With Doctor Doom’s rule near absolute, it’s time for a good old-fashioned resistance. Your Major Spoilers review of Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1 from Marvel Comics awaits!

THUNDERBOLTS: DOOMSTRIKE #1

Writers: Jackson Lanzing and Jackson Kelly
Artist: Tommaso Bianchi
Colorist: Yen Nitro
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Editor: Alanna Smith
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 19th, 2025

Previously in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike: Doctor Doom has become the ruler of the world and surprisingly, nations are falling in line one by one. This was possible in part by the elimination of Red Skull and Baron Zemo, which happened because of The Thunderbolts actions.

TO THE SHADOWS

Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1 kicks off with Bucky Barnes being confronted by Doctor Doom personally. He reveals how Bucky’s actions with The Thunderbolts helped pave the way for Doctor Doom to take over the world and, because of this, is offering Bucky a one-time offer to join Doom’s new version of The Thunderbolts. He, of course, doesn’t take him up on it and reveals that he’s actually been recording the conversation before teleporting away to a secret base. Unfortunately, when he gets there, he discovers that Doom is already there, and he quickly destroys the base. Bucky escapes with his cat and meets up with Black Widow in Bucky’s hometown of Shelbyville, Indiana. He tells her that he is going to set up a resistance to Doom, and he already has a first target: Doom’s nuclear arsenal in space. With Songbird’s help, he boards the space station but soon learns that Doom is always one step ahead.

AN INTENSE OPENING

Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1 has a shocking ending that actually earns that distinction, in fact, it’s the type of ending that really shouldn’t be spoiled. This is a double-edged sword, though. On one hand, it’s exciting and creates a ton of implications that will most likely be felt in not only the rest of this series, but all the other titles in the Marvel Universe. On the other hand, this whole issue feels like it’s sprinting to this conclusion because it knows that it’s going to be impactful. There’s very little connective tissue between the scenes, and it plays out like “this happens, the person reacts, then this happens, the person reacts.” This leaves this issue feeling more like a spectacle as opposed to a well-crafted story. This isn’t completely a bad thing though, because these spectacle moments are done in exciting and interesting ways. For example, during the climactic moments, there are some very quick flashbacks that line up with what’s happening in the present, creating instant pathos, so it’s not like there isn’t depth to this issue.

LOOKING YOUNG

It’s no secret that the ages of Marvel characters are something that always seems to be in flux, both officially and visually. That being said, Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1 seems to be sliding everyone’s age backward. Maybe it’s the slightly cartoonish style, but everyone, and especially Natasha, seems to have reverted to somewhere between 18 and 25. This isn’t a bad thing in itself; it just creates a bit of a disconnect when these characters discuss their experience in fighting in resistance movements and performing various espionage tasks. Other than that, everything in this issue looks just fine, Doctor Doom has a nice imposing presence, the effects around Songbird’s powers are striking, and the conclusion is presented as brutal and devastating.

BOTTOM LINE: A POPCORN COMIC

Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1 has its fair share of good moments and exciting action sequences. It just doesn’t have a lot of fabric to weave these things together in a strong way. It’s still enjoyable and has one of the better conclusions and epilogues I’ve seen in a while, especially in the first issue of an event tie-in. It even manages to sneak in some genuine emotion, but its main appeal is its spectacle. 4 out of 5 stars.

Dear Spoilerite,

At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.