History Characters / ThunderboltsFoundingMembers

* ShadowArchetype: After the death of Mar-Vell Sofen became written as a shadow to the second Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau. They both have mother issues but while Rambeau worked hers out Sofen shut hers out, and then was {{rev|ison}}ealed to have killed her. Both are attached to their super powers, to perhaps an unhealthy degress, but Rambeau got hers by dumb luck and was initially frightened by them, falling in love with them later after being deemed the new Captain Marvel by news media, while Sofen decided to steal hers from the first Moonstone, along with his title. Both often seek posisitions of leadership, but Rambeau is a somewhat reluctant leader who takes charge when she thinks she is best for the job and lives to serve, while Sofen seeks leadership as a means to control others and live more comfortably. Sofen has discovered genuine joy in serving other people, but unlike Rambeau Sofen refuses to do so unless she herself is benefitting first. Since "leaving" The Masters Of Evil Sofen has recognized their shared interests, desires and flaws and attempted to convince Rambeau her that Sofens goals align with Rambeau's values. They usually don't, and Rambeau knows it, but was nonethelss persuaded into helping Sofen complete Project Auru during ''ComicBook/Strikeforce''.

* UndyingLoyalty: To Baron Zemo. Serves as the basis for his character arc in the early issues as, being a soldier, he cannot betray his commanding officer (Zemo), but is constantly temped to do so, as [[GoodFeelsGood he discovers a new side of himself after playing at being a hero and falling in love.]] Ultimately subverted in issue 12 of the original run, where he helps the badly wounded Zemo escape the space station, but refuses to go with him, deeming their debts to be square.

* GoodPowersBadPeople: {{Deconstruction}}; the gemstone that grants Karla her powers was originally crafted for a Kree space hero, and it's imbued with a portion of their heroic instinct, which began to come out while working with the Thunderbolts, ''particularly'' when Hawkeye came around. However, this is personified largely by giving her a conscience and a sense of empathy, two things that were ''completely'' alien to her and confused the hell out of her. The dichotomy of having an "artificial" conscience while being a natural sociopath caused a great deal of mental instability, and nearly drove her insane. Later, it succeeded, both in driving her insane and then resorting her to sanity with a consience, that Sofen proceeded to ignore.

* {{Stripperific}}: As Screaming Mimi, she dressed often in leotards or two-piece outfits with tiny skirts. As Songbird, she's dressed head-to-to but in a FormFittingWardrobe, and it's often shown her civilian attire can sometimes be on the revealing side.

!!Citizen V / ComicBook/BaronZemo

->See Characters/CaptainAmericaCentralRoguesGallery for more info.

!!Founding Members

The 13th Baron in the Zemo bloodline. Helmut followed in the footsteps of his father before him, becoming an enemy of Captain America and the Avengers. In what could be his greatest scheme ever, Helmut masqueraded as Citizen V and led the Thunderbolts to public acclaim in order to conquer the world. In the end, he failed only because his cohorts desired to remain heroes and rebelled against him. See Characters/CaptainAmericaCentralRoguesGallery for more info.

* ShadowArchetype: After the death of Mar-Vell Sofen became written as a shadow to the second Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau. They both have mother issues but while Rambeau worked hers out Sofen shut hers out, and then was {{rev|ison}}ealed to have killed her. Both are attached to their super powers, to perhaps an unhealthy degress, but Rambeau got hers by dumb luck and was initially frightened by them, falling in love with them later after being deemed the new Captain Marvel by onlookers, while Sofen decided to steal hers from the first Moonstone, along with his title. Both often seek posisitions of leadership, but Rambeau is a somewhat reluctant leader who takes charge when she thinks she is best for the job and lives to serve, while Sofen seeks leadership as a means to control others and live more comfortably. Sofen has discovered genuine joy in serving other people, but unlike Rambeau Sofen refuses to do so unless she herself is benefitting first. Since "leaving" The Masters Of Evil Sofen has recognized their shared interests, desires and flaws and attempted to convince Rambeau her that Sofens goals align with Rambeau's values. They usually don't, and Rambeau knows it, but was nonethelss persuaded into helping Sofen complete Project Auru during ''ComicBook/Strikeforce''.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Karla tends to plot against and betray anyone all the freaking time. Generally, the only reason anyone puts up with her is because her powers make her too useful to pass up.

* GoodPowersBadPeople: {{Deconstruction}}; the gemstone that grants Karla her powers was originally crafted for a Kree space hero, and it's imbued with a portion of their heroic instinct, which began to come out while working with the Thunderbolts, ''particularly'' when Hawkeye came around. However, this personified largely by giving her a conscience and a sense of empathy, two things that were ''completely'' alien to her and confused the hell out of her. The dichotomy of having an "artificial" conscience while being a natural sociopath caused a great deal of mental instability, and nearly drove her insane. Later, it succeeded.

* LackOfEmpathy: She outright swore as a youth she'd always put herself first. While she's not a true psychopath in that Sofen is mentally capable of caring for other people, and of discerning right from wrong, she's generally held herself to that.

* MsFanservice: Between her time as Ms. Marvel and her form-fitting suits that she manifests through her powers, she likes to show off her voluptuous curves and figure that certainly caught some stares.

!!! '''First Appearance:''' ''Strange Tales'' #123 (August 1964) [[note]]As Beetle[[/note]]; ''The Incredible Hulk'' #449 (January, 1997) [[note]]As Mach-1[[/note]]; ''Thunderbolts'' #37 (April, 2000) [[note]]As Mach-2[[/note]]; ''Thunderbolts'' #57 (December, 2001) [[note]]As Mach-3[[/note]]; ''New Thunderbolts'' #1 (December, 2004) [[note]]As Mach-IV[[/note]]; ''Thunderbolts'' #144 (July, 2010) [[note]]As Mach-V[[/note]]; ''The Superior Foes of Spider-Man'' #2 (October, 2013) [[note]]As Mach-VII[[/note]]; ''Thunderbolts'' Vol 3 #1 (July, 2016) [[note]]As Mach-X[[/note]]

An aircraft mechanic, Abner Jenkins decided to supplement his income through less honest means and built a suit of insect-themed PoweredArmor. Starting out as a foe of the ComicBook/FantasticFour, he came into conflict with Spider-Man, continually redesigning and updating his armor in an effort to take out the Wall-Crawler. After joining the Thunderbolts under ComicBook/BaronZemo, Abe decided to put his life of crime behind him and rebranded himself as a superhero called MACH I. Serving as a mainstay of the group, he would achieve legitimacy as a superhero and continue to upgrade his armor, eventually becoming MACH-X (and counting).

* WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes: He's not too fond of Franchise/{{Spide|rman}}y.

* DudeWheresMyRespect: He occasionally gets annoyed when people think Techno is the only one on the team with any scientific knowledge.

* IconicOutfit: His MK 2 Beetle Armor suit (the bottommost one in the image), which he wore in the 1980's and 1990's, is one of his best-known looks.

* SuperStrength: With one moonstone, Moonstone is roughly equal to Spider-man in strength. With two she's comparable to Miss Marvel.

** Initially with Zemo, as neither trusted one-another and both sought to undermine the other's leadership. They got along much better after both of their HeelFaceTurn.

* MakeMeWannaShout: Her original power. As Songird, she has a mantle allowing her to channel it onto [[SwissArmySuperpower very versatile "solid sound" constructs]].

* CerebusRetcon: Dr. Karla Sofen (Meteorite/Moonstone) first appear psychologist and psychiatrist who disliked being dependent on her patients for income that she entered the super-criminal world as an aide to Doctor Faustus. Then in Thunderbolts #25, her backstory revealed that she grew up in the mansion of Hollywood producer Charles Stockbridge, as the child of his butler Karl Sofen. Growing up, Karla resented the wealthy family her parents severed for having the wealth she wanted and was forced to be a playmate to Charles's daughter Deanna Stockbridge. While Deanna saw Karla as a true friend, Karla envied the wealth she had and started to manipulate the naïve Deanna into giving her things, and other times she merely messed with the poor girl's self-esteem for her own amusement. Karla wanted to get away from the mansion and the wealthy family for their effortless superiority. When her father died of a heart attack, Karla got her wish, and her mother, Marion Sofen, left the mansion to live with her parents with Karla. Karla saw her mother get three jobs to support them and made sure to give Karla the best chances she never had by sending her to the best schools. At Karla's graduation, while Marion felt pride for her daughter, Karla felt contempt for her mother. Karla vowed never to be so stupid as to put anyone else needs over her own and went into psychology in college to understand better how to control others. Then it is shown that Karla Sofen is more evil, cruel, and selfish than she let on. First, Thunderbolts #110 revealed that Karla drove eight patients to suicide and was instrumental in the therapeutic hospitalization of six more. Then Ms. Marvel #38 took her contempt for her mother to its ultimate conclusion when it is revealed that she murdered her mother. And while there were hints, she felt guilt for killing her mother, and she killed her mother because she did not want to see her as a supervillain. When she destroys her mother's grave, she shows that she truly will never put the needs of others before her own despite the guilt she feels or hurting the people she loves.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Karla tends to plot against and betray anyone all the freaking time.

* FatalFlaw: Sloth. Karla ''always'' takes the easiest option, even when it could come back down the road to bite her. After the redemption-seeking Thunderbolts turn on Zemo, she uses her position as leader to make several decisions that grant them the momentary victory, but which could clearly come back to bite them, such as her actions on Kosmos and against Graviton. This results in the rest of the Thunderbolts calling her out on this failing, and ends in issue 20 of the original run, where everyone agrees that this trait of hers makes her unsuited to be their leader.

* TheLostLenore: Was this for a while for both Hawkeye and Baron Zemo, after being rendered comatose. Hawkeye it was short-lived, as he then died shortly after himself, and when he returned, so had she. The Baron, it was much longer, and in some regard his genuine attempt at heroism was motivated by her.
* GoodPowersBadPeople: {{Deconstruction}}; the gemstone that grants Karla her powers was originally crafted for a Kree space hero, and it's imbued with a portion of their heroic instinct, which began to come out while working with the Thunderbolts, ''particularly'' when Hawkeye came around. However, this personified largely by giving her a conscience and a sense of empathy, two things that were ''completely'' alien to her and confused the hell out of her. The dichotomy of having an "artificial" conscience while being a natural sociopath caused a great deal of mental instability, and nearly drove her insane. Later, it succeeded.

* ObfuscatingDisability: In a sense; in the early days of the team, she hid her phasing ability so her powers wouldn't too closely mirror those of the villain Moonstone (lest anyone get suspicious).

After the death of Angar, Mel feel into despair and ended up destroying her vocal cords. Approached by Zemo and Fixer, she was given a new set of cybernetic vocal cords which not only returned her screams to her, but allowed her to manipulate sound into hard objects. Becoming the "hero" Songbird, she agreed to help them in their plans. Seeing her Songbird persona as the second chance she so desperately needed, she recreated herself fully, embracing the new mantle she had been given and, as more former villains joined the team, sought to give them the same chance that she had been given at a new life.

* RoguesGalleryTransplant: An enemy of the ComicBook/HumanTorch but well-known for fighting Spidey too.

* SecondaryColorNemesis: All the Beetle armors have purple and green to varying extents. The MK 1 was almost entirely green, the MK 4 is almost entirely purple, and the MKs 2 and 3 are a mixture.