Thunderbolts* releases this week with a new cast of characters. Some of the characters we’ll see in the upcoming film have been members of one of the various incarnations of the group. Others are new faces. The Thunderbolts team has seen plenty of new faces since its inception in 1997, so begs the question, Which Thunderbolts rosters are the best?

Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’re doing something different with today’s Top 5 in comics. As of this post, there have been thirteen iterations of Marvel’s Thunderbolts. With that many rosters to choose from, which rosters have had the best storylines? We intend to cover that with today’s list. Buckle up. These are the top five Thunderbolts rosters.

5: New Thunderbolts

First Appearance: New Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #1; written by Fabian Nicieza & Kurt Busiek; art by Tom Grummett (2005-2006)

Notable Members

MACH-IV
Songbird
Atlas
Donnie Gill/Blizzard II
Radioactive Man
Joystick
Speed Demon
Andreas von Strucker/Swordsman II
Genis-Vell/Photon

Marvel launched New Thunderbolts in the wake of the Thunderbolts’ first era. Original Thunderbolt Abe Jenkins reformed his ways as The Beetle and became MACH-I. Jenkins made a new suit for himself, becoming MACH-IV, and wanted to give other villains the same chance and reformed the new Thunderbolts. MACH-IV’s New Thunderbolts earned the respect of the Avengers.

The New Thunderbolts stopped Purple Man from enslaving New York City by drugging the water supply with his pheromones, the same ones that allow him to control his victims. Before the team could interrogate the Purple Man, he was teleported away by his boss, Baron Zemo. Zemo would eventually take control of the New Thunderbolts. The New Thunderbolts would lose their chance at redemption and became an army of villains used against Captain America’s Secret Avengers during Civil War.

Ultimately, New Thunderbolts was a solid iteration of the team. I always liked the basic Thunderbolts premise of supervillains pretending to be superheroes but ending up adopting the roles of heroes. Thunderbolts prove that no one’s beyond redemption.

Unless Baron Zemo’s in town. He loves to play the role of spoiler.

4: Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #144; written by Jeff Parker; art by Kev Walker (2010-2012)

Notable Members

Songbird
MACH-V
Moonstone
Fixer
Ghost
Juggernaut
Satana
Boomerang
Centurius
Mister Hyde
Shocker

In the years before Luke Cage assumed control of a new Thunderbolts team, the Thunderbolts had a run of horrible leadership, notably Norman Osborn. The team had become villainous. Captain America himself tasked Luke Cage to front a new Thunderbolts team, and this started a great run of comics. The team repurposes the heavily fortified superprison known as The Raft and uses Man-Thing as a form of transportation.

Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts are one of the odder iterations of the team. This team has a long time, too. At one point, the team splits off to become two separate groups. The Thunderbolts serviced the Americas, while the “Underbolts” had a European jurisdiction. These Underbolts get lost in time, specifically the World War II era, and pass themselves off as the American Thunderbolts, fighting beside Captain America (pre-frozen) and Namor. The team continues its fight with the Nazis and Human Torch androids that were created by Baron Heinrich Zemo (the current Baron Zemo’s father). Yes. Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts’ stories got wild.

3: Norman Osborn’s Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #110; written by Warren Ellis; art by Mike Deodato Jr. (2006)

Notable Members

Songbird
Moonstone
Swordsman
Radioactive Man
Mac Gargan/Venom
Bullseye
Robbie Baldwin/Penance

Yep. Norman Osborn may have been a horrible Thunderbolts leader, but his complicated leadership led to some great theater.

Osborn’s Thunderbolts occurred after Marvel Comics’ Civil War event. These new Thunderbolts were tasked with tracking down and arresting individuals avoiding the Superhuman Registration Act. This Superhuman Registration Act appeared in the MCU and sparked a similar story of the same name Civil War. Just imagine Norman Osborn, struggling with his Green Goblin persona, leading a team of villains to track down any superhero he dared not to register.

Times got rough, to say the least. This Thunderbolts team would lead Osborn to create his first Dark Avengers roster.

2: Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 2) #1; written by Daniel Way; art by Steve Dillon (2013)

Notable Members

Red Hulk
Agent Venom
Punisher
Elektra
Deadpool
Red Leader
Mercy

Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts happened on the heels of Luke Cage’s. The government disbanded the Thunderbolts program, but General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross (Red Hulk) formed his team of anti-heroes. This new Thunderbolts served as a covert super-powered strike team. This sounds like the team’s premise in the upcoming Thunderbolts*.

Red Hulk’s Thunderbolts had a short but memorable run. Even the small moments are great. My favorite was when Deadpool’s name gets pulled for a mission, and he wants to kidnap actor Ryan Reynolds. Ha! At the time of this moment’s publication, Ryan Reynolds had not yet redeemed himself as Deadpool—way to go, Thunderbolts.

Getting back to the larger storylines. Ross started with former Code Red mercenaries and began adding a few villains. It’s this addition of villains that led to the team’s downfall. The team tracks down Doctor Faustus. The Punisher wants to kill Faustus for murdering high school children. Instead, Red Hulk recruits Faustus to join the Thunderbolts. The Punisher leaves the team and then takes them down. Womp, womp.

1: Original Thunderbolts

First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Vol 1) #1; written by Kurt Busiek; art by Mark Bagley (1997-2000)

Notable Members

Baron Zemo/Citizen V
Moonstone/Meteorite
Fixer/Techno
Beetle/MACH-1
Goliath/Atlas
Screaming Mimi/Songbird

The original is often the best. The original Thunderbolts introduced the idea of supervillains pretending to be superheroes (to gain access to their foes) and then liking the recognition and feeling good about doing good deeds. This differs from the Suicide Squad. Suicide Squad villains are looking for reduced sentences or perks in their prison accommodations. Except for their founding member Baron Zemo and one or two others, the Thunderbolts genuinely wanted to reform.

I also love the Thunderbolts’ reveal at the end of the first issue. This scene is iconic.

Did we get the list right? Let us know which Thunderbolts teams you would add or remove in the comments. Thank you for reading and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.