As the Thunderbolts prepare for their much-anticipated live-action debut, Marvel Comics is set to expand the team's narrative in the world of print. The current Thunderbolts squad is playing a pivotal role in the One World Under Doom crossover event, and fans can look forward to an entirely new Thunderbolts team shortly after the movie's release.
Marvel has just unveiled the New Thunderbolts*, an exciting new series penned by Sam Humphries, known for his work on Uncanny X-Force, and illustrated by Ton Lima, who has previously worked on West Coast Avengers. The cover art for the first issue is masterfully crafted by Stephen Segovia. Here's a sneak peek at the cover for issue #1:
While the new series is strategically timed to coincide with the movie's release and includes Bucky Barnes as the team leader, the roster diverges significantly from the cinematic version. The lineup features newcomers to the Thunderbolts such as Clea, Wolverine (Laura Kinney), Namor, Hulk, and Carnage, with Eddie Brock currently embodying the Carnage mantle.
The series kicks off with Bucky and Black Widow tackling an existential threat posed by doppelgangers of the Illuminati, who are wreaking havoc across the Marvel Universe. To combat this crisis, they will assemble a new team of heavy-hitters. However, leading such a diverse group of powerful and unpredictable individuals will prove to be a challenging endeavor.
"I love every iteration of Thunderbolts," Humphries stated in Marvel's press release. "I'm thrilled to continue the franchise's proud tradition of hard-hitting action, powder keg personalities, and explosive surprises into a new era. This is a gang of seven of the biggest badasses and loose cannons from different corners of the Marvel Universe. Assembling a super team is like inviting the right combination of guests to a dinner party. So I imagined a dangerous, disastrous, unhinged Marvel dinner party, and went with that."
"I'm having a blast working on this book with Mr. Humphries and the team," Lima added. "Look at this lineup... it's crazy. They're not here to talk; they jump straight to the action! And that's the most fun part to draw. None of them are known for taking it easy on the job, so I can't either."
New Thunderbolts* #1 is slated for release on June 11, 2025.
For those eager to delve deeper into the Thunderbolts* movie, explore more about Lewis Pullman's portrayal of The Sentry and uncover the significance of the asterisk in the title.
