This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts*.
Thunderbolts* stars a group of anti-heroes and villains who come together to form a super-team of saviors. While the team’s name in the film has comical origins—jokingly named after Yelena Belova’s (Florence Pugh) childhood soccer team—the original comic book team was deadly serious.
However, none of the members of the original group of comic characters appear in the film. Or so we thought.
The Original Thunderbolts
In the late 1990s, Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley created the Thunderbolts. This group of supposed superheroes stepped in when the Avengers were killed by Onslaught. The mysterious group won over civilians with their heroic deeds, but the truth was far more sinister.
RELATED: Movie Review: Thunderbolts*
Purporting to be concerned citizens turned heroes, Citizen V, MACH-1, Techno, Atlas, Meteorite, and Songbird constituted the Thunderbolts. But unbeknownst to the general public, the new team of heroes was actually made up of the Masters of Evil, with Baron Helmut Zemo leading Abner Jenkins/Beetle, Paul Norbert Ebersol/Fixer, Erik Stephan Josten/Goliath, Karla Sofen/Moonstone, and Melissa Gold/Screaming Mimi.
Zemo hatched a plan to curry favor with the powers-that-be and trick them into handing him vital defense information. The team eventually turned on Zemo and went on the run.
RELATED: Captain America: Brave New World and the Importance of Self-Love
None of these characters comprises the super-group in Thunderbolts*. In fact, almost none of these characters in this form exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at all—the exception being Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl), who has appeared in Captain America: Civil War and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. The Bill Foster version of Goliath appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp, played by Lawrence Fishburne.
Hiding in Plain Sight
The fact that none of the original characters made it into the cast is in doubt, according to an IMDb.com interview with Thunderbolts* producer Brian Chapek. He appears to indicate that a certain female character in the film potentially has a larger future ahead of her based on an “emblem” she’s wearing.
Ever since the trailers dropped for the film, fans have been speculating about the true identity of the character played by Geraldine Viswanathan. In the film, she plays Mel, the P.A. to the Thunderbolts’ antagonist Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
RELATED: The Missing Women From the Avengers: Doomsday Cast
Eagle-eyed viewers not only connected the name Mel to Songbird’s comic name, but they also spotted the character wearing a songbird necklace in the trailers. This is why I don’t watch trailers; they spoil everything.
I didn’t make the connection while watching the film, but I’m certain I saw Viswanathan credited as Mel Gold on IMDb.com over opening weekend. She’s now back to being just Mel. The actor herself has not responded to any rumors. This isn’t surprising since Marvel plays their cards close to their chest—when they want to.
Songbird in the Comics
In the original Thunderbolts run, Melissa Gold/Songbird, or Screaming Mimi, was a child of a troubled home. As a young woman, she turned to a life of crime with her boyfriend. They were in the midst of escaping after conducting a robbery when the police caught up with them and killed her boyfriend.
RELATED: The Fantastic Four: First Steps Teaser Welcomes Us to the Family
Heartbroken, Mel screamed till she destroyed her vocal cords, which is when she was found by the Masters of Evil and recruited. Fixer fitted her with technology that allowed her to use her sonic powers again. Then, she was part of the Thunderbolts ruse.
Over the years, Mel’s origin story has expanded and differed. She has also been on the right and wrong side of Marvel law. She’s been part of a few iterations of Thunderbolts, but she’s also been associated with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers.
It’s hard to tell whether Viswanathan really is playing an early rendition of Songbird because her character has very little in common with her comic book counterpart.
RELATED: Sadie Sink to Star in Spider-Man 4
Mel in Thunderbolts* doesn’t appear to have any powers. Admittedly, she does work for an evil boss. Though she seesaws with her loyalty and morality, in the end, it appears Mel is still working for Valentina. She is, arguably, a vital player in helping the Thunderbolts save Bob/Sentry (Lewis Pullman), so Mel is practically a de facto member of the team.
Whatever the future holds for Mel—be it as a superbeing or a super-personal assistant—Viswanathan is a vivacious addition to the MCU. Her inclusion also helps the franchise’s limited South Asian representation as well.
Thunderbolts* is currently screening across theaters.
