status within the MCU considerably.
The Avengers’ Preoccupation with Other Threats

It’s also possible that the Avengers are engaged with other catastrophic threats elsewhere, providing a legitimate excuse for their absence in New York. The MCU has a plethora of villains, and the team has a history of operating in various regions, including Europe and Africa. As such, it is quite plausible that they are grappling with another monumental challenge across the globe during the Thunderbolts* events.
The Avengers’ Off-World Missions

Similar to their potential involvement with global threats, it’s conceivable that some Avengers may be traversing space. Given their previous experiences in intergalactic missions—from 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War to 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, along with Captain Marvel’s established cosmic presence—they might be addressing a galactic crisis or establishing bases on extraterrestrial worlds. Options for their non-response to the conflict with Sentry and the Void diminish significantly if they are light-years away during the event.
Marvel enthusiasts eagerly await more clarity regarding the Avengers’ fate when Thunderbolts* premieres in theaters on May 2, 2025.
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