Mirroring the MCU, Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts* Series Becomes The New Avengers

With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is set to conclude one chapter of the franchise while launching an exciting new era for this storied super-team. However, fans are in for a surprising twist. Mirroring the MCU's decision to retitle Thunderbolts as "The New Avengers" after its debut weekend, the new Thunderbolts comic is also transitioning to this new moniker. This shift challenges heroes such as Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine to step into the legendary shoes of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Can they meet the expectations?

It's a formidable challenge for these characters to gel as a cohesive and effective Avengers team. This sentiment was echoed in our recent discussion with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper to understand the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transformation, Humphries' selection process for this eclectic yet formidable team, and the looming threat that necessitates such a powerhouse lineup.

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Who Are the New Avengers?

Marvel Studios is renowned for its secrecy regarding upcoming projects, sparking curiosity about when Humphries learned of the title change during his Thunderbolts pitch development. Was the New Avengers concept part of the initial plan, or was it a later pivot? Fortunately, Humphries clarifies that this wasn't a last-minute change but was integral to the plan from the outset.

"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries reveals to IGN. "Keeping this secret for months has been both exhilarating and maddening. It's like planning a surprise party for thousands. I don't even have a document on my hard drive labeled 'New Avengers.' You never know."

Humphries elaborates, "Initially, we had to navigate some logistical hurdles, so I was ready to pivot at a moment's notice. But by the time I started the first issue, the plan was solidified. You can see the influence of [Brian] Bendis' and [Jonathan] Hickman's New Avengers teams in our lineup. Jed's [MacKay] Avengers book features a stellar group of do-gooders, and I wanted our book to stand out with a roster of rogues."

"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 shares his enthusiasm for curating the Thunderbolts/New Avengers lineup, aiming to represent diverse facets of the Marvel Universe.

"Oh, this was so much fun," Humphries says. "My concept was inspired by the Illuminati—seven kings and heroes from seven different corners of the Marvel Universe. What if we did the same with some of the biggest badasses representing mutants, the mystical world, the Spider family, the gamma family, and more? I'm incredibly thankful to our editor Alanna Smith, who championed this idea from the start, despite having to coordinate with nearly every Marvel editorial office. That scream you hear is her Microsoft Teams begging for mercy. And big thanks to all the editors and creators who trusted us with their cherished characters! Love you all! (They're gonna regret it.)"

As Humphries hints, the New Avengers are far from paragons of virtue. This team comprises hardened killers, monsters, and one irritable underwater king. Similar to the original New Avengers from 2004, fate and circumstance unite them, and their initial interactions are bound to be explosive.

"I think the phrase I used in my pitch was 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries says. "These aren't your typical guardians of humanity; they're a group of hotheads trying to channel their bad impulses for good, with mixed results. They shouldn't even 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 new series adopts the MCU's title change, its roster diverges significantly from the film version. The one consistent element is Bucky Barnes, who remains after the current Thunderbolts team concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. Bucky faces the daunting task of unifying this diverse group of powerful personalities into a functional 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. Bucky's going to need all the wisdom and experience from their adventures. The world is upside down, and someone needs to do something about it, damn it."

What threat could possibly require the collective strength of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Inspired by the classic Illuminati lineup, the New Avengers will face off against the "Killuminati," a twisted version of the original group.

"Someone tried to make duplicates of the Illuminati, and someone f***ed up," Humphries teases. "Now there are seven demented and deformed worst-case scenarios running around. Bucky's going to have big problems keeping his team together. And the same goes for the Killuminati and their 'leader'—Iron Apex."

The New Avengers series pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, previously known for his work on New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries notes that the art style draws inspiration not from the MCU, but from another beloved action movie 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 is slated for release 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.