2025: Doom's Reign and the Thunderbolts' Reckoning

The Marvel Universe in 2025 is defined by one name: Doctor Doom. Launching in February, "One World Under Doom," a massive crossover event, sees Doom, the new Sorcerer Supreme, claim global dominion. Central to this storyline is Thunderbolts: Doomstrike, a miniseries by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Tommaso Bianchi, serving as a pivotal chapter in a long-running Bucky Barnes arc.

IGN presents an exclusive preview of Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #3, showcasing a clash between two Thunderbolts teams: Bucky Barnes's team versus the original Thunderbolts, now aligned with Doom. The preview teases a daring mission to disrupt Doom's vibranium supply.

Bucky Barnes: Architect of Doom's Rise?

Thunderbolts: Doomstrike builds upon Kelly and Lanzing's 2023 Thunderbolts relaunch. Bucky Barnes's team, tasked with neutralizing major threats, inadvertently cleared the path for Doom's ascension. Their victories—defeating Hydra and crippling Kingpin—created a power vacuum Doom exploited.

Lanzing explains, "Bucky eliminated the Red Skull, Kingpin's finances, and a key US deterrent. This inadvertently empowered Doom, who Bucky used as a tool. No one uses Doom as a pawn without consequences."

Kelly reveals that a Doom-centric storyline was always planned, coinciding fortuitously with Ryan North's universe-spanning "One World Under Doom" event. Bucky's actions become the catalyst for Doom's conquest, making Doomstrike a reckoning for Bucky's choices.

Bucky's guilt, a recurring theme since his Winter Soldier days, intensifies. Kelly notes, "This burden adds to his existing guilt, and Doom will weaponize it. The weight will be immense."

The other Thunderbolts have varied motivations. Songbird acts out of loyalty to Bucky, but also grieves her loss. Black Widow prioritizes Bucky's safety. Destroyer is already on a mission. Sharon Carter combats fascism. U.S. Agent is disillusioned. And Ghost Rider '44, an old friend, re-enters the fray.

Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's role remains enigmatic, requiring readers to discover her involvement in issue #1.

Thunderbolts vs. Thunderbolts: A Battle for Redemption

Doomstrike features the return of the original 1997 Thunderbolts, now serving Doom. This sets up a direct conflict with Bucky's team.

Kelly highlights the return of the original Thunderbolts, exploring their potential for redemption. Lanzing adds that Doom, not Bucky, controls this iteration of the Thunderbolts, using them as "Fulgar Victoris," and Bucky is their primary target.

Songbird, caught between her past and present loyalties, will be a central figure. Kelly describes her conflicted emotions upon seeing her former teammates serving Doom.

Doomstrike concludes Kelly and Lanzing's "Revolution Saga" featuring Bucky Barnes, starting with Devil's Reign: Winter Soldier and continuing through Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty and Captain America: Cold War.

Lanzing emphasizes that this is their final Bucky Barnes story for now, a culmination of their years-long narrative.

The creators aim to attract MCU viewers, particularly those familiar with Bucky and Natasha's relationship and Doom's upcoming MCU appearance. They hope to draw readers into the world of Marvel comics.

Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1 releases February 19, 2025.

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