A New Era Of Marvel Comics' Most Lethal Super Team Begins In New Thunderbolts*

[JayC]

THUNDERBOLTS, Marvel’s most lethal super team, have evolved numerous times over the years, assembling unlikely groups of reformed villains, dangerous antiheroes, and deadly mercenaries to do jobs the Avengers and other Marvel heroes won’t. This June, experience their greatest transformation yet in NEW THUNDERBOLTS* by writer Sam Humphries (Uncanny X-Force, Green Lanterns) and rising star artist Ton Lima (West Coast Avengers, Werewolf By Night).

The new ongoing series kicks off when Bucky Barnes and Black Widow discover a monumental threat to the Marvel Universe and recruit a group of individuals who will HOLD NOTHING BACK! It’s a radical lineup—even by Thunderbolts standards—that ushers in a revolutionary new era of the iconic team. Taking the high-octane, chaotic energy the Thunderbolts are known for to its wildest limits, the thrilling new title launches just in time for Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts*, in theaters on May 2.

THE WINTER SOLDIER. BLACK WIDOW. EDDIE BROCK: CARNAGE. THE HULK. NAMOR. CLEA. WOLVERINE.

They’re the most dangerous loners and antiheroes in the Marvel Universe. Nothing could make them work together…but Bucky Barnes and the Black Widow are going to give it a shot. Demented duplicates of the Illuminati are threatening the world, and if they figure out how to work together, they’ll be as unstoppable as the originals. Bucky and Natasha need allies who will do anything to take the duplicates out – but wrangling a team of killers and monsters presents its own dangers. Welcome to the New Thunderbolts* – hope you survive the experience!

"I love every iteration of Thunderbolts,” Humphries said. “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 shared. "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."

"Ton is stepping up to the plate with blockbuster artwork that really does justice to the big characters on the team," Humphries added.

Check out Stephen Segovia’s main cover along with a variant cover by Mark Bagley and stay tuned in the coming months for a first look at the terrifying threat that brings the NEW THUNDERBOLTS* together—THE KILLUMINATI!

NEW THUNDERBOLTS* #1
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by TON LIMA
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Virgin Variant Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Variant Cover by MARK BAGLEY
On Sale 6/11

[since83]

This team is insane!!! I already love this comic. By far the craziest Thunderbolts team as far as A listers and power levels! It's kinda like the New Avengers team having Wolvie and Spidey here. Actually Namor makes a ton of sense with his villain turn recently. Clea has always been an edgy less heroic hero. It'll be nuts to see the Hulk involved, not sure how his recent horror edged comic and monster hunting will fit in here, or at all. Definitely giving this one a chance!

[GarimusPrime]

They do know this book isn't going to last more than ten issues, right? Silly me. Of course they know that. They're literally making this book, just to give the team some traction for the movie. Gotta keep up that synergy that nobody wants or likes.

[RobertD]

On 3/12/2025 at 4:54 PM, GarimusPrime said:

They do know this book isn't going to last more than ten issues, right? Silly me. Of course they know that. They're literally making this book, just to give the team some traction for the movie. Gotta keep up that synergy that nobody wants or likes.

Hey, at least they're not matching this team with the movie team.  That's the stuff that drives me crazy, upending everything so it can look similar to a movie that will only be relevant for a couple of weeks max. 

[GarimusPrime]

On 3/12/2025 at 6:47 PM, RobertD said:

Hey, at least they're not matching this team with the movie team.  That's the stuff that drives me crazy, upending everything so it can look similar to a movie that will only be relevant for a couple of weeks max. 

They already did that! It was a five issue mini-series, and it came out over a year ago, just before they announced shooting delays. They missed the bus, so now they're trying it again.

[Hogun]

Definitely reading this for Namor and Carnage team-up

[AndyL]

On 3/12/2025 at 5:53 PM, GarimusPrime said:

They already did that! It was a five issue mini-series, and it came out over a year ago, just before they announced shooting delays. They missed the bus, so now they're trying it again.

One of the ugliest art efforts I've ever seen BTW.

[Hordak Rules]

The thing that made Thunderbolts interesting was it initially was about supervillians attempting to do better. Even when the Kingpin took the reigns a couple years ago, it was still about supervillians. This team seems more like Secret Avengers. Sticking Bucky on every team lately doesn't mean it should be the Thunderbolts.

[leokearon]

Looks more like the Defenders than Thunderbolts

[Ando_Calrissian]

Pass 🙄

[Chunkylover]

What does the asterisk mean in the title? I see it in the movie, but I don't remember it previously being part of the comic.

[leokearon]

On 3/13/2025 at 11:26 AM, Chunkylover said:

What does the asterisk mean in the title? I see it in the movie, but I don't remember it previously being part of the comic.

Clearly done as a cheap cash in with the movie

[AndyL]

On 3/12/2025 at 10:31 PM, Hordak Rules said:

The thing that made Thunderbolts interesting was it initially was about supervillians attempting to do better. Even when the Kingpin took the reigns a couple years ago, it was still about supervillians. This team seems more like Secret Avengers. Sticking Bucky on every team lately doesn't mean it should be the Thunderbolts.

No truer words my friend. Somewhere down the line Thunderbolts lost track of the plot. It just seems like they're just taking everyone who kind of moves the needle and they don't really have a place for them so Thunderbolts* it is. Then again don't get me started about all the modern day hacks working in the business today. Particularly rampant at Marvel. Not too familiar with Humphries but at least he's old enough to have been around when Thunderbolts started and maybe still remembers what they were originally supposed to be about. Then again most of everything I've read is all about self insertion and trying to be outrageous. I don't dislike these characters so as usual I will give it a try. But Magic 8 Ball says outlook is bleak.*

[CajunPirate]

They should put mini bombs in their heads, forcing them to work for some gov't agency...oh, wait.

[since83]

Don't take this like I'm fighting with anyone, but i disagree with this hatred of the MCU synergy. There are, of course, different levels here. Changing Wanda and Pietro's parents after Age of Ultron was total trash and super confusing. I even read everything involved with that change, but was still confused. But I also thought it was weird to have Sam become Cap right as the MCU was introducing a large portion of potential new buyers of comics to Steve Rodgers. We NEED new readers, and the MCU is where we get them. Some synergy at that time woulda helped. Imagine being a kid who saw and loved Cap, and you find a comic store to get his comic, and find out its not Steve! (That being said Im a big Sam fan, just talking about the timing here) I would argue there should be something for new fans of a movie to come into the fold with. If they introduce a character, putting them in a prominent role somewhere, or joining the Avengers is a good idea, as long as it's written well, which is what all changes come down to. Don't get me wrong, not all of it works, but the idea of linking them up a bit isn't that crazy.

As far as this TBolts team, it is really unlike any other, maybe it will suck, and maybe it'll be awesome. I remember thinking Savage Avengers was a money grab waste of time, and ended up loving the first series! All these characters are villains, former villains, or tweeners. Hulk is always one step away from being a villain. So to me this fits in nicely with the concept, but is a significant step away from it as well. As usual, I feel like I'm in the vast minority with excitement for any new comic, but this could be cool as hell. Although Garus Prime is probably correct about the 10 parter thing. I will agree that whole "not telling us it's a limited series, but they know damn well it is one" thing is getting old, and crushing any confidence I have about grabbing stuff I'm debating about. T bolts deserves an ongoing title!!