With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is poised to conclude one chapter of this iconic franchise and usher in a thrilling new era for the Thunderbolts. However, in a surprising move reminiscent of the MCU's recent decision, Marvel has announced that the Thunderbolts comic series will also be rebranded as "The New Avengers." This bold reimagining challenges heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine to embody the spirit of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The question remains: do they have what it takes to rise to the occasion?

Transforming these characters into a cohesive and functional Avengers team will be no small feat. This was the key insight from our recent discussion with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper into the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, discover how Humphries curated this diverse yet formidable roster, and uncover the new threat that necessitates such a powerful alliance.

The New Avengers #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery

View 19 ImagesWho 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 this always intended to be a New Avengers comic, or was it a late alteration? Fortunately, Humphries reveals that the title change was part of the plan from the outset.

"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries shared with IGN. "It's been exhilarating and maddening to keep this top secret for months. It's 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 elaborated, "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."

"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 had the freedom to select the Thunderbolts/New Avengers lineup, aiming to represent the diverse corners of the Marvel Universe.

"Oh, this was so much fun," Humphries enthused. "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.)"

As Humphries hints, the New Avengers are not your typical paragons of virtue and heroism. This team consists of hardened killers, monsters, and a notoriously irritable underwater monarch. Similar to the original New Avengers from 2004, this group is assembled by fate and circumstance, and their initial interactions are likely to be explosive.

"I think the phrase I used in my pitch was 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries remarked. "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 mirrors the MCU's title change, the New Avengers' roster diverges significantly from its cinematic counterpart. The one constant is Bucky Barnes, who will continue his journey after the current Thunderbolts team concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. The challenge now falls to the former Winter Soldier to unite this eclectic group into a functional team.

"I have so much love for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] long, glorious run with Bucky," Humphries noted. "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."

What threat could possibly demand the combined might of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Inspired by the classic Illuminati lineup, their adversaries in the series are a direct offshoot called the "Killuminati."

Art by Josemaria Casnanovas. (Image Credit: Marvel)

"Someone tried to make duplicates of the Illuminati, and someone f***ed up," Humphries teased. "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."

The New Avengers series pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, whose work has previously graced titles like New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries shares that the art in this series draws inspiration not from the MCU, but from another beloved action movie franchise.

"Ton is a BEAST," Humphries praised. "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 set to 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 discover why the MCU faces a significant challenge with Sebastian Stan's Bucky.