What to Watch Before Thunderbolts*

 

With Marvel Studios latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thunderbolts* mere days away, I thought it would be fun to take another quick break from my usual content and make a guide for anyone wanting to catch up or refresh before it hits theatres. Here’s What to Watch Before Thunderbolts.

 

First things first, in 2011 Captain America: The First Avenger introduced the world at large to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Captain America, but more relevantly brought us Sebastian Stan in the role of James ‘Bucky’ Barnes. Best friend to Steve Rogers aka Captain America, Bucky would seemingly perish on a mission against Hydra during World War II.

 

Thankfully for the many, many Sebastian Stan fans, three years later in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), in modern times the defrosted Captain America would face off against the eponymous Winter Soldier in his mission to take down the secretly surviving Hydra among S.H.I.E.L.D. Who is the Winter Soldier? None other than a brainwashed and super soldier serum enhanced Bucky.

 

A post-credit scene in the 2015 film Ant-Man would lead directly into events seen in Captain America: Civil War. The third entry in Cap’s solo film series, Captain America: Civil War (2016) featured a full-blown physical fight between the various Avengers, with Iron Man leading a team against Captain America when Bucky is framed for a terror attack by Helmut Zemo. Following the fallout from this film’s finale, the Avengers disbanded, and Bucky would stay in Wakanda to have his brainwashing deprogrammed.  

 

Another post-credits scene, this time in 2018’s Black Panther lets us know Bucky is feeling better and his skills are required for a fast-approaching fight. 2018 properly marked Bucky’s return in Avengers: Infinity War, where Steve’s team of former Avengers come together in Wakanda to hold off the forces of the Mad Titan named Thanos in an effort to prevent the death of the Vision in Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones. With the Avengers still disassembled, they would all fail in their efforts, and Bucky was among half the universe’s population to be erased from existence with a snap of Thanos’ Infinity Gauntlet adorned fingers.

 

Pivoting now to a prequel film of sorts, and another 2018 release; Ant-Man and the Wasp debuted Ava Starr as the intangible antagonist Ghost. Set short before the events of Avengers: Infinity War, we learn Ava’s abilities are deteriorating and killing her. Fortunately, she is saved by the intervention of Janet Van Dyne who utilizes energy obtained from her time trapped in the Quantum Realm to stabilize Ghost.

 

Avengers: Endgame in 2019 saw the likes of Bucky returned to life thanks to a united Avengers team succeeding in their ‘Time Heist’ mission. And it was a good thing too, because everyone was needed to fight off the army of a time-travelling Thanos and prevent total annihilation. The victory would come at the cost of three of the Avengers original members: Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, Tony Stark aka Iron Man and Steve Rogers aka Captain America. A now elderly Steve Rogers would hand off the Captain America Shield to Sam Wilson aka The Falcon.

 

We all skipped a year, then 2021 saw the release of the Disney+ series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Catching up with Bucky, we learn he has been cleared of prior charges and is attending court-mandated therapy and attempting to atone for his past actions as The Winter Soldier.  When a terrorist group called the Flag-Smashers emerges, both Bucky and Sam are surprised when the US Government assigns a new Captain America aka John Walker the task of stopping them. While dealing with their own animosity toward one another, Sam and Bucky find themselves on the same trail and are forced to step up to the occasion when a freshly minted super soldier John Walker publicly murders one of the Flag-Smashers in cold-blood with Captain America’s Shield, losing the mantle in the process. At the end of the series, John Walker is dubbed U.S. Agent and recruited by the mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine.

 

Meanwhile on the big screen, 2021 also brought us the much-delayed and long-overdue Black Widow movie, a prequel to Avengers: Infinity War. This film revealed Natasha Romanoff’s origins and introduces her surrogate family of Russian spies including ‘father’ Alexsei Shostakov aka the super soldier Red Guardian, ‘mother’ Melina and younger ‘sister’ Yelena Belova. Natasha brings down the Red Room and in the process frees the various Black Widow agents around the world from the control of the sinister Dreykov. It’s also revealed that Deykov’s daughter, Antonia survived a previous attempt on her father’s life and had been turned into the assassin Taskmaster by him. During a post-credts scene set after Avengers: Endgame, Yelena is recruited by Valentina to take down her sister’s supposed killer, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye.

 

We wouldn’t have to wait long for Yelena to return, showing up in the 2021 Disney+ series Hawkeye for Episode 4, 5 and 6. There she would meet the young archery protégé Kate Bishop and learns from Clint Barton himself the truth of what happened to her sister Natasha. We also see via flashback that Yelena was among those ‘snapped’ out of existence for five years by Thanos.

 

We learn quite a bit about the mysterious Valentina Allegra de Fontaine during 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The film reveals that Val is the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, that she was formerly married to Wakandan ally and fellow CIA Agent Everett Ross and that she has ambitions of obtaining the rare metal Vibranium. Ross loses his job and finds himself arrested for working with the Wakandans, who shortly afterwards break him free. Val, on the other hand, remains as Director of the CIA.

 

Finally, 2025’s first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, Captain America: Brave New World featured a cameo from James ‘Bucky’ Barnes wherein he comes to show his support to his friend Sam Wilson aka the new Captain America. It’s also established that Bucky is running for Congress which sets him up for his new status quo in the Thunderbolts* movie.

 

As a bonus, Avengers Tower was first established to have been sold during 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, and its evident from the Thunderbolts* trailers we will finally see that little plot thread come to bear.

 

Barring any unforeseen surprise cameos or post-credits reveals, that should be all you need to get a deeper appreciation out of the Thunderbolts* movie.

 

Until I get my face emblazoned on a Wheaties box, I remain

 

frogoat

 

Patriotic Parallels

 

Consider today’s post a spin-off entry to the Spider-Symmetry series, because I’m looking at the visual parallels between other MC2 comics and their parent Marvel titles. I’m calling this particular one Patriotic Parallels because this entry is about Captain America and American Dream.

 

The first comic we need to look at for today is 1965’s Avengers (vol. 1) #16, specifically the iconic cover of the issue which depicts Captain America posed in front of a wall plastered with images of various potential new members. The issue itself is notable for introducing Captain America’s new line-up of the Avengers team, comprised of former criminals Quicksilver, the Scarlet Witch and Hawkeye. This story is where the idea of the ever-changing roster of the Avengers truly begins.

 

Now let’s look at the MC2’s homage on the cover of A-Next #4 which features American Dream posed in front of a wall plastered with images of various existing and potential Avengers recruits. Of course, the issue properly introduced Shannon Carter aka American Dream and her Dream Team as new members of the Avengers: Freebooter, Bluestreak and Crimson Curse.

 

The MC2 has always demonstrated a high level of respect and appreciation for it’s comic book forebearers and this is just one more example.

 

Until I find a nice wall to pause in front of dramatically, I remain

 

frogoat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ant-Man in the MC2

 

While it may have taken me a little longer than most to get to the theatre to see Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, as you know from my last post I did finally manage it. So today, let us look at one of the film’s protagonist’s counterpart in my favourite corner of the Marvel Universe: Scott Lang aka Ant-Man in the MC2.

 

Scott Lang made his comics debut in the pages of Avengers #181 before assuming the identity of the second Ant-Man in Marvel Premiere #47 and #48 in order to save his daughter, Cassie Lang from the clutches of the villainous Darren Cross. As for Scott Lang’s first appearance in the MC2, he makes a small appearance in A-Next #1 as his daughter Cassie tests her abilities as Stinger. When Stinger receives a distress call on an old Avengers priority code, Scott offers to report as Ant-Man in place of Hank Pym who had long since died. Of course, Cassie herself responds to the call and the rest is history with the formation of the next generation’s Avengers team.

 

Scott makes another brief appearance in A-Next #2 where he expresses his discomfort and concern with Cassie being a super hero. Cassie informs hm she needs to step out from behind his shadow as a person, a scientist and an Avenger. In A-Next #3, Edwin Jarvis employs Lang as the Avengers technical advisor, which leaves Cassie far from impressed.

 

However, Cassie is more impressed when Scott catches up with their old friends in the Fantastic Five which results in her leading a squad of Avengers into Latveria to investigate rumors about the return of Doctor Doom. In fact, this proved to be Cassie’s lost love Kristoff Vernard, former ward of Victor Von Doom. We catch a glimpse of Scott in the background during a flashback to these aforementioned lovebirds as children during their time living with the Fantastic Four (A-Next #5).

 

When Stinger, Freebooter and Crimson Curse investigate an unknown presence deep beneath Avengers Compound, they are joined by Scott Lang. It is worth noting that Scott mentions ‘all the time [he] served with the original Avengers’ he was not aware of anyone coming down to the sub-basement level 7. This confirms his status as a former member of the Avengers, if nothing else (A-Next #6).

 

The group’s progress is halted by visions of the entire team of Avengers dead or dying. Scott divulges his own hallucination was mainly focused on his daughter, Cassie. Cassie and Scott head to a business meeting at Lang Labs but are soon after interrupted, first by Mainframe and then by Ion Man. Scott offers to aid his daughter and Mainframe battle Ion Man by suiting up as Ant-Man but Cassie instead instructs him to evacuate the building. After the battle, Scott and Cassie race to help the fallen Mainframe (A-Next #7).

 

With the revelation that Mainframe is robotic in nature, Scott and Cassie work to save their fallen friend. After receiving the schematics from Edwin Jarvis, Scott finally suits up as Ant-Man alongside Stinger for a journey to the centre of Mainframe to ensure the core module returns to the orbiting satellite that houses and manufactures Mainframe’s robotic shells. The father and daughter duo succeed in their mission (A-Next #8).

 

It's worth noting Lang’s Ant-Man suit is a version of one first seen in the pages of Fantastic Four #405 designed by the late great comic artist Paul Ryan.

With the members of the new Avengers debating whether or not to investigate the mysterious portal to an alternate universe they found in basement alongside the Scarlet Witch, Scott not so subtly encourages Cassie to focus on the big picture, and later sees the team off as they collectively conclude they must go (A-Next #9).

 

While MC2’s Scott Lang witnesses an argument about the new Avengers between Tony Stark and Clint Barton, his twisted counterpart known as Pincer in the alternate universe ruled by Doctor Doom attacks Cassandra Lang alongside his team, the Thunder Guard. When she learns he killed his own daughter for not allying with Doom, Cassie is horrified, but thankfully spared the same fate thanks to the aid of American Dream (A-Next #10).

 

This sadistic version of Lang is pleased with his universe’s Eric Masterson aka Storm-Trooper for killing one of the rebels, Maria Sapristi, and questions why he would feel sorry for her. Masterson makes it clear how he feels about this by attempting to choke Pincer. Later when the Avengers and rebels launch their attack, Pincer again targets Cassie, goading her by saying neither his daughter nor the MC2’s Stinger amounted to anything without their father. This provocation allows Cassie to see clearly that Pincer is nothing like her own father despite their issues (A-Next #11).

 

Lang is among those captured by the Red Queen’s Revengers team when they launch an attack on Avengers Headquarters. With the Avengers captured shortly after, Scott helplessly witnesses his daughter Cassie being tortured by Hope Pym until reinforcements arrive and he is freed. While at first seeming concerned for her safety, Scott instead tells Cassie he is proud of her as she heads off to help (A-Next #12).

 

With so many members off with injuries or otherwise absent following the events of Last Hero Standing, Scott Lang is recruited as Ant-Man by Tony Stark to fill out the Avengers roster. Alongside The Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and Stark's 'personal bodyguard’ James Rhodes on a mission to investigate and apprehend Normie Osborn. Things go awry when Rhodes (now more machine than man) is inadvertently hit by Wanda Maximoff’s hex bolt, triggering a violent rampage. After Rhodes is subdued, Scott and the others conclude they would be better use as teachers and mentors to the new Avengers team (Spider-Girl #93-#95). 

 

Not an active member of the Avengers this time around, Scott Lang as Ant-Man only appears briefly this time, as a miscoloured magical energy duplicate created when Sylene attempts to recreate Asgard on Earth in Avengers Next #4 and again correctly coloured in Avengers Next #5.

 

Finally, Scott Lang features in the Secret Wars Spider-Girl tie-in story published in Spider-Island #1-#5. There, he once more suits up as Ant-Man when the Avengers come under attack from Enthralla and Hope Pym, but is knocked out by a mind-controlled Edwin Jarvis.

 

Once more seeking revenge on the Avengers for her parents death’s, The Red Queen sentences Scott to death for assuming her father’s Ant-Man identity. Scott makes an impassioned appeal for Hope to stop obsessing over how her parents died and instead remember how they lived. His words fail to reach her leaving Spider-Girl to save him. Under Enthralla’s sway, Cassie is ordered to execute her own father and is only prevented from doing so by Spider-Girl’s determination to spare Cassie the tragedy of losing her father.

 

That’s it for Scott Lang aka Ant-Man in the MC2, unless I’ve missed some small appearance or tiny reference. If so, please let me know as we all make little mistakes now and then. The father/daughter relationship between Scott and Cassie is one of the core aspects of the MC2’s ethos so I’m glad it was left untarnished in recent years. Hopefully the future holds more for this version of the character.

 

Until I steal Hank Pym’s stuff to save my daughter and end up becoming a super hero, I remain

 

frogoat