Marvel Comics Relaunches Thunderbolts as New Avengers with Bold Team Lineup

With the Thunderbolts film now in cinemas, Marvel Comics is wrapping up one chapter of the franchise and launching a fresh era for this iconic super-team. In a surprising move, mirroring the MCU’s decision to rebrand Thunderbolts as “The New Avengers” after its opening weekend, the Thunderbolts comic is adopting the same title shift. Heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine must now rise to the legacy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Can they meet the challenge?

It’s no easy task for these characters to form a unified Avengers squad, according to insights from our recent discussion with writer Sam Humphries. Read on to explore the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, how Humphries crafted this eclectic yet formidable roster, and the new threat that demands such a powerful team.

The New Avengers #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery

Meet the New Avengers

Given Marvel Studios’ tight-lipped approach to future projects, we were eager to learn when Humphries became aware of the title change during his Thunderbolts pitch development. Was the New Avengers concept part of his initial vision, or a later pivot? Thankfully, it wasn’t a last-minute curveball but a core element from the start.

“It was baked into my first discussion with Alanna [Smith],” Humphries shared with IGN.
Keeping it under wraps was thrilling but tough—like orchestrating a massive surprise party. I don’t even have a file labeled ‘New Avengers’ on my computer. You can’t be too careful.”

Humphries added, “We had some logistics to sort out early on, so I was ready to adapt quickly. But the plan was set by the time I began writing the first issue. The lineup reflects influences from [Brian] Bendis’ and [Jonathan] Hickman’s New Avengers teams. Jed [MacKay] has a stellar crew of heroes in the Avengers book, and I wanted ours to stand out with a group of rough-edged rebels.”

When it came to selecting the Thunderbolts/New Avengers roster, Humphries had significant creative freedom. His aim was to assemble characters representing key pillars of the Marvel Universe.

“This was a blast,” Humphries said. “My idea was to mirror the Illuminati’s structure—seven leaders from distinct Marvel realms—but with the toughest characters from mutants, magic, the Spider-family, gamma-powered heroes, and more. Huge thanks to our editor Alanna Smith for championing this vision, even though it meant coordinating with nearly every Marvel editorial team. Her Microsoft Teams probably needs a break! And gratitude to the editors and creators who entrusted us with their beloved characters. They might rethink that soon!”

As Humphries hinted, this New Avengers team isn’t exactly a beacon of virtue. Comprising hardened killers, monsters, and a surly underwater king, they echo the original 2004 New Avengers, united by fate but not instant camaraderie.

“My pitch described their ‘interpersonal dynamics’ as explosive,” Humphries noted. “These aren’t calm protectors; they’re volatile antiheroes channeling their darker instincts for good—with mixed success. They shouldn’t even be in the same room. Who’s got the most beef? Maybe Clea and Carnage, or Namor and Laura. Or perhaps…”

Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati

While the series title aligns with the MCU’s rebrand, the New Avengers roster differs significantly from its cinematic counterpart. The constant is Bucky Barnes, who remains after the current Thunderbolts team concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. The former Winter Soldier faces the daunting task of molding this group of larger-than-life personalities into a cohesive unit.

“I’m a huge fan of Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin [Kelly]’s incredible work with Bucky,” Humphries said. “It’s a privilege to build on their foundation. Bucky will need every bit of that experience to navigate this chaos. The world’s in disarray, and someone’s got to step up.”

What kind of threat requires the combined might of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Much like the New Avengers draw from the classic Illuminati, their adversaries, dubbed the “Killuminati,” are a twisted offshoot of that group.

“Someone tried cloning the Illuminati, and it went horribly wrong,” Humphries teased. “Now there are seven warped, nightmarish versions running loose. Bucky’s got his hands full keeping his team together, and the Killuminati’s so-called leader, Iron Apex, isn’t faring much better.”

The New Avengers teams Humphries with artist Ton Lima, known for New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries shared that the series’ art draws inspiration not from the MCU but from a certain high-octane action movie franchise.

“Ton is incredible,” Humphries said. “He makes the heroes look fierce and charismatic, and the villains brutal and grotesque. I told him to binge the Fast and the Furious films ten times straight. Judging by his work, I think he actually did!”

The New Avengers #1 hits shelves on June 11, 2025.

For more on the MCU’s bold rebrand, discover why Thunderbolts became The New Avengers and explore the challenges facing Sebastian Stan’s Bucky in the MCU.