THUNDERBOLTS*: Alternate Concept Art Reveals Wildly Different Looks for Sentry's Dark Side, The Void
Marvel fans are getting a new look at what could have been for one of the MCU’s most powerful and darkest characters. Concept artist John Staub has shared a batch of alternate designs for Thunderbolts* that give us a peek at early explorations of The Void, Sentry’s chaotic, unstable alter ego, and it’s clear Marvel was seriously weighing different directions for the character’s look.
While the final film gave us a black shadow with glowing eyes, some of these concepts feel like intesting swings.
“Some explorations on The Void for the film Thunderbolts aka New Avengers,” Staub said in a social media post. “We explored different possibilities that gave nods to the comic and tried to find the right look that was in line with the story that was being told.”
As much as fans would’ve loved to see a full-on monstrous version of The Void, something closer to the demonic mass seen in the comics, it seems Marvel wanted a more restrained and symbolic interpretation for this version of the character.
Still, Staub’s unused artwork shows just how far they considered taking it, with several designs feeling more wild and more visually intense than what ended up on screen.
This kind of behind-the-scenes look is always fascinating, especially when it shows Marvel actively toying with how much to lean into the weird, cosmic, and psychological horror aspects of their characters.
The Void is one of the darkest forces in the Marvel Universe, and it looks like the visual development team gave that legacy some serious thought before landing on a final direction.