Released on June 11th, New Avengers is Marvel’s latest high-stakes team book, but don’t expect classic heroes or clean-cut teamwork. Written by art by Sam Humphries and Ton Lima, the series features a volatile lineup of loneliness and anti-heroes from Carnage, Hulk, Namor, Clea and Wolverine. Gathered by Bucky Burns and Black Widow, they are tasked with defeating the crazy Illuminati duplication known as the Kiruminati. What’s not going well?
According to Humphreys, there are a lot. That’s exactly what it is.
“These are all characters…it’s going to be very difficult for them to be in the same room without defeating each other’s S***,” Humphreys told me recently on Zoom. “You walk into the room and see all these characters together? You turn around and walk quickly.”
For the full interview, don’t miss the AIPT Comics Podcast on Sunday, June 8th!
Provided by Marvel Comics.
Not your typical Avengers
Originally teased as new Thunderbolts*, the new Avengers have undergone a rare title change in the announcement. So is it all tied to the MCU’s Thunderbolts films?
“I have no internal connections in the MCU,” Humphreys said with a laugh. “The only thing I knew was from the first conversation I met with Marvel — they explained the title change.”
So, essentially, the title switch was always a plan, he explained.
“It’s never been done before,” Humphries said of the marketing circumference. “But creatively… this has always been a new Avengers for me.”
And while the name may recall previous iterations, Humphreys was clear. This is the spiritual successor to both the take of Brian Michael Bendis and Jonathan Hickman.
“I just wanted to maintain some connection to what they did,” Humphries said.
Provided by Marvel Comics.
“Heavy Batter” and Character Confusion
Humphreys sees the book as a way to explore how wild things can be obtained when powers and unpredictable forces are pushed into a tough quarter.
“You have Namor, Claire and Hulk together on the same team,” Humphreys said. “In terms of raw power, there is a lot.”
He praises the editors and some important adjustments to make the lineup possible.
Humphries said. “Seven different characters from seven different corners of the Marvel Universe means coordinating with five different editorial agencies.”
And while some characters weren’t available due to the ongoing story, Humphries was pleased with the final lineup.
“None of it really crushed me,” Humphreys said. “I really got the team I wanted.”
The threat of “Kilminati”
It is Kiruminati who opposes this unstable team. A fun house mirror version of Marvel’s Secret Illuminati Group.
“They’re replicating,” Humphries said. “They are the confused and demented versions of the heroes we know.”
The team reflects the original Illuminati cross-sectional approach, but as Humphreys explained, the philosopher trades for “Bacchus, bastards and broken broken fighters.”
Careful not to spoil the details, Humphreys teased these villains that they were “all broken,” adding, “I love it so much.”
Most of the Kirminati. Provided by Marvel Comics.
Tonlima delivers products
Humphries isn’t the only one that brings that. Artist Ton Lima’s work enhanced the tone and energy of the book beyond what Humphrey had hoped for.
“He puts the pedals on metal… he draws a circle around himself,” Humphries said. “People who think they’re well-versed in his work will see how wrong they are.”
With Bucky and Natasha relaxing in their underwear, Lima balances grit and emotions down to Wolverine’s violent splash page.
“You have to be able to relate to these characters, otherwise you wouldn’t mind,” Humphreys said. “I don’t stick to anything.”
Provided by Marvel Comics.
Surprise, romance, and…bake off?
When asked if the book was surprised by all the issues, Humphreys responded quite interestingly.
“I want to think about it that way,” Humphreys said. “Whether it’s something big or something small, I hope you’re like, ‘Dan, I really didn’t see it coming.’ ”
That unpredictability extends to character relationships.
“We’re certainly going to be hot and heavy. We’re going to be messy too,” Humphries said of Bucky and Natasha’s dynamics. “If there’s something at the core of your book, you have to ruin it.”
How confused are you?
“It’s going to be very messy,” Humphreys said. “It’s going to get messy in ways people don’t expect, and I totally believe they’re not going to see it coming.”
Provided by Marvel Comics.
Aside from the “messy” relationship, there is much more to this book. In one of the most memorable moments of the interview, Humphrey performed alongside a joke about a potential bake-off between the two teams.
“The massacre will make what I want to eat most,” Humphreys said with a laugh. “It’s going to be some sort of unclean show, it’s a cookie with a cake inside, but you bite it, and a hot fudge comes out and sprinkles on top… chaos.”
Looking ahead
Despite the range and size of the new Avengers, Humphreys said his favorite part is often the quietest moment/instance.
“My favorite thing about writing about them is that they just chat,” Humphries said. “We’re on each other’s nerves and make stupid jokes… They don’t like being in the same room together, but that feels more normal than they normally do.”
Arcs 3-5 have already been mapped, and Marvel’s recent characters from Canon In Play are clearly all in it.
“I’m having a really great time,” Humphries said. “It’s like working in a shared steroid universe.”
New Avengers #1 will hit the shelf on June 11th, 2025. Follow Sam Humphries on Twitter, Instagram and threads for more updates @samhumpphries.
