Thunderbolts Series: Marvel's New Avengers Revealed

With the *Thunderbolts* movie now lighting up theaters, Marvel Comics is set to close one chapter of the franchise while launching an exciting new era for this iconic super-team. But here’s where things get interesting—just as Marvel surprised MCU fans by rebranding *Thunderbolts* as *The New Avengers* shortly after its theatrical debut, the comic series is undergoing a similar transformation. Now, characters like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine must step into the spotlight and prove they can live up to the legacy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Are they ready for the challenge?

It won’t be easy. This team has its work cut out for it if they’re going to evolve into a unified, functional Avengers unit. That was a key theme from our recent conversation with writer Sam Humphries, who offered deep insights into the evolving identity of the *Thunderbolts/New Avengers*, how he assembled this unconventional but powerful roster, and what kind of threat demands such a high-powered team.

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Who Are the New Avengers?

Considering how secretive Marvel Studios tends to be about upcoming projects, we were curious whether the title change caught Humphries off guard or if it was baked into the original plan. As it turns out, the shift from *Thunderbolts* to *The New Avengers* wasn’t a last-minute curveball—it was part of the initial discussions all along.

“It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith],” Humphries explains. “It’s been both exhilarating and maddening keeping this under wraps for so long. It’s like planning a surprise party for thousands of people—you never know when someone might spoil it. I don’t even have a document on my hard drive that says ‘New Avengers’ on it.”

Humphries adds, “There were some logistical hurdles to clear behind the scenes early on, so I had to stay flexible. But the direction was locked in before I even started writing the first issue. Just look at the lineup—it’s got echoes of Bendis’ and Hickman’s *New Avengers* teams, but with a darker edge. Jed’s [MacKay] book features a solid group of heroic do-gooders, and I wanted ours to stand apart by focusing on a crew of real troublemakers.”

Building a Team of Badasses

As Humphries notes, he had considerable creative freedom when selecting the cast for this rebranded series. His goal? To pull together characters that represent different major pillars of the Marvel Universe—from mutants to mystics, and everything in between.

“This was a blast,” he says. “My core idea was inspired by the Illuminati—they had seven heroes representing seven corners of the Marvel Universe. So why not do the same, but with some of the biggest badasses around? Mutants, magic users, gamma-powered beings, Spider-Family members—you name it. I’m incredibly grateful to our editor, Alanna Smith, for championing this concept from day one. She had to coordinate with nearly every editorial department at Marvel, which probably broke half her Teams notifications. And huge thanks to all the other editors and creators who trusted us with their amazing characters. You're gonna regret it... just kidding. Love you all!”

A Clash of Personalities

Unlike more traditional superhero teams, this version of the *New Avengers* isn’t exactly known for their moral compasses. Think hardened killers, antiheroes, and unpredictable forces of nature. Much like the original *New Avengers* from 2004, these characters are thrown together by fate and necessity—not friendship. Expect fireworks.

“I think the phrase I used in my pitch was ‘interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,’” Humphries laughs. “These aren’t your typical noble protectors. They’re a bunch of hotheaded renegades trying to channel their worst instincts into something good—with mixed results. Honestly, they shouldn’t even be in the same room together. Who hates each other the most? Maybe Carnage and Clea. Or Namor and Laura. Or maybe it’s someone else entirely…”

Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati

While the *New Avengers* title mirrors a move made in the MCU, the actual team roster is quite different. One constant, however, is Bucky Barnes—who will remain with the team after the current *Thunderbolts* arc concludes in *Thunderbolts: Doomstrike*. He’ll serve as the reluctant leader tasked with holding this volatile group together.

“I have immense respect for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin [Kelly] and their incredible run with Bucky,” Humphries shares. “I feel honored to continue building on what they’ve done with the character. Bucky’s going to need every ounce of wisdom and experience those stories gave him. The world is in chaos, and someone’s got to step up and do something about it—damn it.”

Enter the Killuminati

What kind of threat could possibly justify assembling a team featuring Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Just as the *New Avengers* lineup draws inspiration from the classic Illuminati, their enemies come straight from that same playbook—but twisted beyond recognition. Enter the Killuminati.

“Someone tried to recreate the Illuminati—and completely botched it,” Humphries teases. “Now there are seven horrifying, deformed versions of them running loose. Bucky’s going to have his hands full keeping his own team intact, let alone dealing with the Killuminati and their mysterious leader, Iron Apex.”

Ton Lima's Explosive Art Style

The *New Avengers* series pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, best known for his work on *New Thunderbolts* and *West Coast Avengers*. According to Humphries, the visual tone of the book is anything but subtle—and it’s heavily influenced by a certain global action film franchise.

“Ton is a BEAST,” says Humphries. “He makes the good guys look brutal yet stylish, and the villains look absolutely grotesque. I told him he needed to binge-watch every *Fast & Furious* movie back-to-back ten times without stopping. Based on the art he’s turned in, I think he actually did it. The guy’s insane.”

Final Release Details

*The New Avengers* #1 hits shelves on June 11, 2025. Fans eager to learn more about the MCU’s recent rebranding can also explore why Thunderbolts was renamed The New Avengers, and dive into why the MCU faces challenges with Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Bucky Barnes.