The upcoming Thunderbolts* film introduces a diverse cast of characters, showcasing a significant disparity in their strength levels. While some members of the team exhibit abilities comparable to everyday humans, others possess formidable superhuman enhancements. When the project was first revealed, it drew attention for featuring a coalition of characters whose physical prowess was notably less impressive than that of the Avengers. Largely made up of super-soldiers and individuals who—as Yelena aptly states—”just punch and shoot,”the Thunderbolts emerge as underdogs in a superhero landscape dominated by far more powerful entities.
This disparity is integral to their charm, subtly undermining their actual capabilities. The film’s conclusion poignantly illustrates that these heroes can overcome even the mightiest foes not merely through brute force but also through ingenuity and strategy. However, both Thunderbolts* and previous MCU narratives provide a framework for assessing which team members would prevail in direct confrontations based solely on physical strength.
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Mel: The Least Powerful Member (Yet Stopped Sentry)
Mel: A Non-Superpowered Character
In Thunderbolts*, Mel plays the role of Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s hesitant assistant. Although she holds a minor yet pivotal position in the story, her moral objections to Valentina’s dubious actions lead her to become a double agent aligned with Bucky Barnes. Serving as her MCU debut, Mel’s lack of prior appearances means her physical abilities are uncharted territory; furthermore, she does not demonstrate any considerable strength within the film.
Mel’s character may share inspiration with Melissa Gold from Marvel Comics, best known as the original Thunderbolts member Screaming Mimi and later Songbird. Nevertheless, it is important to note that Mel is primarily depicted as a regular human, and despite her critical role in subduing Sentry through strategic means, she ranks as the weakest link among her peers in Thunderbolts*. However, her character’s potential evolution in response to dire situations could change her standing.
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Valentina Allegra De Fontaine: Potent in Different Aspects
Valentina: Power Beyond Physicality
Serving as the secondary antagonist in Thunderbolts*, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine orchestrates Project Sentry, ultimately leading to the creation of both Sentry and the Void. Throughout her appearances in the MCU, Valentina is portrayed as an ambitious and intelligent CIA director who has skillfully recruited numerous enhanced individuals for her covert operations. However, she refrains from engaging directly in combat, eschewing any demonstrations of strength.
That said, Valentina’s high-ranking CIA position suggests she is not without her own form of strength. In Thunderbolts*, she displays unyielding resolve when faced with attacks from the titular team, showcasing her inner fortitude while still lacking the physical prowess of many other characters around her.
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Yelena Belova: Mastery Over Might
Yelena: A Skilled Non-Superpowered Human
Yelena Belova serves as a highly-trained Black Widow, boasting a remarkable skill set that eclipses mere physical strength. Her debut in Black Widow saw her competing against her adoptive sister, Natasha Romanoff, reaching a stalemate, and demonstrating her capabilities in the Hawkeye series where she confronts Clint Barton similarly. She embarks on numerous successful missions under Valentina’s directive, with her efficiency highlighted in the opening sequence of Thunderbolts*, where Yelena overpowers multiple armed guards alone.
While Yelena possesses strength that exceeds that of an average individual, it is her agility and battle acumen that truly set her apart. Her quick reflexes and tactical prowess render her an asset to the team, although her raw physical power does not match that of her more enhanced allies.
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Ghost: Demonstrating Superhuman Strength
Ghost’s Unique Abilities Effectively Enhance Her Strength
Ava Starr, known as Ghost, made her MCU debut as the primary antagonist in Ant-Man and the Wasp. Her abilities stemmed from a tragic quantum accident involving her parents, causing her cells to undergo a transformation that grants her remarkable phasing abilities. These powers not only make her formidable but also seem to endow her with above-average strength.
In her prior appearance, Ghost showcased her strength by launching Ant-Man through a wall, highlighted further by her deadly effectiveness against guards following her phasing. While her strength is impressive—allowing her to deliver lethal strikes—it is vital to recognize that despite her enhancements, she does not rival the fortified strength of a super soldier; her unique combination of combat skills and phasing abilities define her efficiency.
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Taskmaster: A Match for Red Guardian
Taskmaster: Enhanced Strength Through Advanced Training
Despite Taskmaster’s brief appearance in Thunderbolts*, she brings an intriguing twist reminiscent of her divisive introduction in Black Widow. Antonia Dreykov’s interpretation varies from her comic counterpart, though she retains the remarkable skill to mimic the fighting styles of other characters in the MCU after observing them—Steve Rogers included, as demonstrated by her utilization of a shield.
According to the “Marvel Studios: Character Encyclopedia Updated Edition,”Taskmaster’s equipped suit is said to grant her enhanced strength, though such details remain unconfirmed within MCU films. Her abilities enable her to engage in battle with Red Guardian, characterized as a fellow super soldier, suggesting a blend of her enhanced capabilities and exemplary combat skills.
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Red Guardian: Power with Limitations
Red Guardian: A Legacy of Super Soldier Enhancement
As the USSR’s nemesis to Captain America, Red Guardian underwent the nation’s iteration of the super soldier serum. Unfortunately, opportunities for him to flaunt his strength have been scarce, as witnessed in Black Widow, where he primarily dispatches guards with relative ease rather than engaging in substantial combat sequences. A notable moment from his past reveals him effortlessly lifting and propelling a heavy vat during his peak.
Currently, Red Guardian finds himself past his prime; however, he still achieves remarkable feats, such as enduring a concrete block falling upon him without injury and resisting the Void’s powerful telekinesis long enough for Yelena to escape—a testimony to his lingering strength despite current limitations.
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John Walker: The Epitome of Super Soldier Strength
John Walker: The Latest Super Soldier
Debuting in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, John Walker emerges as the latest representation of Captain America after utilizing Wilfred Nagel’s reengineering of the super soldier serum. While his initial ascent meets a tragic downfall due to his brutal methods, he subsequently aligns with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine under the U.S. Agent moniker.
Walker boasts a strength level equivalent to other super soldiers like Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. In Thunderbolts*, he demonstrates his prowess by propelling himself hundreds of feet up an elevator shaft and exhibiting his capabilities by lifting a truck barehanded in earlier outings. Yet, limits exist, as evidenced when he struggles to raise a massive concrete slab without his teammates’ assistance.
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Bucky Barnes: Leveraging Vibranium for Strength
Bucky: The Strength of a Super Soldier and Vibranium
Bucky Barnes underwent Hydra’s super soldier serum enhancement during his capture in Captain America: The First Avenger. This augmentation enabled him to match formidable opponents, including his childhood friend’s nemesis, Steve Rogers. Furthermore, his cybernetic arm—initially created by Hydra and later enhanced by the Wakandans—grants him an additional advantage.
Now, Bucky ranks as the second-strongest character among the New Avengers, thanks to his vibranium arm, which allows him to perform feats that surpass those of regular super soldiers. In Thunderbolts*, we see him using his arm to protect civilians from an oncoming truck and evidencing its durability by penetrating through metal and concrete.
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Sentry: Potentially the Most Powerful Figure in the MCU
Sentry: Super Soldier Serum Reimagined
Valentina Allegra de Fontaine masterminds the creation of Sentry through her dubious Project Sentry, a covert operation designed to endow subjects with the transformative power of “one thousand exploding suns.”Surviving this experimental endeavor, Bob Reynolds emerges as an immensely powerful yet inherently unstable hero within the MCU. Although the full scope of his abilities remains largely enigmatic, it appears that he may have been granted a significantly fortified version of the super soldier serum.
Sentry’s immense power is apparent, as evidenced by his effortless subjugation of the Thunderbolts, including manipulating John Walker’s shield into a taco shape and detaching Bucky’s vibranium arm with ease. These feats strongly indicate that Sentry may stand as one of the strongest figures in the MCU hierarchy, potentially rivaling even the likes of Thor in future developments.