With the *Thunderbolts* movie now hitting theaters, Marvel Comics is set to conclude one chapter of the franchise while launching an exciting new era for this iconic super-team. But there's a twist that fans didn't see coming. Much like the surprise rebranding of the film as "*The New Avengers*" shortly after its theatrical debut, the Thunderbolts comic series is undergoing the same transformation. Now, characters like Carnage, Clea, and Wolverine must step into the spotlight and prove they can live up to the legendary legacy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Are they truly ready for the challenge?

It won’t be easy. This group has a long way to go before they become a unified and effective Avengers team — a point made clear during our recent conversation with series writer Sam Humphries. He gave us the inside scoop on the Thunderbolts-to-New Avengers shift, how he assembled this unconventional but powerful lineup, and what kind of world-shattering threat requires such a team of heavy hitters.

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Who Are the New Avengers?

Marvel Studios may be known for keeping future projects under wraps, but we were curious about when exactly writer Sam Humphries learned of the title change for his Thunderbolts series. Was this always intended to be The New Avengers, or was it a sudden switch? As it turns out, the title shift was baked into the original plan from day one.

“It was part of the very first conversation I had with Alanna [Smith],” Humphries told IGN.
“It’s been both thrilling and maddening trying to keep this secret for so long — like organizing a surprise party for thousands of people. I don’t even have a file on my computer labeled ‘New Avengers.’ You just never know who might peek.”

He continued, “There were some behind-the-scenes logistics to sort through early on, so I had to stay flexible. But by the time I started drafting issue #1, everything was locked in. You can already see it reflected in the roster — both the New Avengers and the Killuminati echo past eras of the Avengers, especially the teams led by Bendis and Hickman. Jed MacKay’s current Avengers book features a stellar lineup of traditional heroes, so I wanted ours to stand apart — a team full 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.”

When it came to assembling the team, Humphries had considerable creative freedom — and he leaned into it hard. His vision was to bring together characters representing key factions across the Marvel Universe.

“Oh, this was a blast,” he said. “My basic idea was simple: the Illuminati were seven kings and heroes from different corners of the Marvel multiverse, so why not do the same with some of the biggest badasses from mutants, the mystical realm, the Spider-Verse, gamma-powered beings, and more? I’m incredibly grateful to our editor Alanna Smith for backing this idea from the start, even though she probably had to negotiate with every Marvel editorial department to make it happen. That scream you hear in the background? It’s her Microsoft Teams begging for mercy. And big thanks to all the editors and creators who trusted us with their beloved characters — love you all! (They’ll regret it soon enough.)”

As Humphries hinted, this isn’t your typical Avengers team built on trust and mutual respect. This is a squad of killers, monsters, and morally ambiguous antiheroes forced together by fate. Much like the original New Avengers of 2004, these characters aren’t natural allies — and they definitely don’t get along at first.

“I think the phrase I used in my pitch was ‘interpersonal dynamics go BOOM,’” he says. “These aren’t noble defenders of justice; these are hotheaded renegades trying to channel their worst instincts into something good — with mixed results. They shouldn’t even be allowed in the same room. The real question is, who absolutely hates whom the most? Could be Clea and Carnage. Or maybe Namor and Laura. Or…”

Bucky Barnes and the Killuminati

While the comic shares its title change with the MCU version, the actual roster of The New Avengers is quite different. One key link between the two versions is Bucky Barnes, who remains with the team following the conclusion of the current Thunderbolts arc in Thunderbolts: Doomstrike. As the only constant presence, Bucky will take on the difficult task of leading this volatile group.

“I have immense respect for Jackson [Lanzing] and Collin [Kelly] and the incredible work they did with Bucky,” Humphries said. “I feel honored to continue building on that foundation. Bucky’s going to need every ounce of wisdom and experience those stories gave him. The world is falling apart, and someone has to do something about it — damn it.”

So what kind of threat could possibly warrant the combined firepower of Wolverine, Namor, Carnage, Clea, and Hulk? Just as the New Avengers draw inspiration from the classic Illuminati, their enemies are also rooted in that legacy — twisted reflections of those once-powerful heroes. Enter: the Killuminati.

Art by Josemaria Casanovas. (Image Credit: Marvel)

“Someone tried to recreate the Illuminati, and things went horribly wrong,” Humphries teased. “Now there are seven warped, monstrous versions of those heroes running wild. Bucky’s going to have his hands full keeping his own team intact — let alone dealing with the chaos the Killuminati and their leader, Iron Apex, are about to unleash.”

Humphries teams up with artist Ton Lima — previously seen in New Thunderbolts and West Coast Avengers — to bring this bold new vision to life. While the movie may be MCU-inspired, the visual tone of the comic leans heavily toward another pop culture juggernaut.

“Ton is an absolute beast,” Humphries said. “He makes the good guys look brutal yet stylish, and the villains look grotesque and terrifying. I told him he needed to marathon every Fast and the Furious movie back-to-back ten times without stopping. Based on the pages he’s producing, I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually did it — the mad genius!”

Mark your calendars — The New Avengers #1 hits shelves on June 11, 2025.