With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is gearing up to conclude the current saga of this iconic super-team and launch an exciting new era. In a surprising move, just as Marvel stunned MCU fans by renaming Thunderbolts to "The New Avengers" after its debut weekend, the upcoming Thunderbolts comic is also set for a similar transformation. This shift places characters like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine in the spotlight, challenging them to embody the legacy of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Can they rise to the occasion?
The transition to a cohesive Avengers unit will be no small feat for these diverse characters. This was a key point emphasized during our recent discussion with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper to explore the intricacies of the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transformation, Humphries' rationale behind assembling this eclectic yet formidable team, and the looming threat that necessitates their formation.
The New Avengers #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery
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Who Are the New Avengers?
Given Marvel Studios' reputation for secrecy around upcoming projects, we were eager to know when Humphries learned of the title change during the development of his Thunderbolts pitch. Was the New Avengers concept part of his initial vision, or a more recent pivot? Thankfully, the title change was not a last-minute surprise but was integrated into the plan from the outset.
"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries shared with IGN. "It's been exhilarating and maddening to keep this top secret for months. Like planning a surprise party, but for thousands of people. I don't even have a document on my hard drive that says 'New Avengers' on it. You never know."
Humphries elaborated, "Initially, there were some logistical details to be worked out behind the scenes, so I had to be prepared to pivot on a dime. But the whole plan was locked in by the time I started the first issue. You can see it in the lineup -- the New Avengers and the Killuminati both have echoes of [Brian] Bendis' and [Jonathan] Hickman's New Avengers teams. Jed's [MacKay] got a killer lineup of do-gooders in the Avengers book, and I wanted our book to distinguish itself with a bunch of bastards."
Humphries had significant freedom in selecting the Thunderbolts/New Avengers roster, aiming to encapsulate the diverse sectors of the Marvel Universe. "Oh, this was so much fun," Humphries enthused. "My basic concept was -- the Illuminati were seven kings and heroes from seven different corners of the Marvel Universe, so what if we did the same with some of the biggest badasses representing mutants, the mystical world, the Spider family, the gamma family, and so on? I have immense gratitude for our amazing editor Alanna Smith who supported this idea from the jump, even though she had to liaise with pretty much every Marvel editorial office to make it happen. That scream you hear is her Microsoft Teams begging for mercy. And big thanks to all the editors and creators who were generous enough to trust us with their wonderful, cherished characters! Love you all! (They're gonna regret it.)"
As Humphries hinted, the members of the New Avengers are not the typical paragons of virtue and heroism. This team comprises hardened killers, monsters, and even a grumpy underwater king. Much like the original New Avengers from 2004, this group is united by fate and circumstances, and they won't gel immediately.
"I think the phrase I used in my pitch was 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries explained. "These aren't level-headed guardians of humanity; these are a bunch of hothead bastards trying to use their bad impulses for good, with mixed results. They should not be allowed to be in the same room together. The big question is, who hates each other the most? It might be Clea and Carnage. Or it might be Namor and Laura. Or it might be…"
Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati
While the new series echoes the MCU's title change, the New Avengers roster diverges significantly from its cinematic counterpart. The one consistent element is Bucky Barnes, who transitions from the current Thunderbolts team, concluding its run in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. It will be up to the former Winter Soldier to manage this group of strong-willed individuals and their immense powers into a functioning team.
"I have so much love for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] long, glorious run with Bucky," Humphries noted. "I'm honored and lucky to follow what they've achieved with the character. And Bucky's gonna need the wisdom and experience of every insane thing they put him through. The world is upside down and someone needs to do something about it, damn it."
The formidable challenge facing the New Avengers, including Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk, is a new threat inspired by the classic Illuminati lineup. Humphries dubs them the "Killuminati."
Art by Josemaria Casnanovas. (Image Credit: Marvel)
"Someone tried to make duplicates of the Illuminati, and someone f\*\*\*ed up," Humphries teased. "Now there's seven demented and deformed worst-case scenarios running around. Bucky's gonna have big problems 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 has previously contributed to titles like New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries credits Lima's art as being heavily inspired not by the MCU, but by another popular action movie franchise.
"Ton is a BEAST," Humphries praised. "He makes the good guys look brutal and sexy, and the bad guys look brutal and disgusting. I told him he needed to watch every Fast and the Furious movie in a row ten times without breaks. Based on his pages, I think he actually did it, the madman!"
The New Avengers #1 will hit the shelves on June 11, 2025.
For more insights into the MCU's recent shake-up, explore why Thunderbolts was renamed The New Avengers, and delve into why the MCU faces challenges with Sebastian Stan's Bucky.
