The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide on collecting Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers comics books via omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novels. A part of Crushing Comics – Guide to Marvel Comics. Last updated November 2024 with titles scheduled for release through May 2024.
The Thunderbolts were a curious creation for Marvel, and its most-recent enduring property after 1991’s Deadpool. The team was introduced in early 1997, at a time when the Avengers and Fantastic Four had been banished to the Heroes Reborn pocket universe in the wake of Onslaught. Their absence left a super-team gap in the modern Marvel universe, which was obliging filled by the Thunderbolts.
The Thunderbolts were posed as a brand new super team not only in the Marvel Universe, but in the promotion around the new title. That made it all the more shocking when the end of the first issue revealed the do-good team to be the Masters of Evil masquerading behind newly made heroic identities! Fans flipped out, sales shot up, and Marvel had a new franchise on its hands.
After a brief hiatus in the early 2000s, the title returned and ran through the beginning of Marvel Now. However, it would twice detour its cast to a second title – Dark Avengers.
- Thunderbolts Bookshelf
- Reading Order
- Thunderbolts, Vol. 1 by Busiek, Nicieza, and Arcudi (1997 – 2003)
- Avengers / Thunderbolts (2004)
- New Thunderbolts & Thunderbolts, Vol. 1 by Busiek & Nicieza (2005 – 2007)
- Thunderbolts, Vol. 1 by Warren Ellis with Christos Gage (2007 – 2008)
- Dark Avengers, Vol. 1 by Bendis & Deodato (2009 – 2010)
- Thunderbolts, Vol. 1 by Andy Diggle and Jeff Parker (2009 – 2012)
- Dark Avengers, Vol. 2 by Jeff Parker (2012 – 2013)
- Thunderbolts – Where Are They (in Marvel) Now?
- Marvel Now:
- Thunderbolts (2012) #1-32 & Annual 1 by Daniel Way and Ben Acker & Ben Blacker (Dec 2012 – Oct 2014)
- All-New, All-Different Marvel:
- Thunderbolts (2016) #1-12 by Jim Zub, Jon Malin, & Sean Izaakse (May 2016 – Apr 2017)
- King in Black: Thunderbolts (2021) #1-3 by Matthew Rosenberg & Juan Ferreyra (Jan – Mar 2021)
- Devil’s Reign: Villains For Hire (2022) #1-3 by Clay Chapman & Manuel Garcia (Jan – Mar 2022)
- Thunderbolts (2022) #1-5 by Jim Zub, Sean Izaakse, & Netho Diaz (Aug – Dec 2022)
- Thunderbolts (2023) #1-4 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, & Geraldo Borges (Dec 2023 – Mar 2024)
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Thunderbolts Bookshelf
Omnibus & Oversize Hardcovers
Omnibus Vol. 1 (2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302927073 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #0-33, -1 (AKA “Distant Rumblings”), & Annual 1997, Incredible Hulk (1968) #449, Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #7, Heroes For Hire (1997) #7, Captain America & Citizen V Annual 1998, Avengers (1998) #12, and material from Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1
Omnibus Vol. 2 (2022 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302931896 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #34-63 & Annual 2000, Avengers (1998) #31-34 & Annual 2000, Thunderbolts: Life Sentences (2001) #1, Thunderbolts: From The Marvel Vault (2011) #1, Citizen V and the V-Battalion (2001) #1-3, and Citizen V and the V-battalion: The Everlasting (2002) #1-4.
Omnibus Vol. 3 (2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302950934 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #64-75, Avengers/Thunderbolts (2004) #1-6, New Thunderbolts (2004) #1-18, Thunderbolts (1997) #100-109, and Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo – Born Better (2007) #1-4.
Note that Omnibus Vol. 3 skips issues #76-81, which rebooted the team with an all-new cast and concept.
Issues #110-143 are not comprehensively collected in this format at this time.
Thunderbolts: Uncaged Omnibus (2o23 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302952853 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #144-174 & #163.1, Dark Avengers (2012) #175-190, and material from Enter The Heroic Age (2010) #1.
Thunderbolts: Red (2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302953058 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (2012) #1-32 and Annual 1/2013
Epic Collections
Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Justice, Like Lightning (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952051 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #1-12, -1 (AKA “Distant Rumblings”), & Annual 1997, Incredible Hulk (1968) #449, Spider-Man Team-Up #7, Heroes For Hire (1997) #7, and material from Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1.
Epic Collection, Vol. 2: Wanted Dead or Alive (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956462 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #13-25 & #0, Captain America & Citizen V Annual 1998, and Avengers (1998) #12.
Epic Collection, Vol. 3: Targeted For Death (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1302964122 / digital TBA)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #26-41 & Annual 2000 and Avengers Annual 2000
Epic Collections Vol. 3 and on: Not yet solicited, but will collect issues #42-81, 100-174, #163.1, Avengers (1998) #31-34, Thunderbolts: Life Sentences (2001) #1, Citizen V and the V-Battalion (2001) #1-3, Citizen V and the V-Battalion: The Everlasting (2002) #1-4, Avengers/Thunderbolts (2004) #1-6, New Thunderbolts (2004) #1-18, and Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo – Born Better (2007) #1-4, Thunderbolts: From The Marvel Vault (2011) #1,
Though these next two collections are not Epics, they collect a similar range of issues from a pair of sequential runs that take this title right up to the Dark Avengers Modern Epic, below.
Dark Reign (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952846 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures (2007) #1, Thunderbolts: Breaking Point (2007) #1, Thunderbolts: International Incident (2008) #1, Thunderbolts: Reason in Madness (2008) #1, Thunderbolts (2006) #122-131, and Deadpool (2008) #8-9.
Acceptable Losses (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956677 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #132-143 and Secret Warriors (2009) #7-9
Dark Avengers Modern Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Osborn’s Reign (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952709 / digital)
Collects Dark Avengers (2009) #1-16 & Annual 1, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia (2009) #1, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #513-514, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus (2009) #1
Modern Epic Collections Vol. 2 and on: Not yet solicited, but may collect Dark Avengers (2012) #175-190 separately from the main Thunderbolts line.
Thunderbolts Reading Order
Thunderbolts (1997) #1-81, Annual 1997, Annual 2000,
Captain America & Citizen V Annual 1998, Citizen V and the V-Battalion (2001) #1-3, Thunderbolts: Life Sentences (2001) #1, Citizen V and the V-Battalion: The Everlasting (2002) #1-4, & Thunderbolts: From The Marvel Vault (2011) #1
[Marvel Unlimited: Main Series, Annual 1997 & 2000, Tales of the Marvel Universe, Citizen V Annual, Life Sentences, Citizen V and the V-Battalion, Citizen V Everlasting, Marvel Vault]
in oversize hardcover…
Omnibus Vol. 1 (2021 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302927073 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #0-33, -1 (AKA “Distant Rumblings”), & Annual 1997, Incredible Hulk (1968) #449, Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #7, Heroes For Hire (1997) #7, Captain America & Citizen V Annual 1998, Avengers (1998) #12, and material from Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1
Omnibus Vol. 2 (2022 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302931896 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #34-63 & Annual 2000, Avengers (1998) #31-34 & Annual 2000, Thunderbolts: Life Sentences (2001) #1, Thunderbolts: From The Marvel Vault (2011) #1, Citizen V and the V-Battalion (2001) #1-3, and Citizen V and the V-Battalion: The Everlasting (2002) #1-4.
Omnibus Vol. 3 (2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302950934 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #64-75, Avengers/Thunderbolts (2004) #1-6, New Thunderbolts (2004) #1-18, Thunderbolts (1997) #100-109, and Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo – Born Better (2007) #1-4. Note that this volume skips issues #76-81, which rebooted the team with an all-new cast and concept.
as collected by single issue or storyline…
Thunderbolts: Marvel’s Most Wanted
Collects many debut issues of original Thunderbolts members – The Avengers (1963) #21-22 (Goliath as Power Man and Baron Zemo, though not his debut), Captain America (1968) #168 (Zemo, again) & 192 (Moonstone), The Incredible Hulk (1968) #228-229 (more Moonstone), Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #54 (Songbird, as Screaming Mimi) & 56 (Giant Man), Strange Tales (1951) #123 (Beetle) & 141-143 (Fixer)
#1-12, -1, & Annual 1997: Justice, Like Lightning (Epic Collection Vol. 1) (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952051 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #1-12, -1 (AKA “Distant Rumblings”), & Annual 1997, Incredible Hulk (1968) #449, Spider-Man Team-Up #7, Heroes For Hire (1997) #7, and material from Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1.
#1-4: Thunderbolts: Justice Like Lightning
Also collects The Incredible Hulk (1968) #449, Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #7, Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1
#1-5 & Annual 1997: Thunderbolts Classic, Vol. 1
Also collects The Incredible Hulk (1968) #449, Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #7, Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1, & Thunderbolts #-1 (AKA “Distant Rumblings”). Reprinted in 2016.
Most of the team travels from issue #1 to Incredible Hulk (1968) #449-450 to Tales of the Marvel Universe (1997) #1 prior to issue #2. Then, during the opening pages of issue #3, they appear in Spider-Man Team-Up (1995) #7 (followed by a more brief appearance in Heroes for Hire (1997) #1.
Annual 1997 fits between issues #4-5.
#6-14: Thunderbolts Classic, Vol. 2
Also collects Heroes for Hire #7. Reprinted in 2016.
The team appears in Heroes for Hire (1997) #7 between issues #8-9.
#13-25 & 0: Wanted Dead or Alive (Epic Collection, Vol. 2) (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956462 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #13-25 & #0, Captain America & Citizen V Annual 1998, and Avengers (1998) #12.
Captain America & Citizen V Annual 1998: This issue fits between issues #20-21 and is always collected alongside this series.
Issue #0 fits between #22-23
#15-22: Thunderbolts Classic, Vol. 3
Also collects #0, Avengers (1998) #12, and Captain America/Citizen V ’98 Annual 1998. Reprinted in 2016.
#22-37: Hawkeye & Thunderbolts, Vol. 1
Also collects Annual 2000 and Avengers (1999) Annual 2000
#26-41 & Annual 2000: Targeted For Death (Epic Collection, Vol. 3) (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1302964122 / digital TBA)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #26-41 & Annual 2000 and Avengers Annual 2000
Annual 2000 fits between issues #37-38. Avengers (1998) Annual 2000 fits between #41-42 for Hawkeye.
#38-50: Hawkeye & Thunderbolts, Vol. 2
Also collects Avengers (1998) #31-34
#42-44: Avengers/Thunderbolts: The Nefaria Protocols
Also collects Avengers (1998) #31-34
#42-44: Avengers Assemble, Vol. 3
Collects Avengers #23-34 and 1.5. Also available in oversize hardcover.
#45: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Maximum Security
Citizen V and the V-Battalion (2001) #1-3: Collected in Omnibus, above. Fits after #50 and before #54.
Thunderbolts: Life Sentences (2001) #1: Collected in Omnibus, above. Takes place between #52-53.
#51-75: Collected in Omnibus, above.
Citizen V and the V-Battalion: Everlasting (2002) #1-4: Collected in Omnibus, above. Starts sometime after issue #60.
From the Marvel Vault
The 2011 Thunderbolts one-shot in this collection takes place sometime after #59
#76-81: Thunderbolts: How to Lose
An unsuccessful relaunch of the book with a cast completely unrelated to the original book.
Avengers/Thunderbolts (2004) #1-6
The core Thunderbolts made their return on year after the events of #75 in this mini-series starring Atlas, Baron Zemo, Blackheath, Citizen V, Fixer, Mach-3, Moonstone, and Songbird along with the core of the Avengers. Though it was released alongside Avengers Disassembled, It can be placed earlier, between Avengers #76-77. [Marvel Unlimited]
#1-6: Avengers/Thunderbolts: Best Intentions
New Thunderbolts (2004) #1-18, Thunderbolts (1997) #100-109,
& Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo – Born Better (2007) #1-4 by Busiek & Nicieza (2005 – 2007)
The team relaunches in the wake of Avengers Disassembled with writers Kurt Busiek and Fabian Nicieza.
Note: When the run returns to its legacy numbering it is sometimes referred to as Thunderbolts (2006), but Marvel’s overall convention for a legacy-numbered run is to attribute it to its original volume year. [Marvel Unlimited: New Thunderbolts, #100+]
#1-6: Vol. 1: One Step Forward
#7-12: Vol. 2: Modern Marvels
#13-18: Vol. 3: Right of Power
Also contains Thunderbolts #100, marking the transition back to the original title and numbering.
The title changes back to Thunderbolts and resumes the numbering of the combined Vol. 1 with New Thunderbolts.
#100: Collected above in Right of Power
#101-105: Thunderbolts: Civil War
See Guide Marvel Universe Events – Civil War for additional collection information. Reprinted in 2016 along with Heroes For Hire#1-5.
#106-109: Thunderbolts: Guardian Protocols
Thunderbolts Presents: Zemo – Born Better (2007) #1-4
Collects the four-issue limited series that resolves Baron Zemo’s story after #108, as he is not featured in the next run.
Thunderbolts (1997) #110-125 by Warren Ellis with Christos Gage (2007 – 2008)
Warren Ellis takes over as writer of the next 12 issues, radically altering the concept of the team as a group managed by Norman Osborn to track down unregistered superheroes. The team consisted of Moonstone, Bullseye, Penance, Radioactive Man, Songbird, Swordsman, and Venom.
Due to some delays in the second half of his run, several one-shots and a limited series also run in this period. [Marvel Unlimited: Main Series, Desperate Measures, Penance: Restless, Breaking Point, International Incident, Reason in Madness, Deadpool (2008).]
#110-121: Thunderbolts by Warren Ellis & Mike Deodato Ultimate Collection
Also includes Civil War: The Initiative #1.
#110-115: Vol. 1: Faith in Monsters
Includes Civil War: Choosing Sides (2006) #1, Civil War: The Initiative (2007) #1, and Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures (2007) #1. Also available in hardcover.
The Desperate Measures one-shot fits between #112-113.
Penance: Relentless (2007) #1-5
Collects the five-issue limited series that fits between #116-117.
The Breaking Points one-shot fits between #116 & the Penance mini.
#116-121: Vol. 2: Caged Angels
Also available in hardcover.
After #121, read International Incident, Reason in Madness, then optionally continue to Avengers/Invaders (2008) #1 for a cameo from the team, then to Moon Knight.
Moon Knight (2006) #21-25: See Guide to Moon Knight. The entire team appears throughout this arc prior to issue #122.
Christos Gage briefly takes over writing duties after scripting the one-shots in the previous period.)
#122-125: Vol. 3: Secret Invasion
Also collects the three Thunderbolts 2008 one-shots Breaking Point, International Incident, and Reason in Madness.
#122-125: Thunderbolts: Dark Reign (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952846 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures (2007) #1, Thunderbolts: Breaking Point (2007) #1, Thunderbolts: International Incident (2008) #1, Thunderbolts: Reason in Madness (2008) #1, Thunderbolts (2006) #122-131, and Deadpool (2008) #8-9.
Secret Invasion: The Thunderbolts play a significant role in this event, and its conclusion radically changes their status quo. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Invasion for more information.
Here the cast of Thunderbolts heads to Dark Avengers, with a new team taking over in the next issue of Thunderbolts – continued after the Dark Avengers section.
Dark Avengers (2009) #1-16 & Annual by Bendis & Deodato (2009 – 2010)
The first issue of Dark Avengers proceeds directly from the final issue of the Secret Invasion event limited series. It ends concurrently with the end of the Siege event.
The Dark Avengers (in the comic, Norman Osborn’s Avengers) are a perversion of the Mighty Avengers lineup that hews closely to the original concept of Thunderbolts, with a variety of villains in the vintage costumes of the Avengers. That includes Wolverine (Daken), Ms. Marvel (Moonstone), Spider-Man (Venom), and Hawkeye (Bullseye) – plus Ares, Sentry, and Osborn as the Captain America and Iron Man mashup Iron Patriot.
This is a fast-paced, witty series that is as much about fights as it is the personalities of a team of villains in disguise. The psychologically unstable team has more personal issues to resolve than heroic ones, making for a delightfully nasty group dynamic. It was Marvel’s top-selling title for its duration, and for good reason – the superstar team of Brian M. Bendis and Mike Deodato helmed the series the entire time.
Issue one has been collected in several different volumes, as it’s a mostly standalone story of how Norman Osborn collects his team. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Dark Reign for other titles that accompanied Dark Avengers, including a mini-series for Aries.
[Marvel Unlimited: Main Series, Annual, Ares mini-series, Exodus, Utopia, Uncanny X-Men, Dark X-Men]
Collected as oversized hardcovers (and Complete Collection paperbacks)…
Dark Avengers ”Omnibus” Oversized Hardcover (ISBN 078515650X)
Collects #1-6, 9-18, & Annual 1. It skips collecting issues #7-8, as they were part of a crossover almost as long as the Dark Avengers series itself! This was recollected as a paperback in 2018. Thus, you also should buy…
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia Oversized Hardcover (ISBN 0785142339)
Collects Dark Avengers #7-8, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus & Utopia, Dark Reign: The Cabal, Dark X-Men: The Beginning #1-3 & The Confession, Uncanny X-Men #513-514, and X-Men Legacy #226-227.
as recollected in paperbacks…
Dark Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: The Complete Collection (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1302908010 / digital)
Collects Dark Avengers (2009) #1-6, #9-16, & Annual 1 – skipping the Utopia crossover issues.
Dark Avengers Modern Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Osborn’s Reign (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952709 / digital)
Collects Dark Avengers (2009) #1-16 & Annual 1, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia (2009) #1, Uncanny X-Men (1963) #513-514, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus (2009) #1
collected by single issue or storyline…
#1-6: Dark Avengers, Vol. 1: Dark Avengers Assemble (ISBN 0785138528)
Also available in hardcover (ISBN 078513851X).
#7-8: Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia (ISBN 0785142347)
Collects Dark Avengers #7-8, Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus & Utopia, Dark Reign: The Cabal, Dark X-Men: The Beginning #1-3 & The Confession, Uncanny X-Men #513-514, and X-Men Legacy #226-227. See above for hardcover.
#9-12: Dark Avengers, Vol. 2: Molecule Man (ISBN 0785138544)
Also available in hardcover (ISBN 0785138536)
Dark Avengers: Ares (2010 paperback, ISBN 978-0785144069 / digital)
Collects Dark Avengers: Ares (2009) #1-3, and Ares’s first Silver Age appearance in Thor (1966) #129. This fits prior to issue #15 and Siege.
#13-16 & Annual 1: Dark Avengers, Vol. 3: Siege (ISBN 0785148124)
Also available in hardcover (ISBN 0785148116).
See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Siege for the Siege event, which is the true end of the Dark Avengers series.
Norman Osborn next appears in the Osborn: Evil Incarcerated limited series.
collected as single issues…
#1: I Am An Avenger, Vol. 2 (ISBN 0785143610)
Collects modern Avengers debuts and joining issues, including The Avengers (1996) #1, The Avengers (1998) #1, 4, & 27, Dark Avengers (2009) #1, The Mighty Avengers (2007) #1 & 21, and New Avengers (2005) #3 & 15.
#1: Dark Reign: Accept Change (ISBN 0785141405)
Fills the story directly proceeding Secret Invasion. Includes Dark Avengers #1, Marvel Spotlight: Dark Reign, Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, Uncanny X-Men Annual 2 (2009), and Dark Reign Files & New Nation.
#1: Siege: Prelude (ISBN 0785143106)
Outlines the events leading up to Siege. Includes Dark Avengers #1. Marvel Spotlight #30, New Avengers Annual 3, Thor #600, and Dark Reign The Cabal, The Goblin Legacy, & The List – Avengers.
See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Siege for the Siege event, which is the true end of the Dark Avengers series.
Thunderbolts (1997) #126-174 & 163.1 by Andy Diggle and Jeff Parker (2009 – 2012)
Andy Diggle assumes scripting duties after the end of Secret Invasion, running alongside Bendis’s Dark Avengers. With the core of the previous Thunderbolts graduating to that sibling title, leader Norman Osborn appoints a team of Black Widow (Yelana Belova), Ghost, Paladin, Headsman, Ant-Man (Eric O’Grady), Grizzly, Mister X, and Scourge. [Marvel Unlimited]
in omnibus…
#126-143: Not collected in this format
#144-174 & 163.1: Thunderbolts: Uncaged Omnibus (2o23 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302952853 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #144-174 & #163.1, Dark Avengers (2012) #175-190, and material from Enter The Heroic Age (2010) #1.
as collected by single issue or storyline…
#126-131: Thunderbolts: Dark Reign (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302952846 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #122-131, Deadpool (2008) #8-9, and the Thunderbolts one-shots Desperate Measures (2007) #1, Breaking Point (2007) #1, International Incident One-Shot (2008) #1, & Reason in Madness (2008).
#126-129 & 132: Vol 4: Burning Down the House
Available in hardcover.
#130-131: Dark Reign: Deadpool/Thunderbolts
See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Dark Reign for more information. Also collects Deadpool #8-9.
#132-143: Acceptable Losses (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956677 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #132-143 and Secret Warriors (2009) #7-9
#133-137: Vol. 5: Widowmaker
Available in hardcover.
Jeff Parker takes over with the beginning of Siege, afterwards merging the remnants of Dark Avengers back into the book and piloting it for an impressive four-year tenure through its transition to Dark Avengers, Vol. 2
#138-143: Vol: 6: Siege
See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Siege for more information. Available in hardcover.
After Siege, Parker’s run continues with team consisting of Crossbones, Fixer, Ghost, Juggernaut, MACH-V, Man-Thing, Moonstone, and Songbird, lead by Luke Cage.
#144-147: Vol. 7: Cage
The team relaunches in the wake of Norman Osborn’s downfall in Siege. Available in hardcover.
#148-151: Vol. 8: Shadowland
See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Shadowland for more information. Available in hardcover.
#152-157: Vol. 9: Violent Rejections
#158-162: Thunderbolts: Fear Itself
See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Fear Itself for more information. Available in hardcover.
#163-168 & 163.1: Vol. 10: The Great Escape
#169-174: Vol. 11: Like Lightning
Dark Avengers (2012) #175-190 by Jeff Parker (2012 – 2013)
At this point there were three concurrent Thunderbolts teams – a Luke Cage team in the present (Luke Cage, MACH-V, Songbird, Ghost), a team lost in the timestream (Centurius, Satana, Troll, Boomerang, Moonstone, Fixer), and a replacement team of Dark Avengers that originated in New Avengers #18-23. As of #184 the title focuses only on the latter, joined by Moonstone and US Agent, as they travel to a Dark Avengers dimension where all of the standard Avengers are villains.
That replacement team consists of “Hulk” – Skaar, “Hawkeye” AKA Trickshot -Barney Barton, “Spider-Man” AKA Decapitator – Ai Apaec, “Scarlet Witch” AKA Toxic Doxie – Dr. June Covington, “Thor” – Ragnarok. They are not joined by “Ms. Marvel” AKA Superia – Deidre Wentworth and “Wolverine” AKA Gorgon – Tomi Shishido. [Marvel Unlimited]
in omnibus…
#175-190: Thunderbolts: Uncaged Omnibus (2o23 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302952853 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (1997) #144-174 & #163.1, Dark Avengers (2012) #175-190, and material from Enter The Heroic Age (2010) #1.
as collected by single issue or storyline…
New Avengers (2010) #17-23: See Avengers Flagships (2010 – Present). This new team is introduced by this arc.
#175-183: Dark Avengers: The End is the Beginning (ISBN 0785161724)
#184-190: Dark Avengers: Masters of Evil (ISBN 0785168478)
Thunderbolts – Where Are They (in Marvel) Now?
The final arcs of Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers featuring over two dozen major characters before an abrupt end. Where do all of these characters wind up in Marvel Now? [Marvel Unlimited]
Boomerang – After his appearance in Dark Avengers #183, Boomerang is back to his full-time villainous ways in Superior Spider-Man’s first and third arcs before starring in Superior Foes of Spider-Man.
Centurius – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #183
Crossbones – After his appearance in Thunderbolts #159 and 163.1, Crossbones appears throughout Fear Itself: The Fearless, later turning up in Venom #40-42.
Ghost – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #190
Hyperion – This Hyperion, who last appeared in #163, does not appear to be the same as the one starring in Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers.
Juggernaut – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #183, and is still without his Cyttorak powers. (May appear in Deadpool Annual 1 – need to check to see if his appearance is in current continuity).
Luke Cage – After appearing in the final issues of New Avengers (2010), Luke Cage next appear in Age of Ultron, followed by Mighty Avengers, Vol. 2 (with a few guest appearances along the way).
MACH-V – After appearing in Dark Avenger #183, MACH-V is back to his Beetle identity in Superior Foes of Spider-Man #4.
Man-Thing – After appearing in Dark Avengers #183, Man-Thing next shows up in Savage Wolverine #4 and Red She-Hulk #66-67.
Mister Hyde – After appearing in Dark Avengers #183, next appears in Superior Foes of Spider-Man #3, Infinity: Heist #1, and Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #6.
Moonstone – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #190
Ragnarok – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #190
Satana – After appearing in Dark Avengers #183 Satana plays a featured role in X-Factor’s Hell on Earth War in #250-256. She next appears in Superior Foes of Spider-Man #3-4 and Daredevil #33-34.
Shocker – Shocker last appears in Thunderbolts in #163, and goes on to star in Villains for Hire #1-4 and then return to the Spider-Man family of titles. He headlines Superior Foes of Spider-Man.
Skaar – Reappears after Dark Avengers #190 in Young Avenger #12 & 14.
Songbird – After appearing in Dark Avengers #183, Songbird next appears in Fearless Defenders #6 and Superior Foes of Spider-Man #3-4.
Spider-Man AKA Decapitator – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #190
Superia – Reemerges as a key member of AIM in Secret Avengers #2-3 and Avengers #15-16. She continues to appear in Secret Avengers.
Toxic Doxie – Reappears after Dark Avengers #189 in Avengers Assemble by DeConnick and Ellis.
Trickshot AKA Barney Barton – Reappears after Dark Avengers #190 in Hawkeye #11-13.
Troll – After appearing in Dark Avengers #183, Troll next appears in Superior Foes of Spider-Man #3-4 and Young Avengers #11-14.
US Agent – Has yet to appear after Dark Avengers #190
Marvel Now:
Thunderbolts (2012) #1-32 & Annual 1 by Daniel Way and Ben Acker & Ben Blacker (Dec 2012 – Oct 2014)
A new team of Thunderbolts lead by Red Hulk featuring Deadpool, Venom, Punisher, and Elektra. Launched by Daniel Way in his super-serious mode, the book trades writers at issue #12 for relative newcomer Charles Soule.
Deadpool was been a key player with several major scenes, though none are directly impactful to his own continuity in this period. [Marvel Unlimited]
in omnibus oversize hardcover…
Thunderbolts: Red (2024 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302953058 / digital)
Collects Thunderbolts (2012) #1-32 and Annual 1/2013
as originally collected…
#1-6: Vol. 1: No Quarter
(2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785166948 / digital)
#7-12: Vol. 2: Red Scare
(2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785166955 / digital)
#13-19: Vol. 3: Infinity
(2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785166962 / digital)
Issues #14-18 tie-in with Infinity; see Marvel Universe Events – Infinity.
#20-26: Vol. 4: A Chance In Hell
(2014 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189824/ digital)
#27-32 & Annual 1/2013: Vol. 5: Punisher vs. The Thunderbolts
(2015 paperback, ISBN 978-0785189831 / digital)
All-New, All-Different Marvel:
Thunderbolts (2016) #1-12 by Jim Zub, Jon Malin, & Sean Izaakse (May 2016 – Apr 2017)
A new spin on the original Thunderbolts led by Winter Soldier emerges from Marvel’s 2016 events Standoff and Civil War II! [Marvel Unlimited]
as recollected in a single paperback
#1-12: Winter Soldiers (2025 paperback, ISBN 978-1302953096 / digital TBA)
as originally collected…
#1-5: Vol. 1: There Is No High Road (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-0785196686 / digital)
#7-12: Vol. 2: No Going Back (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-0785196693 / digital)
Issue #12 is a Secret Empire tie-in; see Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Empire
King in Black: Thunderbolts (2021) #1-3 by Matthew Rosenberg & Juan Ferreyra (Jan – Mar 2021)
Kingpin reassembles the T-Bolts including Taskmaster, Rhino, Star, Mister Fear, and Batroc the Leaper – though they might not all make it out of this brutal adventure! [Marvel Unlimited]
#1-3: King in Black: Thunderbolts (2021 paperback, ISBN 978-1302928094 / digital)
Collects King In Black: Thunderbolts (2021) #1-3, King in Black: Marauders (2021) #1
Devil’s Reign: Villains For Hire (2022) #1-3 by Clay Chapman & Manuel Garcia (Jan – Mar 2022)
Though this is titled “Villains for Hire,” it is clearly a T-Bolts book – the Kingpin-assembled team in the title is even called The Thunderbolts! Clay Chapman writes a team that includes USAgent, Rhino, Electro, and more. See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Devil’s Reign for more details. [Marvel Unlimited]
#1-3: Devil’s Reign: Villains For Hire (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302945909 / digital)
Collects Devil’s Reign: Villains For Hire (2022) #1-3 and Devil’s Reign: Moon Knight (2022) #1.
Thunderbolts (2022) #1-5 by Jim Zub, Sean Izaakse, & Netho Diaz (Aug – Dec 2022)
Jim Zub writes a team that only has Hawkeye in common with the classic team line-up – Hawkeye, Monica Rambeau AKA Spectrum, America Chavez, Power Man, Persuasion, and a new character called Gutsen Glory! [Marvel Unlimited]
#1-5: Back on Target (2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302947118 / digital)
Thunderbolts (2023) #1-4 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, & Geraldo Borges (Dec 2023 – Mar 2024)
#1-4: Worldstrike (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302955663 / digital)
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Citizen V and the V-Battalion: Everlasting (2002) #1-4 actually occurs after issue 60 not 58
Thunderbolts life sentences occurs after issue 51 and before issue 56, the way it’s worded kind of makes it sound like you mean it’s set ‘in the 50s’ as in the decade
Ah whoops, make that between 51 and 53
sigh, after 52 before 53
Also, most of the guides mention where the House of M crossover occurs, for New Thunderbolts it’s issue 11 and it can also be found in House of M, Vol 2: Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, and X-Men
Vol. 2: Caged Angels heavily features Penance so the Penance: Relentless series must occur after this volume and not before it as the guide has placed it.
You have ‘Thunderbolts: Dark Reign’ listed as continuing #122-125 as well as #122-131.
You may want to note that the Marvel Now Thunderbolts (2013-2014) have tie-in issues with Infinity from issues #14-18.
The 2013 Thunderbolts Annual comes before #14 of Thunderbolts (2013) as they still have their submarine and Ghost Rider hasn’t joined the team.