The Latest Thunderbolts Trailer Hints at the True Antagonist's Reveal
Yesterday during the Super Bowl, Marvel unveiled another enticing sneak peek at Thunderbolts, marking the end of the current phase in the MCU, and the start of some exhilarating new beginnings just a few months away. The latest trailer predominantly reintroduced us to the motley crew that we met in the initial glimpse, but it also dropped some intriguing hints about the challenges they'll be up against. And they aren't happily-ever-after type challenges, my friend.
While Marvel has been keeping fairly tight-lipped about this, it wasn't a massive surprise that Lewis Pullman's character, Bob, in Thunderbolts, would actually transform into Marshal's most renowned answer to Superman in the comics – Sentry. We only got a brief glance at Bob in the first trailer, and he's even less visible in the newer one. But fear not, we do get to see a figure that shares more than a passing resemblance to Superman wreaking havoc and mayhem.
And yep, it's our dear Bob.
Tiptoeing in the Shadow Realm
© Marvel Comics
Bob's foray into superhuman powers commenced at a tender age when he pilfered a vial containing an experimental strain of the Super Soldier Serum. That formidable serum was the result of historical research conducted by an international coalition of scientists following Captain America's emergence during World War II. The enchanting concoction bestowed on Bob an array of superhuman abilities, including enhanced strength, speed, flight, and nigh-invulnerability. And just as his physical abilities took a quantum leap, so too did his unstable mental health.
This turmoil within Robert's psyche gave birth to the dark malevolent persona that came to be known as the Void. With the divine power to wield every one of Robert's enhanced abilities, the Void was propelled by a wicked malice that knew no bounds. Robert finally managed to contain this insidious being through the creation of his heroic counterpart, the Sentry.
The Void, however, was never fully a prisoner of his own mind. He would often break free, causing chaos and destruction with no regard for Robert's knowledge or consent. For a long time, Robert believed the Void to be a separate entity, his own nemesis, a force that sought to counterbalance the good work he did as Sentry.
Towards the conclusion of Robert's debut Marvel Knights miniseries, when the Void had slaughtered an unthinkable number of people in Manhattan, Robert teamed up with Mr. Fantastic and Doctor Strange. Together they devised a plan to erase not only Robert's recollection of his powers and time as Sentry but also the collective memory of the world at large. The intention was to starve the Void of a foil, allowing the two personas to exist harmoniously amidst Robert's mind.
However, it isn't as simple as it seems. When Robert resurfaced as Sentry, so too did the Void. Over the years, Robert has endeavored to either destroy or separate the Void, but his efforts have proven futile. It wasn't until he unintentionally sacrificed himself during the 2020 event King in Black that the Void seemed to vanquish itself. When the villainous Knull was defeated, the Void, now entirely subsumed by him, supposedly died with him.
The Void's Muscle and Mind
© Marvel Comics
As the very embodiment of Robert Reynolds, the Void shares all of Sentry's superhuman abilities. But the Void doesn't mere mimic Sentry; he leans into his darker nature, spiraling farther and farther away from the path of the righteous. In the new Thunderbolts trailer, we witness the Void projecting dark matter clouds and tendrils, a formidable weapon capable of entangling opponents or causing atomic disintegration through strategic application.
Although his psychic abilities aren't as pronounced as Sentry's, the Void retains the ability to telekinetically manipulate objects, making him as dangerous on the mental plane as he is on the physical. Keep an eye out for his cameo in the upcoming Thunderbolts this May.
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The anticipation for the future of technology in Marvel's movies is high, as Io9 reports that the upcoming 'Thunderbolts' could potentially feature a transformation of Lewis Pullman's character into Marvel Comics' famous answer to Superman.
Intriguingly, the future of technology in movies, including Marvel's, may be heavily influenced by advancements in the field, as shown by the use of an experimental strain of the Super Soldier Serum in the creation of enhanced abilities in characters like Bob.
