Watching – Thunderbolts*

Have you seen that movie about a bunch of misfits and malcontents that have to get past their own problems and learn to become a team to save the day against overwhelming odds?

Yeah, I loved Mystery Men (1999) as well!
I could not possibly list all the movies and television shows out there featuring a team of anti heroes and B-grade protagonists put into a situation well above their pay grade. it’s a formula, and it works!

(there are a bunch of similarities between Mystery Men and Thunderbolts* but that gets into some spoilers)

Overall, I enojyed it! Better than several MCU offerings IMHO.

Good action, decent fight choreography, some special effects, and a coherent plot. The banter keeps it from getting too dark, though the themes of light against the shadow resonate throughout. The twists are telegraphed pretty clearly, so it’s more satisfaction to see the anticipated outcomes than some suspense thriller espionage movie. Nope, it’s a buddy cop / criminals trying to turn their lives around action comedy with just a dash of family by shoved together by circumstances.

Also, the asterisk is relevant, honest!

Precredit cut scene – amusing, but not vital

Post credit scene – some amusing, some pointing to the next big MCU event

Comic Connections

I read the original run of Thunderbolts way back when, about a team of supervillains who took on super hero personas with evil ends in mind, but in the end discovered that they liked being cheered on by the public.

The team changed lineups and origins a few times, at one point having Hawkeye as a team leader (who had also been a criminal for a time before becoming an Avenger) and again with Luke Cage with some strong Task Force X / Suicide Squad vibes, and again as a goon squad for Mayor Wilson Fisk. There were a couple more itterations in there, but usually following the theme of supervillains and anti heroes being more super heroic (at least in appearance).

Side Note – there have been two animated DC Suicide Squad movies and at least one Justice League Unlimited episode featuring one version of the team.

For the Gamer Eye

RPGs like Cyberpunk and Blades in the Dark are all about the anti hero and criminals who are damaged goods and fallen angels, supporting living fast and dying hard. It does inspire me to try running a few Band of Blades games with a similar Dirty Dozen vibe.