The Thunderbolts Have an Asterisk Next to Their Name—Now We Know Why*

I was pleasantly surprised by the Thunderbolts* trailer that dropped during the Super Bowl. The first teaser was fine, but it didn't really give me a solid idea of what the movie is actually about. This new trailer? Now we're talking. Not only does it promise a chaotic, action-packed mission, but it also teases Sentry—or rather, The Void, which is terrifying. This guy is a cosmic-level, reality-breaking powerhouse, and now I need to see how this ragtag group of misfits plans on not dying against him.

But as soon as the trailer aired, two big questions popped up:

Where are the Avengers?
Why does Thunderbolts have an asterisk next to its name?

Well, both questions just got answered, thanks to a new international poster that clarifies the asterisk—it's there to indicate that "the Avengers are not available." That little star isn't just clever marketing; it's actually part of the story. It also conveniently frames the six members of the team inside its arms, which is a pretty cool touch.

Via Marvel

Alongside the trailer and poster, Marvel also released an official synopsis, revealing that Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker are forced into a deadly mission, trapped in a setup orchestrated by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Their choices? Survive, tear each other apart, or—against all odds—become something greater. (You know, the exact plot of Suicide Squad)

With Thunderbolts* dropping on May 2, it's the second big MCU film of the year, coming after Captain America: Brave New World in February and just before The Fantastic Four in July. Directed by Jake Schreier (Paper Towns, Beef), this is shaping up to be an unexpectedly wild ride. Now the only question is: can they actually stop Sentry, or are they just here to take the first punch while the real heroes show up later?