Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts is the name of several comic book titles featuring the team the Thunderbolts and published by Marvel Comics, beginning with the original Thunderbolts comic book series which debuted in 1997. Publication history The Thunderbolts first appeared in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #449 (January 1997) and were created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley. The Thunderbolts were first presented, both to readers and to the Marvel Universe, as a group of super-powered figures who became heroes to help protect the world when the Avengers were declared dead after the events of the 1996 "Onslaught" crossover. The final page of the first issue of their comic book, however, revealed that the Thunderbolts were actually the Masters of Evil in disguise, a surprise twist carefully guarded by Marvel. Themes of redemption and the nature of heroism are often featured in Thunderbolts comics. The book has also garnered critical praise for its use of secondary characters from other Marvel Comics and its use of continuity-themed storytelling.