With the Thunderbolts movie now dazzling audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is gearing up to conclude one chapter of the franchise while launching an exciting new era for this iconic super-team. In a surprising move, just as Marvel Studios retitled Thunderbolts as "The New Avengers" following its debut weekend, the upcoming Thunderbolts comic will also undergo the same transformation. This means that heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine are stepping into the legendary shoes of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But can they rise to the occasion?
The journey to becoming a cohesive and functional Avengers team will be challenging for these diverse characters. This was a key insight from our recent discussion with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper into the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transformation, understand Humphries' unique selection process for this eclectic yet powerful lineup, and discover the formidable new threat that necessitates such a formidable team.
The New Avengers #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery
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Who Are the New Avengers?
Given Marvel Studios' reputation for secrecy, we were intrigued to learn when Humphries was informed about the title change during the development of his Thunderbolts pitch. Was the New Avengers concept part of his initial vision, or did it come as a late twist? Fortunately, Humphries reveals that the title change was planned from the outset.
"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries shares with IGN. "It's been both exhilarating and maddening to keep this under wraps for so long. It's like planning a surprise party for thousands. I didn't even have a document on my hard drive labeled 'New Avengers.' You just never know."
Humphries elaborates, "There were some logistical details to iron out, so I had to be ready to adapt quickly. But by the time I started on the first issue, the plan was set. You can see it reflected in the team lineup -- the New Avengers and the Killuminati echo the New Avengers teams crafted by [Brian] Bendis and [Jonathan] Hickman. Jed [MacKay]'s Avengers book features a stellar cast of heroes, so I wanted our book to stand out with a roster of characters who are, frankly, a bit rough around the edges."
"Jed's got a killer lineup of do-gooders in the Avengers book, and I wanted our book to distinguish itself with a bunch of bastards." As for assembling the team, Humphries had considerable freedom to choose members representing various facets of the Marvel Universe.
"Oh, this was such a blast," Humphries says. "My concept was inspired by the Illuminati -- seven kings and heroes from different corners of the Marvel Universe. So, I thought, what if we did something similar with some of the most notorious badasses from mutants, the mystical realm, the Spider family, the gamma family, and beyond? I'm incredibly grateful to our fantastic editor Alanna Smith for backing this idea from the start, even though it meant she had to coordinate with nearly every Marvel editorial office. That scream you hear is her Microsoft Teams crying for mercy. And a huge thank you to all the editors and creators who trusted us with their beloved characters! Love you all! (They might live to regret it.)"
As Humphries hints, the New Avengers are not your typical paragons of virtue. This team comprises hardened killers, monsters, and even a cranky underwater monarch. Similar to the original New Avengers from 2004, this group is united by fate and circumstance, and their initial interactions will be anything but smooth.
"I think the phrase I used in my pitch was 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries explains. "These aren't your calm, rational guardians of humanity; they're hotheaded rogues trying to channel their darker instincts for good, with varying success. They shouldn't even be in the same room together. The big question is, who despises each other the most? It might be Clea and Carnage. Or Namor and Laura. Or perhaps..."
Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati
While the new series echoes the MCU's title change, the actual New Avengers roster diverges significantly from its cinematic counterpart. The one familiar face is Bucky Barnes, who transitions from the current Thunderbolts team as it concludes in "Thunderbolts: Doomstrike." Bucky will face the daunting task of leading this group of strong personalities and even stronger powers into a cohesive unit.
"I have so much admiration for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] long, illustrious run with Bucky," Humphries notes. "I'm honored to build on what they've accomplished with the character. Bucky will need every ounce of the wisdom and experience gained from their wild adventures. The world is in chaos, and someone has to take action, damn it."
What kind of threat could possibly require the combined strength of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Much like the New Avengers draw inspiration from the classic Illuminati, their adversaries in the series are a twisted version of the Illuminati. Humphries dubs them the "Killuminati."
Art by Josemaria Casnanovas. (Image Credit: Marvel)"Someone attempted to replicate the Illuminati, but things went terribly wrong," Humphries teases. "Now, there are seven deranged and distorted versions causing havoc. Bucky's going to struggle to keep his team together, and the same goes for the Killuminati and their 'leader' -- Iron Apex."
The New Avengers pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, whose previous work includes New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries shares that the art in this series draws inspiration not from the MCU, but from another wildly popular action movie franchise.
"Ton is a BEAST," Humphries enthuses. "He makes the heroes look tough and alluring, while the villains are downright brutal and grotesque. I told him to binge-watch every Fast and the Furious movie consecutively ten times without breaks. Judging by his artwork, I think he actually did it, the madman!"
The New Avengers #1 will hit shelves on June 11, 2025.
For more insights into the MCU's latest twist, explore why Thunderbolts was renamed The New Avengers, and delve into why the MCU has a big problem with Sebastian Stan's Bucky.
