Dear Thunderbolts*,

Dear Thunderbolts*,

My name is Filip Kovacevic. I’m writing this letter because my power is out for the fifth time this week, and I’m positive it is because of whatever those shadows were. I have some questions that I need answers to. My friend somehow convinced me to start reading some conspiracy theory websites in the rare times I still have power. At first, it all seemed insane; some articles talked about the shadow dimension actually originating from Sentry. How could that be possible? Sentry’s supposed to have light powers, right? However, as I kept reading, I realized we live in a crazy world full of things that I never thought possible. 

Years ago, if someone told me that aliens and magic were real, I’d have asked them how much they had to drink that day. Then, a bunch of monstrous-looking aliens invade New York with giant space monsters. I was on vacation, and when I got back, I was greeted by the sight of my apartment building flattened to the ground. In retrospect, I should have moved out of New York after that. 

If another person said to me that a giant purple alien with magic stones would wipe out half of the planet's population, I’d ask where their tinfoil hat is. That is, until I turned to dust while brushing my teeth one day, and then the next second, a man was screaming at me, asking how I had gotten into ‘his’ house. One ride to the police station and a lengthy explanation from some guy in a suit telling me I disappeared five years ago. Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn’t have any family or a significant other, and most of my small friend group also got snapped. 

After this, I no longer had any thoughts about what made sense and what didn’t. I’m rambling, but I need you all to know how desperate I am for answers after this latest disaster. I need to see if you’re all actually here to help or just some government lackeys being used to try and calm people who are genuinely afraid for the future. Also, Red Guardian looks like a limo driver my friend employed for one of his parties. He seemed like a nice guy, but he was overly talkative. If that is you, Red Guardian, and you’re reading this, please don’t come after me. 

I have something to say to John Walker as well. I think the public’s treatment of you was very unfair and unsympathetic. You risked your life and saved many people during your time in the army. When you became the new Captain America, you may have made a mistake when you killed that Flag-Smasher. However, who wouldn’t be angry when their best friend is murdered right in front of them? I’m happy to see you back in action as a member of the new team, and I think you’ll do great.

Congressman Barnes, I don’t understand why you went into politics in the first place. It always seemed like you were forcing yourself out of some personal obligation. When I saw you fighting on the news, you looked like a fish in water. I think fighting bad guys on the front lines suits you a lot more than putting on a fake smile and making speeches. You’ve spoken out against the CIA director, Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, and I heard she might get impeached. Why are you suddenly working with her as a part of the New Avengers? You’re not a politician anymore; have some backbone.

It almost seems like she used the shadow incident to try to frame herself as a hero who brought together the New Avengers. That would be incredibly dumb, though, because you would just speak out against her claims, right? You’re a well-known congressman and superhero; your word carries a lot of weight with people. Meanwhile, Valentina, the director of the CIA, who looks, dresses and acts like a movie villain, was in danger of being impeached. If she organized your team, wouldn’t she have announced it much earlier?  Instead, she does it right after a massive incident where people are at their most mentally vulnerable. That’s fishy, no matter how you smell it. Which makes sense given she’s a politician. 

Now, I want to go back to my main question for Sentry. I read some posts online and heard rumours that a dark figure that looked like you was seen just before the shadow incident occurred. Did you somehow cause that to happen? Some people said that Valentina created the incident to stop her impeachment, but she seems like the type who would never do anything that risks her safety. Others say she did it by accident, trying to kill you for turning against her. If that’s the case, she has the worst countermeasures known to humankind. Instead of killing her target, she drags an entire city into a hellscape of their worst memories. Her PR team isn’t getting any sleep this week, that’s for sure.

During the shadow event, I kept reliving the day I got pantsed in front of my entire elementary school during recess, over and over again. Compared to other people's stories, it was incredibly mild, but it was the most embarrassing moment of my life. I don’t have the money to afford a therapist, so I’m dumping all of this on you. Also, I know this is off topic, but is your name actually Bob? I don’t know why that interests so many people, myself included, but it just does. It’s a totally normal name, yet it feels weirdly entertaining for someone with your abilities to be named ‘Bob’. 

My next question is for the entire team. Some of the websites I searched said that almost every member of the New Avengers worked for Valentina as secret operatives. Is that true? One person said she even tried to have all of you killed to cover her tracks. Why would you not secretly take her out after that? Was it just because she presented you to the world? I still don’t get how that’s a good tactic for stopping a team of superheroes with two assassins as members. Side note: I think I saw the new Black Widow on the news fighting Hawkeye during the Christmas holiday a while ago. Can you try to avoid fights on Christmas? I have plans to go out with friends.

I’m running out of room on the page, so I will say everything I need to in the following few paragraphs. It’s like almost every potentially city or world-ending disaster happens in this city. I genuinely think everyone without superpowers, advanced technology or magic should just move out of New York City. That way, fighting whatever threat comes next would become much easier to handle. Anyone still living in the city would be able to defend themselves and help contain the situation with the official heroes. 

After writing this, I’ve realized I need to move out of this disaster magnet city, but there’s one last thing I need to ask of you. The public needs new heroes to protect them; you're all we have now. So please don’t let us down, even if you did unsavoury things in the past. You’re the Avengers now; people rely on you to protect them and show that you genuinely want to help. I saw a picture of a spaceship with a giant four on it. If that's real, I’m guessing that’s whatever the next disaster starts with. Good luck, we’re all gonna need it. Although I’m moving to Wisconsin, so I should be fine, right?