MCU Villains Now Have A Chance At Redemption Thanks To She-Hulk

One group from Marvel Comics was teased during Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which could see many MCU villains get a chance at redemption. She-Hulk brought Emil Blonsky, a.k.a. Abomination, back to the MCU, where the villain was Jennifer Walters’ first client at the Superhuman Law Division of GLK&H. Blonsky has apparently been on a redemptive journey since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, and, once released on parole, runs a spiritual retreat, “Summer Twilights,” which brings together unusual super-powered individuals who seek to talk about their inflictions and get some spiritual help.

Emil Blonsky isn’t the first villain who has seen a redemption arc in the MCU, and certainly won’t be the last, since the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver quickly defected to the Avengers in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Marvel Studios have already revealed the lineup for the MCU’s first Thunderbolts team. Many expected Blonsky to be confirmed for an appearance in Thunderbolts, since he is the epitome of reformed villains in the MCU, but he could perhaps have a more important role than being an active member. His She-Hulk retreat is reminiscent of one obscure Marvel Comics group, which could be setting up many MCU villains for a redemption arc.

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law Teased The MCU’s Villains Anonymous

2005’s Spider-Man Unlimited (Vol. 3) #12 debuted the Villains Anonymous in Marvel Comics, a support group created in order for villains and criminals to meet and seek reformation. Originally comprised of Equinox, Big Wheel, the Schizoid Man, Armadillo, and Man-Bull, Villains Anonymous allowed these villains the space to air their grievances and perhaps learn the error of their ways, learning from their past mistakes to better make amends with their present. This was mirrored perfectly in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, which even included the MCU debut of Man-Bull, one of Villains Anonymous’ original members.

Villains Anonymous Could Set Up Future Thunderbolts Team Members

Famously, Marvel’s Thunderbolts team has often been comprised of reformed villains and antiheroes, and this seems to be a theme that Marvel Studios are following in introducing the team to the MCU. The likes of Bucky Barnes, the former Winter Soldier, Ghost, Ant-Man and the Wasp’s villain, and Taskmaster, Black Widow’s villain, being included on the team could give many other MCU villains hope that they might be able to do some good. This could be the perfect place to introduce an official Villains Anonymous group, as the support group could help the former foes accept their wrongdoings before they go on to become members of future Thunderbolts teams.

When Marvel Studios revealed the lineup for the inaugural Thunderbolts team, many were confused about the omission of characters such as Baron Zemo, the elusive Red Hulk, and even Abomination himself, even though it’s likely for this team to change and adapt in the MCU, just as the Avengers regularly do. Perhaps more of the forgotten MCU villains could return in the setting of a Villains Anonymous group, realizing their misdeeds after their confrontations with various superheroes, and seeking to do better. The introduction of this group could see the perfect connection between Blonsky’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law support group, and the future of the MCU.