Marvel: Crisis Protocol – The Thunderbolts Characters We Need On The Tabletop
Thunderbolts* hit the theaters but I’m not even talking about the movie. Here’s a few members we need in Marvel: Crisis Protocol.
So there’s a new Marvel Movie in the theaters this weekend. I haven’t seen it yet. So, if you’re avoiding spoilers, so am I! That said, the Thunderbolts is actually a team from Marvel Comics with a long and sorted history. Today, we’re going to be talking about the team from the comics and a few characters I’d love to see added to the tabletop from them!
via Marvel
Here’s the setup: Due to the Onslaught story-arc and the Avengers and Fantastic Four apparently killed off. Baron Helmut Zemo came up with a plan and recruited a bunch of his former allies from the Masters of Evil. His idea was to form a new hero group to eventually win the trust of the public. Zemo wanted to then gain S.H.I.E.L.D.’s trust and become their official team. This would give them access to advanced tech and then he would betray and take over. However, some of the former villains got a taste of what it was like to actually be good guys and thwarted Zemo in the end.
The Thunderbolts have since gone on to form many different versions over the years. So there’s quite a few members from the various teams that could make the cut. Now that we’re on the same page, let’s get into who we want to see added from The Thunderbolts (from the comics).
Songbird
Songbird, Cover – New Avengers (2015) #13, Marvel Comics
Melissa Gold, aka Songbird, used to go by the moniker of Screaming Mimi. She possesses supersonic sound abilities that can manifest in a variety of ways. Notably, she’s got flight, superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, and more. Songbird has sonic screams that can be destructive bursts or waves. Oh and she can also make “solid sound” constructs. The point is she’s got a really cool set of powers and they manifest in that bright pink/white look. I think Songbird would make for an awesome miniature!
Atlas
Atlas, New Thunderbolts Vol 15, Marvel Comics
Erik Josten has had a troubled past. As a villain he went by the name Power Man after getting his powers from Baron Zemo’s Ionic Ray and Amora, the Enchantress magic. He fought as part of the Masters of Evil and had a few other names over the years. He’s gone by the Smuggler and also Goliath after being infused with Pym Particles.
Eventually, he swapped to Atlas when he became a member of the Thunderbolts. His powers have changed over time as well. However, since we’re looking specifically at his time as a Thunderbolt, he could change his size and increase his strength. Personally, I would love to see AMG make a BIG miniature (like Sentinel or Dormammu) sized for Atlas.
Jolt
Hallie Takahama has one messed up history. She was only 15 during the events 0f the Onslaught Saga. Her parents were killed when an army of Sentinels led by Onslaught attacked New York. She did protect several younger children during the crisis but was ultimately abducted by Arnim Zola.
During this time she was experimented on. Eventually she was mutated into her new Superhuman form. Her powers include superhuman strength and speed as well as Energy enhanced blows. Later, Jolt also gains Electrokinesis as well.
Anyhow, Jolt managed to escape and (because of the Onslaught saga) she went to the only real superhero team around: The Thunderbolts. They managed to take down Zola and “because comics!” her involvement was telecast. That’s when “Citizen V” (aka Baron Zemo in disguise) allowed her to join the team.
So in a lot of ways, she’s basically the Thunderbolts version of Jubilee from the X-Men. A teenager with no where else to go and superpowers. At least they made her go back to finish high school. Which, actually didn’t end well…but that’s not the point!
Batroc The Leaper
I assure you this isn’t me trolling. Batroc the Leaper isn’t an original member of the Thunderbolts. Technically, he’s in the Thunderbolts Army which was the time during the Civil War story line when the villains were given the choice: join up or go back to jail. Batroc opted to join. And while his name is a tad goofy and he’s not exactly a “super” powered threat, he’s still very dangerous to normal folks.
We are talking about a master at hand to hand combat and an Olympic level athlete. I mean, this guy DID go toe-to-toe with Captain America in the MCU, right? I actually think he’s be a great option for a Threat Level 2 character — and I think that’s something that MCP could use more of.
U.S Agent
Yes, I know US Agent John Walker is in the Thunderbolts movie (not a spoiler). But was also a member of the Thunderbolts. Sure, it was the tenth team to use the name Thunderbolts (not counting the Thunderbolts Army). And yes, this was the one put together by Wilson Fisk during the Devil’s Reign storyline. But, c’mon — what else did you expect from discount Captain America?
Okay, that was a little mean. But I’m not wrong. John Walker, for all his faults, is still a super-soldier serum enhanced “hero” and that makes him deadly. Plus he’s got the training to use those powers and a shield to help. While he’s often on the wrong side of the moral line (for lots of reasons) you shouldn’t underestimate him. I think he’d be a good fit on a Thunderbolts team in MCP.
So Many More Thunderbolts…
There’s a TON of characters that have been on some incarnation of the team over the years. If you’ve got a favorite drop us a line in the comments and let us know who you’d add. I could also easily see this being a way to do a back door Affiliation for The Masters of Evil, too. Atomic Mass Games has a LOT of room to work with inside the Thunderbolts roster for MCP.
Justice like Lightning!
