Enough time has passed—it’s time to talk about the Thunderbolts post-credit scene. Bucky and Sam clash over who really gets to keep the name Avengers. So who’s right? Let’s break it down.
Captain Marvel: The Origin of the Name
The word Avenger first belonged to Carol Danvers, whose call sign as a U.S. Air Force pilot was “Avenger.” Inspired by her, Nick Fury proposed The Avengers Initiative to the World Security Council after his encounter with her.
SHIELD: The First Avengers
It was SHIELD that officially assembled the Avengers to stop Loki’s Chitauri invasion. At that point, the name belonged to the organization that brought Earth’s Mightiest Heroes together.
Stark Industries: Ownership Through Funding
After SHIELD collapsed during Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Tony Stark stepped in. He not only funded the Avengers but also provided their facilities and tech. With Stark’s wealth and lawyers, it’s safe to assume Stark Industries legally trademarked the Avengers name at some point.
Valentina de Fontaine: The Current Holder?
But things got messy after Civil War. The Avengers fell apart, Stark sold Avengers Tower, and that building eventually landed in the hands of Valentina de Fontaine—the same woman now funding the so-called “New Avengers,” the team Bucky joins.
If facilities and funding decide ownership, then Bucky might technically be right—Valentina has the resources and infrastructure.
Maybe It’s Not About the Name
Legally, the New Avengers backed by Valentina and the government probably can use the Avengers name. But Sam’s argument isn’t really about legality—it’s about morality.
Valentina is not a hero. Before creating Sentry, she ran human experiments that killed countless people, then covered it up with mercenaries. Bucky spent most of Thunderbolts trying to bring her to justice. Yet when Valentina branded his team the “New Avengers,” he let it slide.
That’s the real conflict:
- Sam wants Valentina exposed and punished.
- Bucky compromises, accepting her corruption for the sake of keeping the Avengers legacy alive.
Final Word
So, who owns the Avengers name? Legally—probably Valentina. Spiritually—no one but the heroes who built it.
And that’s exactly why the argument between Bucky and Sam matters. It isn’t about paperwork or trademarks. It’s about whether the Avengers name should stand for justice—or be twisted into a tool for someone else’s power.
