Thunderbolts: The Key to Solving Marvel’s Long-Running MCU Puzzle Revealed!

Marvel’s Thunderbolts presents the perfect opportunity to answer a major question that was established in a Black Widow post-credit scene.

Thunderbolts includes many returning MCU characters, and it’s the perfect opportunity to answer an unresolved 3-year-old question. Marvel’s Thunderbolts is essentially its version of DC’s Suicide Squad. It features several antiheroes coming together for a dangerous mission that falls outside the Avenger’s purview. The roster includes Yelena Belova, Red Guardian, Ghost, U.S. Agent, Winter Soldier, and Taskmaster. All these characters are brought together by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, who appeared in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Valentina is essentially a more sinister Nick Fury, bringing together a unique group that can complete missions utilizing unorthodox methods. She’s already established connections with MCU characters, including Yelena, whom she interacted with in a post-credit scene from Black Widow. The scene sets up Yelena’s mission for Hawkeye, where she is determined to kill Clint after being convinced he killed Natasha Romanov in Avengers: Endgame. While this conflict is resolved in Hawkeye, an important question from this scene has not been answered and could be addressed in Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts Can Explain Why Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Wanted To Kill Hawkeye

Valentina is still a mysterious character within the MCU. While she was revealed as the director of the CIA in Wakanda Forever, her motives are more than just protecting the United States. In Black Widow, Valentina orders Yelena to kill Hawkeye, telling her that he killed Black Widow. It’s revealed in Hawkeye that Valentina was more of a messenger as Eleanor Bishop hired Yelena, but Valentina was still comfortable telling an assassin to kill an Avenger, which suggests there is something more sinister to her character.

Since Valentina will presumably have her biggest role yet in Thunderbolts, the MCU has the chance to tell audiences more about her past and how she acquired her current position. This could include a past encounter with Hawkeye that caused her to grow disdain toward him. Clint also became Ronin during the five years between Infinity War and Endgame, where he almost turned into a villain, fulfilling his missions with more death and violence. There could be an interesting reason why Valentina hated Clint, and it would also allow Thunderbolts to expand her character.

The Mission Must Be Dire If Yelena Is Willing To Work For Valentina Again

Yelena’s inclusion in Thunderbolts means she accepts whatever mission Valentina is proposing to her, but there must be plenty of tension between the two. After being manipulated into almost killing Clint, Yelena has to have trust issues with Valentina and is initially hesitant to work for her. However, the mission must be so dire that Yelena can’t refuse. Red Guardian is also on the team, so perhaps he helps convince Yelena to join the team. If the rumors are true that the mission will involve Sentry, the Thunderbolts will need all the help they can get.