With the Thunderbolts movie now in theaters, Marvel Comics is gearing up to close out one chapter of the franchise and launch a fresh era for this enduring super-team. But there's a twist. Marvel shocked MCU fans by renaming Thunderbolts to "The New Avengers" after its opening weekend, and now the Thunderbolts comic is following suit. Heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine must now strive to match the legacy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Are they up to the challenge?
Perhaps, but forging this group into a united and effective Avengers squad will be no small feat. That's the key insight from our recent discussion with writer Sam Humphries. Continue reading to discover more about the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, how Humphries assembled this unconventional yet formidable lineup, and what new menace requires such a powerhouse team.
The New Avengers #1: Exclusive Preview Gallery
View 19 Images
Who Are the New Avengers?
Given Marvel Studios' well-known secrecy around future projects, we wondered when Humphries learned about the title change during his Thunderbolts development. Was a New Avengers comic always the plan, or was this a recent pivot? Luckily, this wasn't a last-minute curveball but part of the strategy from day one.
“It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith],” Humphries tells IGN.
Keeping this secret for months has been both thrilling and agonizing. It's like organizing a surprise party for thousands of people. I don’t even have a file labeled 'New Avengers' on my computer. You never know.”
Humphries adds, “At first, there were some behind-the-scenes logistics to iron out, so I had to stay flexible. But the entire plan was finalized by the time I began the first issue. You can see it in the roster—both the New Avengers and the Killuminati reflect elements of [Brian] Bendis' and [Jonathan] Hickman's New Avengers teams. Jed [MacKay] has assembled an incredible team of heroes in the main Avengers title, and I wanted our book to stand out with a crew of troublemakers.”
“Jed's got an amazing roster of heroes in the Avengers book, and I wanted ours to set itself apart with a bunch of outcasts.”“
Regarding the lineup, Humphries notes that he had significant leeway in selecting his Thunderbolts/New Avengers. The aim was to choose characters representing the major superhuman factions of the Marvel Universe.
“This was incredibly fun,” Humphries says. “My core idea was—the Illuminati consisted of seven kings and heroes from different Marvel Universe domains, so what if we did the same with some of the toughest figures representing mutants, the mystical realm, the Spider family, the gamma family, and more? I’m extremely grateful to our fantastic editor Alanna Smith, who championed this idea from the start, even though she had to coordinate with nearly every Marvel editorial office to pull it off. That sound you hear is her Microsoft Teams pleading for relief. Huge thanks to all the editors and creators who trusted us with their beloved characters! Love you all! (They might come to regret it.)”
As Humphries hints, these New Avengers aren't exactly paragons of virtue and heroic conduct. This is a squad of seasoned killers, monsters, and one irritable undersea ruler. Similar to the original 2004 New Avengers, this team is thrown together by fate and necessity, and cooperation won't come easily.
“The phrase I used in my pitch was ‘interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,’" Humphries recalls. “These aren't calm protectors of humanity; they're a group of volatile misfits attempting to channel their darker instincts for good, with unpredictable outcomes. They really shouldn't be in the same room. The big question is, who clashes the most? It could be Clea and Carnage. Or Namor and Laura. Or maybe…”
Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati
While the new series mirrors the MCU's title shift, its New Avengers lineup differs significantly from the film version. The constant is Bucky Barnes, who remains after the current Thunderbolts team concludes its run in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. The former Winter Soldier must now corral this collection of strong personalities and even stronger powers into a cohesive unit.
“I have tremendous respect for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin's [Kelly] extensive, brilliant work with Bucky,” Humphries states. “I'm privileged to build on what they've accomplished with the character. Bucky will need every bit of wisdom and experience from the wild ordeals they put him through. The world is in chaos, and someone has to step up, damn it.”
What threat could possibly require the combined strength of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Just as the New Avengers draw inspiration from the classic Illuminati, their adversaries in the series are a direct offshoot—the "Killuminati."
“Someone attempted to replicate the Illuminati, and someone messed up badly,” Humphries hints. “Now seven twisted and deformed worst-case scenarios are on the loose. Bucky will have his hands full keeping his team together. The same goes for the Killuminati and their ‘leader’—Iron Apex.”
The New Avengers teams Humphries with artist Ton Lima, known for previous work on titles like New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries shares that the series' visual style is heavily influenced not by the MCU, but by another massively popular action film series.
“Ton is an absolute BEAST,” Humphries exclaims. “He makes the heroes look fierce and compelling, and the villains look terrifying and repulsive. I told him to binge-watch every Fast and the Furious movie ten times straight without stopping. Judging by his pages, I think he actually did it, the madman!”
The New Avengers #1 hits stores on June 11, 2025.
For more on the MCU's latest surprise, check out why Thunderbolts was rebranded as The New Avengers, and learn why the MCU faces a significant challenge with Sebastian Stan’s Bucky.
