Marvel Preview: Bucky And The Thunderbolts Take On Doctor Doom Long Before The New Avengers Movie [Exclusive]

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All is well right now in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "Thunderbolts*" (which got some of the best reviews for a Marvel picture in a while) ends with the titular team overcoming the Void, the dark half of Bob Reynolds/The Sentry (Lewis Pullman). As they've prevented a shadow from falling over New York City, the crew goes from Thunderbolts to New Avengers.

The Marvel Comics Universe is a different story. This year's crossover event is "One World Under Doom" by Ryan North and R.B. Silva. Doctor Doom, now the Sorcerer Supreme and rocking Doctor Strange's red cape, declares that the world is his. The nations of the world go along, folding themselves into New Latveria. Not because of mind control or magic, but because Doom is offering the strong leadership people crave. The Fantastic Four, Avengers, etc., are struggling to crack their strategy of fighting a villain who has won the public opinion.

Accompanying the event are tie-in series showing a world bending to Doom's will. One is "Superior Avengers," about Doom fashioning villains into his own Avengers team. Then there's "Thunderbolts: Doomstrike" by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly. Pitting the Thunderbolts (new movie stars) against the MCU's forthcoming big bad Victor von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.)? Double synergy, baby!

"Doomstrike" is a sequel to Lanzing and Kelly's previous "Thunderbolts" series, subtitled "Worldstrike." In that series, Bucky led the Thunderbolts on a worldwide manhunt to finally kill the Red Skull. Doom helped, but in "One World Under Doom," he used himself to kill the Red Skull to look like a hero.

Not happy being played for a fool, Bucky's Thunderbolts have become an anti-Doom insurgency. As of "Doomstrike" #4, it's not going too great.

"A DINNER WITH DOOM! After DOCTOR DOOM's team of original Thunderbolts clashed with Bucky's team of new Thunderbolts, Bucky was captured! How will Doom punish the man spearheading the rebellion against him? With a lavish dinner, of course. And the dessert is deadly..."

Marvel has shared an exclusive preview of "Thunderbolts: Doomstrike" #4 with /Film. Check out the issue's cover, drawn by Leinil Francis Yu, below:

Marvel Comics

The first page is a recap, summarizing how Bucky has led his failed campaign against Doom so far. The other members of this Thunderbolts team include his lover Black Widow (the O.G. Natasha Romanoff, not "Thunderbolts*" star Yelena Belova as played by Florence Pugh), John Walker/U.S. Agent (played by Wyatt Russell in "Thunderbolts*"), and longtime Thunderbolt Melissa Gold/Songbird.

Songbird, once known as Screaming Mimi, was part of the original Thunderbolts. The team was actually super-villains, disguised by new costumes and code-names, pretending to be heroes. Their leader? "Citizen V," in truth Baron Helmut Zemo. But Screaming Mimi decided she preferred being a hero, so Songbird became Miss Gold's true self.

In "Thunderbolts: Doomstrike," Doom has brought those original Thunderbolts back together to battle Bucky's new ones. Zemo is currently dead, though, so who is Citizen V? Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus in "Thunderbolts*."

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

The issue opens with Natasha sitting in front of a computer, as propaganda news recounting Bucky's capture fills the air. Natasha seemingly realizes where Bucky is and, right now, the Black Widow might be his only chance of escape.

In the dungeon of Latverian capital Doomstadt, Doom tries to break the chained Bucky by telling him that Captain America had surrendered him (almost certainly a lie). Bucky steels himself and tells Doom to do his worst.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

"Thunderbolts: Doomstrike" issue #4 is scheduled for print and digital release on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. "Thunderbolts: Doomstrike" issues #1-3 are currently available.