Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts Series Now Mirrors MCU, Becomes New Avengers

With the Thunderbolts movie now captivating audiences in theaters, Marvel Comics is set to conclude one chapter of the franchise while embarking on an exciting new journey for this enduring super-team. In a surprising twist, just as Marvel stunned MCU fans by retitling Thunderbolts as "The New Avengers" following its debut weekend, the upcoming Thunderbolts comic is also undergoing this transformative title change. This shift challenges heroes like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine to embody the legacy of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Can they rise to the occasion?

The path to becoming a cohesive and effective Avengers team will be fraught with challenges for these characters. This was a key insight from our recent conversation with writer Sam Humphries. Dive deeper into the Thunderbolts/New Avengers transition, discover how Humphries curated this diverse yet powerful lineup, and uncover the looming threat that necessitates such a formidable team.

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Who Are the New Avengers?

Marvel Studios, known for its secrecy, sparked our curiosity about when Humphries learned of the title change during the development of his Thunderbolts pitch. Was the New Avengers concept part of the initial plan, or a later pivot? Fortunately, Humphries reveals that this wasn't a last-minute decision but a core part of the project from the outset.

"It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith]," Humphries shares with IGN. "It's been exhilarating and maddening to keep this under wraps for months. 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, "There were some logistical details to iron out initially, so I had to be ready to adapt quickly. But by the time I started on the first issue, the plan was firmly in place. You can see it reflected in the lineup — the New Avengers and the Killuminati both echo the New Avengers teams crafted by Brian Bendis and Jonathan Hickman. Jed MacKay has assembled a stellar group of do-gooders in the Avengers book, and I wanted our book to stand out with a roster of intriguing anti-heroes."

"As for the lineup, I had the freedom to select the Thunderbolts/New Avengers," Humphries explains. "The aim was to represent the various key sectors of the Marvel Universe. My concept was to mirror the Illuminati's approach of selecting seven kings and heroes from different corners, but with some of the most formidable characters from the mutant world, the mystical realm, the Spider family, the gamma family, and more. I'm immensely grateful to our incredible editor Alanna Smith for backing this idea from the start, despite the need to coordinate with nearly every Marvel editorial office. That scream you hear is her Microsoft Teams app pleading for a break. And a huge thank you to all the editors and creators who trusted us with their cherished characters! They might come to regret it."

As Humphries suggests, the New Avengers aren't traditional paragons of virtue. This team comprises hardened killers, monsters, and a cantankerous underwater monarch. Similar to the 2004 New Avengers, these characters are united by fate and circumstance, and their immediate camaraderie is far from guaranteed.

"I think the phrase I used in my pitch was 'interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,'" Humphries notes. "These aren't the calm protectors of humanity; they're a group of volatile anti-heroes trying to channel their darker instincts for good, with varying success. They shouldn't even be in the same room together. The big question is, who despises each other the most? It might be Clea and Carnage. Or perhaps Namor and Laura. Or it could 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 remains after the current Thunderbolts team concludes in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. Bucky faces the daunting task of unifying this group of strong personalities and immense powers into a functional team.

"I have so much respect for Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly's long, brilliant run with Bucky," Humphries says. "I'm honored to continue their work with the character. Bucky will need all the wisdom and experience from their stories to navigate this new world turned upside down. Someone needs to take action, 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 lineup, their adversaries in the series are a direct derivative of the Illuminati. Humphries dubs them the "Killuminati."

Art by Josemaria Casanova. (Image Credit: Marvel)

"Someone tried to create duplicates of the Illuminati, but it went horribly wrong," Humphries teases. "Now there are seven twisted and distorted worst-case scenarios on the loose. Bucky's going to have his hands full keeping his team intact. The same goes for the Killuminati and their 'leader' — Iron Apex."

The New Avengers series pairs Humphries with artist Ton Lima, known for his work on New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers. Humphries reveals that the art style for this series draws heavily not from the MCU, but from another wildly popular action movie franchise.

"Ton is a BEAST," Humphries enthuses. "He makes the heroes look brutal and sexy, and the villains look brutal and repulsive. I told him to binge-watch every Fast and the Furious movie ten times without a break. Judging by his artwork, I think he actually did it, the madman!"

The New Avengers #1 is set to hit shelves 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 faces challenges with Sebastian Stan's Bucky.