With Thunderbolts now playing in theaters, Marvel Comics is preparing to usher in a new era for its iconic super-team – with a twist mirroring the MCU's surprise move. Just as the film was rebranded as The New Avengers after its opening weekend, the comics division is following suit with an unexpected title change for its Thunderbolts series. Now, a ragtag team featuring Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine must attempt to fill the shoes of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
Can This Unlikely Team Measure Up?
The real question isn't whether these characters have the power – it's whether they can overcome their chaotic personalities to function as a team. Writer Sam Humphries reveals this dysfunctional dynamic was exactly what drew him to the project.
Exclusive Preview: The New Avengers #1
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Behind the Surprise Title Change
Humphries confirmed the name change wasn't a last-minute decision: "This was planned from our very first conversation with editor Alanna Smith. Keeping it secret felt like organizing a massive surprise party." The writer intentionally crafted a roster representing different corners of the Marvel Universe – but with a crucial difference from classic Avengers teams.
"Jed MacKay has the do-gooders covered in the main Avengers title," Humphries notes. "We wanted to distinguish ourselves with, well... bastards."
Meet Marvel's Most Problematic Super-Team
The lineup includes hardened killers, temperamental monarchs, and unstable antiheroes – none known for teamwork. Humphries teases particularly volatile dynamics between Clea and Carnage, or Namor and Laura Kinney (Wolverine).
Bucky's Impossible Leadership Challenge
The lone carryover from the current Thunderbolts team, Bucky Barnes faces the monumental task of managing this collection of misfits. Humphries promises the former Winter Soldier will draw on his "wisdom and experience" from past storylines to keep the team functional.
The Killuminati Threat Emerges
The New Avengers will face a terrifying new faction called the Killuminati – twisted counterparts to Marvel's Illuminati. As Humphries describes them: "Seven demented, deformed worst-case scenarios running loose in the universe."
The creative team took inspiration from an unlikely source: "I told artist Ton Lima to binge every Fast & Furious movie," Humphries reveals. "Somehow, he actually did it – and it shows in these brutal, high-octane pages."
The New Avengers #1 hits shelves June 11, 2025.
