Mental health and ‘Thunderbolts’ — a look within

Thunderbolts*’ big depression metaphor hit me hard, because of what it’s missing most

The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, Thunderbolts*, is baldly and emphatically about dealing with depression. It opens with state-assassin-turned-mercenary-assassin Yelena​​ Belova (Florence Pugh) in voiceover, musing about the “emptiness” that characterizes her life, how she can’t enjoy or connect to things the way she used to. The story repeatedly touches on different ways people self-medicate to survive the loss of hope, from alcohol a…

Mental health and ‘Thunderbolts’ — a look within

CHICO — I’ve been thinking a lot lately about mental health. Namely my own, but other people’s as well. It’s such an important topic that people avoid talking about. A little over a year ago I was told I have borderline personality disorder by my therapist. I think I was in denial that I had it when my therapist first brought it up, until I started talking to her about it more. I don’t have a medical diagnosis yet, but it’s pretty obvious that I…

Special Report: Thunderbolts* (2025)

The Marvel machine rolls on! Mike welcomes Chris Stachiw and Father Malone back to The Projection Booth to unpack Thunderbolts (2025), Marvel’s latest plunge into the morally murky side of the MCU. With a roster of antiheroes and reformed villains, Thunderbolts flips the superhero script—so does it soar or stumble? The trio dives deep into the film’s character dynamics, chaotic action, and franchise fatigue, pulling no punches as they debate whe…

Review | ‘Thunderbolts’ was good but not the greatest Marvel film - The Daily Iowan

If I could say one thing about “Thunderbolts,” it would be that it hit hard, but not in the way I expected. It is set after most of the original Avengers have been killed, zooming in on a team of antiheroes who need to save themselves after being left behind on a mission. With a star-studded cast, I went into this film thinking it would be amazing. When I first heard actress Florence Pugh’s opening monologue at the beginning, I honestly thought …

Marvel’s Thunderbolts* shines a light on men’s mental illness – but falls down with this outdated plotline

Marvel StudiosThis piece contains spoilers. Marvel’s men are sad. And that’s a good thing. Thor’s depressed in Avengers: Endgame. Tony Stark has panic attacks in Iron Man 3. Peter grieves in Spider-Man: No Way Home. In Marvel’s latest release Thunderbolts* (or The New Avengers), we finally see a male superhero seek advice on how to deal with mental illness. The only problem? His impromptu therapist is a woman he’s only just met. A blanket of dar…