With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is poised to conclude one chapter of this iconic franchise while simultaneously launching a thrilling new era. In a surprising move that mirrors the MCU's recent decision, the Thunderbolts comic series is also being rebranded as "The New Avengers." This bold transformation challenges heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine to embody the legacy of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Can they rise to the occasion?
It's a daunting task for these characters to gel into a cohesive and effective Avengers team. This was a key insight from our recent conversation with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper into the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transformation, discover how Humphries curated this dynamic lineup, and uncover the formidable new threat that necessitates such a powerhouse team.
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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 always on his radar, or was it a late pivot? Fortunately, Humphries reveals that this rebranding was part of the plan from the outset.
"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries shares 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 elaborates, "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 creative freedom in selecting the Thunderbolts/New Avengers lineup, aiming to represent the diverse corners of the Marvel Universe. "Oh, this was so much fun," Humphries says. "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 are far from the 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 assembled by fate and circumstance, and their initial interactions are bound to be explosive.
"I think the phrase I used in my pitch was 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries notes. "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 adopts the MCU's title change, its roster diverges significantly. The one consistent element is Bucky Barnes, who remains after the current Thunderbolts team concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. Bucky faces the formidable task of uniting this diverse group of powerful personalities into a functioning team.
"I have so much love for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] long, glorious run with Bucky," Humphries says. "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 must confront a new threat inspired by the classic Illuminati lineup. Humphries dubs this adversary the "Killuminati."
Art by Josemaria Casnanovas. (Image Credit: Marvel)
"Someone tried to make duplicates of the Illuminati, and someone f***ed up," Humphries teases. "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."
Humphries collaborates with artist Ton Lima, whose work on New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers adds a unique flair to the series. The art style draws inspiration not from the MCU, but from another action-packed franchise.
"Ton is a BEAST," Humphries says. "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 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.
