Thunderbolts Series: The New Avengers of Marvel Comics

With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is gearing up to conclude one era of this iconic franchise and usher in an exciting new chapter. In a surprising move that echoes the MCU's recent decision, the Thunderbolts comic series is being rebranded as "The New Avengers" following the film's first weekend of release. This bold shift places unconventional heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine in the spotlight, challenging them to embody the spirit of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Can they rise to the occasion?

According to writer Sam Humphries, the path to becoming a cohesive and effective Avengers team will be fraught with challenges for these characters. Humphries shared insights into the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, his selection process for this diverse yet formidable roster, and the looming threat that necessitates such a powerhouse team.

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Who Are the New Avengers?

Marvel Studios is known for its secrecy regarding upcoming projects, so it was intriguing to learn when Humphries was informed about the title change during the development of his Thunderbolts pitch. Humphries clarified that the title shift was part of the plan from the outset, not a last-minute decision.

“It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith],” Humphries told 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 on the early stages of the project, mentioning the need for flexibility due to logistical details. However, the overarching plan was solidified by the time he began writing the first issue. The lineup reflects influences from previous New Avengers teams by Brian Bendis and Jonathan Hickman, while Jed MacKay's Avengers book features a more traditional heroic roster.

"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,” Humphries stated. He enjoyed the freedom to select characters representing various facets of the Marvel Universe, from mutants to mystical figures.

“Oh, this was so much fun,” Humphries said. “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.)”

The New Avengers team Humphries assembled isn't your typical group of heroes. Comprising hardened killers, monsters, and even a cantankerous underwater monarch, this team mirrors the dynamics of the original 2004 New Avengers. Humphries anticipated the explosive interpersonal dynamics among these characters.

“I think the phrase I used in my pitch was ‘interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,’" Humphries said. “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

Although the comic series adopts the MCU's title change, the roster diverges significantly from the film's version. The one consistent character is Bucky Barnes, who transitions from the current Thunderbolts team, concluding in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike, to lead the New Avengers. Bucky's challenge will be to unite this diverse group of powerful individuals.

“I have so much love for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] long, glorious run with Bucky,” Humphries said. “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 New Avengers will face a formidable threat inspired by the classic Illuminati lineup. Humphries introduced their adversaries, dubbed the “Killuminati,” a group of distorted duplicates of the original Illuminati.

“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.”

Collaborating with artist Ton Lima, whose work on New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers stands out, Humphries drew inspiration from a different action movie franchise for the series' visual style.

“Ton is a BEAST,” Humphries said. “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 is set to hit the shelves on June 11, 2025.

For more insights into the MCU's recent changes, explore why Thunderbolts was renamed The New Avengers and delve into why the MCU has a big problem with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky.