With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is set to conclude one chapter of the franchise while ushering in a thrilling new era for this iconic super-team. However, Marvel has thrown a curveball at fans. Just as the MCU surprised viewers by retitling Thunderbolts as "The New Avengers" following its debut weekend, the upcoming comic series will also adopt this new moniker. This bold move challenges heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine to step up and embody the spirit of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Can they rise to the occasion?
It's an ambitious task for these characters to gel into a cohesive Avengers unit. This was a key insight from our recent conversation with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper to discover the intricacies of the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, how Humphries curated this diverse yet formidable team, and what looming threat necessitates such a powerful alliance.
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Who Are the New Avengers?
Given Marvel Studios' reputation for keeping project details under wraps, we were intrigued to learn when Humphries was informed of the title change during the development of his Thunderbolts pitch. Was the concept of a New Avengers comic part of the initial plan, or a later pivot? Humphries clarified that this was not a last-minute decision but was embedded in the project from the outset.
“It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith],” Humphries shared with IGN. "It's been a thrilling yet challenging journey to keep this under wraps for months. It felt like organizing a surprise for thousands. I didn't even dare save a document titled ‘New Avengers’ on my computer. You never know who might peek."
He elaborated, “There were initial logistical hurdles to navigate, so I had to be ready to adapt quickly. But the vision was solidified before I penned the first issue. The team composition echoes the New Avengers and Killuminati from [Brian] Bendis and [Jonathan] Hickman's runs. While Jed [MacKay] assembles a stellar team of heroes in the Avengers book, I aimed to differentiate ours with a roster of rogues."
Humphries had considerable freedom in selecting the Thunderbolts/New Avengers lineup, aiming to encapsulate the diverse spectrum of the Marvel Universe. “It was incredibly exciting,” he remarked. “The idea was to mirror the Illuminati’s structure with key figures from mutants, the mystical realm, the Spider family, the gamma family, and beyond. I’m deeply thankful to our editor Alanna Smith, who backed this vision from the start, despite needing to coordinate with nearly every Marvel editorial team. Her Microsoft Teams app probably needed a break. A huge shoutout to all the editors and creators who entrusted us with their beloved characters! They might soon wish they hadn't."
As Humphries hinted, the New Avengers roster isn't your typical group of moral paragons. This team comprises hardened killers, monsters, and a famously irritable underwater king. Much like the inaugural New Avengers team in 2004, these characters are thrust together by fate, and their initial interactions are anything but harmonious.
“I described it in my pitch as ‘interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,’" Humphries noted. “These aren’t your calm, collected guardians of humanity; they’re fiery, rebellious souls trying to channel their darker tendencies for good, with varying success. They shouldn't even be in the same room. The burning question is, who despises each other the most? It could be Clea and Carnage, or Namor and Laura. Or it might be…”
Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati
Although the new series mirrors the MCU in its title change, the actual roster of the New Avengers diverges significantly from the film version. The one consistent thread is Bucky Barnes, who transitions from the current Thunderbolts team as it concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. Bucky faces the daunting task of unifying this eclectic group of personalities and powers into a functional team.
“I have immense respect for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] extended, brilliant run with Bucky,” Humphries said. “It's an honor to build on their foundation. Bucky will need every ounce of wisdom and experience from his past trials. The world is in chaos, and someone has to take action.”
What threat could possibly demand the collective might of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Inspired by the classic Illuminati, the New Avengers face off against a sinister faction Humphries dubs the “Killuminati.”
Art by Josemaria Casnanovas. (Image Credit: Marvel)
“Someone attempted to replicate the Illuminati, but it went horribly wrong,” Humphries teased. “Now, there are seven twisted, nightmarish versions wreaking havoc. Bucky’s going to struggle to keep his team intact, and the same challenge awaits the Killuminati and their so-called ‘leader’—Iron Apex.”
The New Avengers series pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, known for his work on New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries shared that the art style draws inspiration not from the MCU, but from another blockbuster action franchise.
“Ton is phenomenal,” Humphries exclaimed. “He captures the raw intensity and allure of our heroes, while making the villains look truly vile. I jokingly told him to binge-watch every Fast and the Furious movie consecutively without breaks. Judging by his work, I think he took that advice to heart, the madman!”
The New Avengers #1 is set to hit 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 portrayal of Bucky.
