***SPOILERS AHEAD, PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK***

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In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), it’s easy to be dazzled by the explosions, fight choreography, and quick-witted banter – but Thunderbolts invites us into something deeper. This isn’t a team of polished Avengers. These are the ones who carry scars that don’t fade with time, haunted by past missions, broken loyalties, and the constant tug between darkness and redemption. And beneath the blockbuster veneer is a striking parallel to something very real: the invisible battles so many people – especially men – fight every day. As we step into Men’s Mental Health Month, there’s no better time to talk about healing, connection, and what it means to fight for yourself, even after the war inside you has already begun.

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Trauma Isn’t Just a Backstory

In the MCU, trauma often drives the plot – but in Thunderbolts, it defines the team. These aren’t heroes with shiny origin stories. They’re people trying to survive the aftermath of being used, manipulated, or discarded. Take Bucky Barnes for example: once a best friend and soldier, later turned into a weapon against his will. His trauma isn’t ancient history; it lives in his body, his dreams, and his relationships. The same goes for Yelena Belova, whose childhood and autonomy were stolen by the Red Room, leaving her with a lifetime of questions about trust, agency, and identity.

What makes this version of storytelling powerful – and painfully real – is that the Thunderbolts don’t just “get over it.” Their pain doesn’t vanish with a witty one-liner or a heroic sacrifice. Instead, they carry it. Sometimes poorly. Sometimes quietly. And sometimes, they make choices from a place of hurt that ripple through the lives of others.

In real life, many people – especially men – are taught to bury trauma instead of explore it. To minimize, power through, or channel it into anger. Just take a look into the statistics:

• Men in the US die by suicide at a rate 4x higher than women (AAMC, 2024)
• Men also have higher rates of substance use, violent behavior, and risky behavior (AAMC, 2024)
• Approximately 50 million American men aged 18 years or older experienced a mental health condition in 2022 (SAMHSA, 2022), though many resist seeking the help they need due to stigma (McKenzie et al., 2022)
• Over half a million men took a mental health screening through Mental Health America in 2024, which found that 3 out of 4 were at risk of having a mental health condition, as well as were 2x LESS likely than women to seek out help (MHA, 2024)

But like Bucky’s arm, trauma and mental health struggles aren’t something you can just detach from. It becomes part of how you move through the world, until it’s addressed. Therapy doesn’t erase trauma – but it helps you make meaning out of it. It helps you build something new, instead of letting the past write your next chapter for you.

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Community Heals What Isolation Can’t

In Thunderbolts, a group of individuals with complex pasts and personal demons are brought together, not by choice, but by circumstance. Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, John Walker, Ava Starr, Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster), and Bob (Sentry) find themselves navigating a world that has often misunderstood or manipulated them. Yet, it's within this unlikely assembly that they begin to find a semblance of understanding and camaraderie.

This narrative mirrors real-life scenarios where individuals, especially men, grapple with the challenges of opening up about their mental health struggles. Societal expectations often dictate that men should be stoic, self-reliant, and emotionally restrained. Such norms can lead to isolation, making it difficult for men to seek support or even acknowledge their vulnerabilities.

Research underscores the detrimental effects of this isolation. According to the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on the epidemic of loneliness, lacking social connection can increase the risk of premature death by more than 60%, with men being disproportionately affected due to less robust social support networks.

Moreover, a study from the All of Us Research Program found that participants with multiple forms of social support—emotional, informational, and tangible—were significantly less likely to experience depression. Those with all three types of support were six times less likely to be depressed than those with only tangible support.

In the context of the Thunderbolts, the team's forced collaboration becomes a catalyst for healing. Their shared experiences and mutual understanding foster an environment where they can confront their pasts and support each other's growth. This underscores the profound impact that community and connection can have on mental well-being.

For men, building such supportive communities can be transformative. Whether through group therapy, support groups, or open conversations with trusted individuals, breaking the cycle of isolation is a crucial step toward healing. As the Thunderbolts demonstrate, even the most fragmented individuals can find strength and redemption through connection.

Navigating the Darkness Without Becoming It

The Thunderbolts don’t wear the clean-cut moral clarity of the Avengers. They’re complicated – capable of violence, betrayal, and mistrust. But that’s what makes them compelling. They’re people who’ve walked through fire, sometimes becoming part of the destruction themselves, and are now trying to make different choices.

This kind of inner battle – resisting the urge to shut down, lash out, or numb – is familiar to anyone navigating healing. For many men, anger is often the most socially acceptable emotional outlet. Vulnerability, grief, fear–those are harder to name, let alone express. And so, the “darkness” often manifests as irritability, emotional withdrawal, or even risky behavior.

Studies have shown that men are less likely than women to seek mental health support, even when experiencing significant distress. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, while over 51% of females with any mental illness receive treatment, only around 37% of males do. This gap isn’t because men don’t struggle–it’s because many have been taught not to name the struggle.

Bucky Barnes shows us what it looks like to fight back against that silence. His journey in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier includes therapy sessions, amends-making, and deep discomfort. He doesn’t have a redemption arc that’s neat or easy–but he does have one that’s honest. He’s doing the hard work of confronting guilt without letting it define him.

Bob’s story is perhaps the most prominent example of someone being consumed by inner darkness–quite literally. Once an addict who volunteered for superhuman experimentation in hopes of bettering himself, Bob becomes the Sentry: immensely powerful but fractured. When his darker alter ego (the Void) overtakes him, it traps an entire city in the grip of trauma and despair. But healing doesn’t come from force or isolation–it comes from connection. The Thunderbolts, imperfect and wounded themselves, choose to step into his pain, affirm his worth, and remind him he’s not alone. In one of the most emotionally resonant moments of the film, their collective belief allows Bob to reclaim his mind and body from the Void. His recovery isn’t about pretending the damage didn’t happen–it’s about facing it with others who refuse to let him drown in it.

This is the work of therapy: not erasing darkness, but learning how to sit with it without being consumed. And crucially, it doesn’t have to be done alone. Healing–especially from trauma, shame, or identity struggles–often requires the presence of others who can witness your pain and still choose to stay. Whether it's a trusted therapist, a support group, or a chosen family of people who show up for each other, recovery is rarely a solo act. It’s why spaces that normalize emotional exploration–especially for men–are vital. Healing doesn’t mean becoming someone else. It means becoming more fully yourself, with room for all the complexity.

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Redefining Purpose: Not Just for Heroes

The Thunderbolts aren’t trying to save the world for applause. In fact, much of the film shows them being manipulated, discarded, and rebranded against their will. And yet, through the chaos, betrayal, and existential threat, they find something more meaningful than a clean reputation: purpose.

For many men – especially those navigating mental health challenges – the question of purpose can feel like a haunting one. Traditional ideas of masculinity often tie a man's worth to productivity, control, or self-reliance. When those start to unravel due to burnout, addiction, trauma, or grief, it can lead to a profound identity crisis. The American Psychological Association notes that societal norms around masculinity can discourage men from seeking psychological help, negatively impacting their mental health and well-being.

But Thunderbolts offers another lens. Purpose doesn’t have to be perfect – it can be forged in the mess. Yelena reclaims her autonomy, choosing compassion over vengeance. John Walker wrestles with the cost of blind patriotism and learns to lead with more humility. Ava Starr, once ghosted by society (literally and figuratively), becomes a steady force in building trust. Alexei (Red Guardian) steps into a protective, often comedic role, but finds deeper purpose supporting those he once underestimated. And Bucky Barnes, long haunted by his past, becomes a stabilizing presence who helps unite the team. Even Bob, transformed into the volatile Sentry, confronts the trauma that shaped him, from childhood abuse to addiction to weaponization, and chooses, with the support of his new team, to reclaim control. None of them are healed in the traditional sense, but they are healing. Their shared mission isn’t just about stopping the Void – it’s about choosing to become something more than what was done to them.

The idea that "found family" can be a source of purpose is especially resonant. Research consistently shows that supportive social relationships are a key factor in recovery and resilience. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high-quality relationships can help people live longer, healthier lives, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving mental health outcomes. For those who feel isolated, misunderstood, or stuck in cycles of shame, connection – whether through friends, therapy, or community – can be the foundation of transformation.

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Conclusion

As we step into Men’s Mental Health Month, we’re reminded that healing and purpose are not reserved for the perfect or the pristine. Like the Thunderbolts, we all deserve the opportunity to redefine ourselves, to rewrite the narrative we’ve been given. For men, especially, who often feel the pressure to uphold an image of invulnerability, it's crucial to recognize that embracing vulnerability doesn’t make you weaker – it makes you human. The power of transformation lies not in perfection, but in the courage to face your own darkness, to allow others to see your wounds, and to trust that healing can come in community. Just like the Thunderbolts, when we choose to believe in ourselves, and in the people who choose to stand by us, we find a path forward. So let this be a reminder: your worth isn’t tied to an image or expectation; it’s tied to your willingness to show up, to grow, and to keep moving forward together.

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