With the much-anticipated live-action debut of the Thunderbolts on the horizon, Marvel Comics is set to expand the team's narrative arc in a significant way. The current Thunderbolts squad is playing a pivotal role in the "One World Under Doom" crossover event, and fans can look forward to an exciting new chapter with the launch of a brand-new Thunderbolts team shortly after the movie premieres.
Marvel has unveiled plans for "New Thunderbolts*," an upcoming series penned by acclaimed writer Sam Humphries, known for his work on "Uncanny X-Force," and illustrated by Ton Lima, who brought "West Coast Avengers" to life. The series features stunning cover art by Stephen Segovia. You can preview the cover of issue #1 below:
While "New Thunderbolts*" is designed to leverage the excitement surrounding the movie, including spotlighting Bucky Barnes as the team leader and incorporating the intriguing asterisk in the title, the team's composition differs significantly from its cinematic counterpart. The roster boasts fresh faces such as Clea, Wolverine (Laura Kinney), Namor, Hulk, and Carnage, with Eddie Brock currently embodying that role.
The series kicks off with Bucky Barnes and Black Widow confronting an existential threat posed by doppelgangers of the Illuminati, who are wreaking havoc across the Marvel Universe. To tackle this crisis, they will assemble a formidable team of heavy-hitters. However, leading such a diverse and volatile group will be a daunting challenge for Bucky.
"I love every iteration of Thunderbolts," Humphries shared in Marvel's press release. "I'm thrilled to continue the franchise's proud tradition of hard-hitting action, powder keg personalities, and explosive surprises into a new era. This is a gang of seven of the biggest badasses and loose cannons from different corners of the Marvel Universe. Assembling a super team is like inviting the right combination of guests to a dinner party. So I imagined a dangerous, disastrous, unhinged Marvel dinner party, and went with that."
"I'm having a blast working on this book with Mr. Humphries and the team," Lima added. "Look at this lineup... it's crazy. They're not here to talk; they jump straight to the action! And that's the most fun part to draw. None of them are known for taking it easy on the job, so I can't either."
"New Thunderbolts* #1" is slated for release on June 11, 2025.
For those eager to dive deeper into the Thunderbolts* universe, explore more about Lewis Pullman's character, The Sentry, and uncover the significance of the asterisk in the title.
