A new band of heroes called the Thunderbolts have made themselves known. However, Tony finds their presence coincidental with the recent theft of his vaulted technology.
Tropes:
- Adaptational Name Change: In Thunderbolts, the team's publicist was Dallas Riordan. Here, a nigh-identical woman with red hair and glasses serves as their publicist, but she's Gabby Talbot. Which might be because...
- Adaptational Villainy: Gabby is working for Justin Hammer.
- Evil Knockoff: Justin Hammer's been stealing Tony's tech and tries to use it to kill the Avengers and the Thunderbolts.
- Foreshadowing: The episode doesn't spell it out directly, with the reveal coming in the next episode, but Meteorite's phasing powers, and Techno and Songbird's distinctive accents give a hint as to just who the Thunderbolts really are. None of which the Avengers ever seem to notice.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Iron Man's not fond of the Thunderbolts because they're more popular.
- Humongous Mecha: Hammer's last-ditch attempt at killing the Avengers is a massive suit of armor.
- Hypocritical Humor: Tony claims he doesn't have an ego ... which is just one more reason he's perfect.
- Jerkass Ball: Tony, Thor, and Hulk are rude or outright hostile towards the Thunderbolts, who never do anything in response, simply for stealing their thunder.
- Mythology Gag: The Growing Man was one of the Thunderbolts' first foes in the comics.
- Properly Paranoid: Of course, anyone remotely familiar with the Thunderbolts, or who's paying attention to their voices and powers, will know the team are right to be extremely suspicious.
- Subverted Suspicion Aesop: Tony refuses to trust the Thunderbolts for petty reasons, but a fight with Justin Hammer helps prove they're apparently alright and on the level... except they aren't.
- With Catlike Tread: Black Widows notes Steve's red, blue and white outfit is not really suited for jungle action. Steve dryly shoots back he could try imitating one of the local birds, if it'd help.
