The Thunderbolts first gained recognition in Marvel Comics in Incredible Hulk #449, published in November 1996. They were created by Baron Zemo as a replacement for the Avengers, who had been declared dead at the time, while Zemo pursued his secret agenda. Over the years, the team has undergone several iterations, ranging from a group of villains to reformed villains and even entirely heroic characters.
In the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, The Thunderbolts*, the team made its live-action debut with a roster that differs significantly from its comic book origins. However, many of the characters featured in the film have previously been part of the Thunderbolts in the comics. Throughout their history, numerous heroes, anti-heroes, and villains have joined the Thunderbolts in the comics, many of whom possess exceptional powers.
10 Radioactive Man
Dr. Chen Lu
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Radiation Absorption & Manipulation, Energy Blasts, Radiation Breath, Persuasion, Nigh-Invulnerability, Phasing Negation, Atomic Discharge, Radiological Constructs, Force Fields, Entity Creation, Tendril Generation, Hard Radiation, EMP Emission, Superhuman Strength, Underwater Breathing, Infection, Invisibility
- Abilities: Genius Intelligence
- First Appearance: Journey Into Mystery #93 (April 1963)
Dr. Chen Lu, a Chinese nuclear physicist, was exposed to high levels of radiation, which transformed him into Radioactive Man. His affiliation with the Communist Party created tension with America and, consequently, with the Avengers. This conflict led him to become a founding member of Baron Zemo’s Masters of Evil, eventually transitioning to a member of the Thunderbolts.
Joining the team during its second iteration, Lu is a powerful hero with numerous abilities. His most notable powers, which make him one of the strongest members of the Thunderbolts, are his near-invulnerability and his ability to emit powerful radiation blasts. Few can withstand his incredible power.
9 Moonstone
Karla Sofen
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Reflexes, Gravitational Flight, Minor Molecular Control, Shape-Shifting, Intangibility, Light Generation, Energy Projection
- Abilities: Expert Psychologist, Expert Hypnotist
- First Appearance: Captain America #192 (September 1975)
Karla Sofen was a psychiatrist who manipulated her peers and patients, instilling paranoia rather than helping them overcome their problems. Eventually, she came across an alien artifact known as the Moonstone, which granted her immense cosmic powers, including energy projection, flight, and super strength.
She was a founding member of the Thunderbolts, which was formed when Baron Zemo rebranded his Masters of Evil into a more ‘heroic’ team. Moonstone was even powerful enough to replace Captain Marvel in Norman Osborn’s Dark Avengers, which includes similar members to the Thunderbolts but is considered a separate team.
8 Satana
Satana Hellstrom
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Soul Absorption, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Durability, Flight, Astral Projection, Hellfire Generation and Manipulation, Mind Control, Penance Stare, Magic, Teleportation
- Abilities: Knowledge of Magic
- First Appearance: Vampire Tales #2 (July 1973)
As the daughter of Satan himself, Satana is a compelling character with a range of demonic powers at her disposal, including soul absorption, the Penance Stare, and various dark magical abilities.
Satana first became a member of the Thunderbolts during Luke Cage’s leadership, at a time when the team underwent a significant heroic transformation. She is technically a succubus, a beautiful demon who uses her charm to her advantage, particularly when dealing with men. As part of the Thunderbolts, Satana was recognized as one of the group’s powerhouses due to her extensive magical and demonic abilities.
7 Over-Mind
Grom
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Reflexes, Regeneration, Immortality, Energy Manipulation, Psionics, Telepathy, Mind Control, Precognition, Telekinesis, Psychokinetics Blasts, Psionic Energy Channeling, Self-Propelled Flight
- Abilities: Expert Combatant, Expert Strategist, Expert Tactician
- First Appearance: Fantastic Four #113 (August 1971)
The Over-Mind, also known as Grom, was born an Eternal on the planet Eyung, a powerful race of beings. It is said that he conquered many worlds before arriving on Earth. During the Civil War arc, several villains were recruited to form a team called the Thunderbolts Army, and Over-Mind was one of them.
As an Eternal, he possesses immense power, with the Watcher regarding him as a universal threat. His strength is largely unmatched, and he also wields powerful psionic and energy abilities, making him a significant danger. However, his mental instability has caused him to be disconnected from reality on several occasions, which slightly diminishes his threat level.
6 Abomination
Emil Blonsky
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Gamma Mutate Physiology, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Leaping, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Speed, Regenerative Healing Factor, Gamma Radiation/Energy Manipulation and Emission, Underwater Breathing, Suspended Animation, Hulk Tracking
- Abilities: Espionage, Hand-to-Hand Combat
- First Appearance: Tales to Astonish #90 (January 1967)
Fans may recognize the Abomination as one of the Hulk’s enemies, but Emil Blonsky has evolved beyond that in Marvel Comics. He has also served as a member of the Thunderbolts. His time on the team occurred under the leadership of Wilson Fisk during the «Devil’s Reign» arc.
As the mayor of New York, Kingpin made superheroes illegal and assembled the Thunderbolts as a task force to apprehend those who defied the law. Abomination was a significant player on this team who possesses strength, durability, and speed, along with a military background. This combination makes him a formidable threat.
5 Red Hulk
Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Conscious Transformation, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Leaping, Regenerative Healing Factor, Reduced Aging, Superhuman Stamina, Superhuman Durability, Superhuman Speed, Gamma Radiation Emission, Energy Absorption
- Abilities: Skilled Combatant, Master Tactician, Leadership, Weapons Proficiency
- First Appearance: Incredible Hulk #1 (March 1962) (As General Ross), Hulk (Vol. 2) #1 (March 2008) (As the Red Hulk)
Contrary to popular belief, the Thunderbolts were not named after Thunderbolt Ross, despite his later membership on the team as the Red Hulk. The team primarily consisted of anti-heroes like Deadpool, the Punisher, and Agent Venom. With his extensive military experience and the powers of the Red Hulk, Ross was a formidable leader for the Thunderbolts.
He utilized his strength, speed, and durability as the team’s brute force, while also contributing as the strategic mastermind behind their operations. One significant advantage that Thunderbolt Ross has over his green counterpart is that he retains his identity and intellect in his Red Hulk form, which arguably makes him even more powerful.
4 Atlas
Erik Josten
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Ionic Energy Form, Immeasurable Strength, Invulnerability, Limitless Stamina, Enhanced Perceptions and Reflexes, Energy Form, Adaptive Possession, Flight, Energy Manipulation, Energy Transferal, Pan-Dimensional Phasing, Breach Creation, Immortality, Self-Sustenance, Ionic Healing, Size Alteration, Mass Particle Transference
- Abilities: Hand-to-Hand Combat, Trained Pilot, Trained Marksman
- First Appearance: Avengers #21 (August 1965)
Erik Josten was an American soldier who later became a mercenary. He was hired by Baron Zemo, who mutated him by infusing him with ionic energy. This transformation granted Erik immense strength, powerful energy-based abilities, and essentially made him immortal.
As Zemo’s powerful bodyguard, he took on the alias Atlas during the Thunderbolts’ transition and continued with the team when they adopted a more heroic approach. Throughout his time with the Thunderbolts, Erik used several aliases, including Power Man, Smuggler, and Goliath. Additionally, he was further mutated by Pym Particles, which gave him the ability to alter his size. With a wide range of powers and abilities, Atlas is truly a formidable threat.
3 Hyperion
Marcus Milton
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Eternal Physiology, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Speed, Phasing, Flight, Superhuman Stamina, Invulnerability, Superhuman Agility, Superhuman Reflexes, Cosmic Energy Manipulation, Atomic Vision, Energy Absorption, Regenerative Healing Factor, Immortality, Superhuman Senses, Sub-Zero Breath
- First Appearance: Exiles #38 (December 2003)
Several characters have taken on the Hyperion persona, originating from a different universe, Earth-13034, which was ultimately destroyed. His powers stem from his status as an eternal, granting him abilities akin to those of DC Comics’ Superman, of whom Hyperion was created as a pastiche.
Hyperion first became a member of the Thunderbolts during the ‘Heroic Age’ under the leadership of Luke Cage. He was recognized as the ultimate powerhouse due to his immense cosmic abilities. There is no doubt that he is one of the strongest members of the Thunderbolts; some may even argue that he deserves the top spot.
2 Juggernaut
Cain Marko
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Demonic Empowerment, Superhuman Strength, Superhuman Leaping, Superhuman Stamina, Invulnerability, Force-Field, Irresistible Force Embodiment, Summoning, Regenerative Healing Factor
- Abilities: Hand-to-Hand Combat
- First Appearance: X-Men #12 (May 1965)
Juggernaut is primarily known as a villain in the X-Men universe, although he has also joined the team on several occasions. He was a member of Luke Cage’s Thunderbolts as well. Cain Marko, who is not a mutant, serves as the avatar of the demon Cyttorak, which grants him superhuman strength and stamina.
His true power lies in being the embodiment of an irresistible force. This means that once he starts running in a particular direction, nothing can stop him, despite many strong heroes attempting to do so throughout his long history in Marvel Comics. This ability alone contributes to his significantly high ranking among characters in the Marvel universe.
1 Star
Ripley Ryan
- Powers & Abilities:
- Powers: Reality Manipulation, Self-Power Bestowal, Flight, Energy Projection, Superhuman Strength, Energy Senses, Superhuman Durability, Optic Blasts, Energy Construct Creation, Teleportation
- First Appearance: Captain Marvel (Vol. 10) #1 (January 2019)
Star is the most powerful member of the Thunderbolts for one significant reason: she is merged with the Reality Stone. This extraordinary ability allows her to bend reality to her will, making anything she dreams possible. Fortunately, Star is good-natured and uses her powers heroically, granting her a range of abilities such as flight, superhuman strength, and energy projection.
Ryan joined the Thunderbolts during the King in Black arc when Wilson Fisk reformed the team to combat the invasion of Knull, the creator of the Symbiotes, including Venom. Star’s ability to manipulate reality, enhanced by the power of an Infinity Stone, solidifies her status as the most powerful member of the Thunderbolts.
