Thunderbolt

Yelena Belova, acting on behalf of CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, destroys a laboratory to eliminate evidence of her involvement with the O.X.E. Group's 'Sentry' superhuman project. The destruction is part of a covert operation to cover up her misconduct as de Fontaine faces political challenges. This event sets the stage for the subsequent chaos and covert conflicts.

De Fontaine sends Yelena, John Walker, Ava Starr, and Antonia Dreykov to a hidden O.X.E. facility under orders to eliminate each other. An intense fight ensues at the site, resulting in Ava killing Antonia. During the chaos, an amnesiac man named Bob is released from suspended animation, adding an unexpected variable to the situation.

The operatives learn that they were deliberately sent to the facility by de Fontaine to be incinerated, along with any evidence of her misconduct. They band together to escape from the trap, and in the process, Yelena and Walker experience visions of their worst memories when they come into physical contact with Bob.

Bob, displaying superhuman abilities, creates a diversion by drawing enemy fire, allowing the others to escape. Despite being shot, Bob remains unharmed and ascends uncontrollably into the air before crash-landing back at the compound. He is then captured and transported to the Watchtower in Manhattan.

De Fontaine aims to introduce Bob to the press as a super-powered protector similar to the Avengers, using this publicity stunt to prevent her impeachment. Meanwhile, Bob is held at the Watchtower, and de Fontaine works on her political strategy to influence public opinion.

Yelena's father-figure, Alexei Shostakov, learns about de Fontaine's plans after overhearing conversations as a chauffeur. He intervenes to rescue Yelena, Walker, and Ava, and refers to them as the 'Thunderbolts,' inspired by Yelena's childhood soccer team.

Congressman Bucky Barnes is informed about the team's situation by de Fontaine's assistant Mel. Barnes captures the Thunderbolts with plans to have them testify in the upcoming impeachment proceedings, complicating de Fontaine's political predicament.

The team is taken to New York City to infiltrate the Watchtower, where Bob has been convinced by de Fontaine to join her as the 'Sentry.' They discover Bob's powerful abilities but realize he chooses not to kill them despite de Fontaine's orders, signaling his internal conflict.

Bob develops a delusional sense of superiority and turns on de Fontaine, who attempts to control him. This triggers the emergence of the Void, Bob's destructive alter ego embodying his depression, which begins to engulf New York City in supernatural darkness.

Yelena ventures into the void to reach Bob's consciousness, confronting her own past as a Black Widow. The team helps Bob face his traumas and drug addiction, ultimately empowering him to overcome the Void with their support.

After a emotional struggle in his childhood memories, Bob reclaims control over himself. The Void dissipates, light returns to the city, and the citizens are freed from supernatural darkness. The team then prepares to confront de Fontaine.

De Fontaine publicly introduces the team as the New Avengers and claims credit for their actions, manipulating the media to shape public perception. Yelena quietly warns de Fontaine that the team now has power over her, indicating a shift in their dynamic.

Fourteen months later, the team discusses a growing feud with Sam Wilson and an external space threat involving an extra-dimensional spacecraft. The Watchtower detects the arrival of the spacecraft marked with a large '4' emblem, hinting at new challenges ahead.