I'm wondering if General T-Bolt Ross doesn't become more politically powerful since he is FINALLY reappearing in the MCU. Before, even, Thor2 came out, I envisioned a realistic route in which the MCU could go. In it, I used the exceptionally talented William Hurt, who plays T-Bolt, in the 'Norman Osborn' role. He was the one whom the government turned to when the Avengers Initiative was disbanded. From those ashes, HAMMER was formed. In response to The Avengers, Ross brought together soldiers and agents, a decision he felt was safer as they were more apt to following orders, and dubbed them The Thunderbolts, after himself of course.
That team consisted of the original Avengers 'dark' counterparts in
Iron Patriot (Ross) opposes Fury
A-Bomb (the name I ironically came up with for Abomination) opposes Hulk
Titan (Nuke in a heightened Whiplash/Titanium Man suit) opposes Iron Man
Winter Soldier opposes Captain America
Namor opposes Thor
Songbird opposes Black Widow
Constrictor opposes Hawkeye
While any of these can still work, sans Namor, I've evolved the team to include characters I never thought would be a part of the MCU.
Still developing a team around the original members, I feel a good, if not better, team would consist of
T-bolt, in a non-active roll, better reflects Fury
With Winter Soldier now an ally, if not taking up the mantle of, Captain America, or in an interesting plot twist, himself dying, by the time this movie comes out, he isn't going to be a part of the team. If not Baron Zemo, depending on his direction/status, than Jessica Jones' Will (Frank) Simpson, aka Nuke, best reflects the dark side of Captain America, as USAgent
Alas, Namor doesn't seem any closer to being a part of the MCU then when I wrote the original, Avengers 4 :Civil War. As that is the case, Ion, the better name for the ionic-powered Wonder Man, as a government-tested subject, can stand toe-to-toe with the God of Thunder.
I believe the best way to introduce some of Sider-man's nemeses is against others first. It expands the world and creates the feeling that he is part of a larger universe; when he does become entangled with said enemies, and becomes their greatest obstacle, it forces us to see Spidey as equal to, or greater than, the Avengers. Norman Osborn should be the financial backer of HAMMER, the government seeks. He, in every way, will become as much a threat to Tony Stark, as Iron Patriot, as he becomes to Spider-man. This could also be a strong chain of events that leads to the Iron-Spider costume as well as Stark's relationship with Parker.
Also, Barry Pepper would be the perfect Osborne.
When ones team has 'a Hulk', there's not many out there that can rival his brute strength. Originally, I was of the camp that felt bringing back Abomination, calling him (and having NO idea that Rick Jones also went by) A-Bomb, and having him lead the team as tactician that could rival Cap, was genius.
I still think it is, actually. However, with the expansion of the MCU, there is a huge opportunity that shouldn't be overlooked. We should look to use Rhino, and do so in a way that he's not a dope in rhino pj's.
Replacing Songbird, my original anti-Black Widow, who, later, switches sides (an homage to Widow's double agent-like side-switching) is another staple of the Spider family, Silver Sable.
Constrictor, an ex-SHIELD agent turned enemy after being forgotten by the government group, was, to me, an excellent doppelgänger to the ever loyal Hawkeye. I still say he should be used in some capacity; he's even a AoS contender. I don't follow the series, but when I read that Daisey's co-star was a double agent all I could think about was the potential of a character like this. He didn't need a costume or anything. I don't see why that show doesn't use known characters that are non-powered agents from the comics.
Anyway, in keeping with the expansion, and characters not yet seen on screen, Kraven would elevate Hawkeye to an incredibly popular level if they faces one another. Originally, I felt the last scene of Punisher Netflix season 1 should have Kraven emerge from the shadows in a 'to be continued' moment. Frank, for the record, was a folk lore of sorts, similar to Batman or Kaiser Sozai (Usual Suspects), in that some say he was made up to scare criminals. The Vietnam vet had disappeared for years before returning to finish his duty and, in season 3, had to fight Kraven, who should've been as much a Punisher foe as he was a Spider-man foe.
There you have it. One of a hundred different takes on a team that is one of a hundred different outcomes in this universe.
What do you think?