"Thunderbolts* Series: Marvel's New Avengers Unveiled"

With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is poised to conclude one chapter of the franchise while embarking on a new era for this enduring super-team. In a surprising twist, just as Marvel stunned MCU fans by retitling Thunderbolts as "The New Avengers" after its opening weekend, the new Thunderbolts comic is also undergoing the same transformation. This shift challenges heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine to embody the legacy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The question remains: do they have what it takes to rise to the occasion?

Achieving cohesion and functionality as the Avengers will be a significant challenge for these characters. This was the key insight from our recent conversation with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper to uncover the details behind the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, Humphries' selection of this eclectic yet formidable roster, and the formidable new threat necessitating such a powerful team.

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Who Are the New Avengers?

Marvel Studios is known for its secrecy regarding upcoming projects, so we were eager to learn when Humphries was informed about the title change during the development of his Thunderbolts pitch. Was the New Avengers concept part of the original plan, or a recent pivot? Fortunately, Humphries revealed that the title change was part of the plan from the outset.

"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries told IGN. "It's been both exhilarating and maddening to keep this under wraps for months. It's like organizing a surprise party for thousands. I don't even have a document on my hard drive labeled 'New Avengers.' You never know."

Humphries elaborated, "There were some logistical details to sort out initially, so I had to be ready to adapt quickly. But by the time I started the first issue, the plan was firmly in place. The lineup reflects the influence of [Brian] Bendis' and [Jonathan] Hickman's New Avengers teams. Jed's [MacKay] Avengers book features a stellar lineup of heroes, and I wanted our book to stand out with a group of rogues."

Regarding the selection of the Thunderbolts/New Avengers lineup, Humphries enjoyed considerable creative freedom. His goal was to represent the diverse corners of the Marvel Universe with some of its most formidable characters.

"This was incredibly fun," Humphries shared. "My concept was inspired by the Illuminati, featuring seven kings and heroes from different realms of the Marvel Universe. What if we did the same with some of the most notorious badasses representing mutants, the mystical world, the Spider family, the gamma family, and more? I'm immensely grateful to our editor Alanna Smith for supporting this idea from the start, despite having to coordinate with virtually every Marvel editorial office. That's her Microsoft Teams screaming for mercy. And a huge thank you to all the editors and creators who entrusted us with their beloved characters! Love you all! (They might regret it later.)"

As Humphries hinted, the members of the New Avengers are not typical paragons of virtue and heroism. This team comprises hardened killers, monsters, and a disgruntled underwater monarch. Similar to the original New Avengers of 2004, this group is united by fate and circumstance, with inevitable clashes.

"In my pitch, I described the 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries said. "These characters are far from level-headed guardians of humanity; they're hot-headed rogues trying to channel their darker impulses for good, with varying success. They shouldn't be in the same room together. The burning question is, who despises each other the most? It could be Clea and Carnage, or perhaps Namor and Laura. Or it might be..."

Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati

While the new series mirrors the MCU's title change, the actual roster of the New Avengers diverges significantly from the film version. The one consistent element is Bucky Barnes, who remains after the current Thunderbolts team concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. The challenge for the former Winter Soldier will be to unite this group of strong personalities and immense powers into a cohesive team.

"I have so much respect for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] extensive and brilliant run with Bucky," Humphries said. "I'm honored to build upon their work. Bucky will need all the wisdom and experience they've given him to navigate this chaotic world."

What threat could possibly require the combined strength of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Inspired by the classic Illuminati lineup, their adversaries in the series are an offshoot known as the "Killuminati."

"Someone attempted to replicate the Illuminati, but it went horribly wrong," Humphries teased. "Now there are seven demented and deformed versions causing havoc. Bucky will have his hands full keeping his team together, and the same goes for the Killuminati and their 'leader'—Iron Apex."

The New Avengers series pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, who previously contributed to books like New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries revealed that the artwork in this series draws more inspiration from a popular action movie franchise than the MCU.

"Ton is incredible," Humphries said. "He makes the heroes look fierce and appealing, while the villains are brutal and repulsive. I told him to watch every Fast and the Furious movie consecutively ten times without breaks. Judging by his work, I think he actually did it, the madman!"

The New Avengers #1 will be released on June 11, 2025.

For more insights into the MCU's latest twist, discover why Thunderbolts was renamed The New Avengers, and explore why the MCU faces a significant challenge with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky.