WARNING: Spoilers ahead for the ending of Thunderbolts*The ending of New Avengers. Recently, the comics have mirrored that transformation, rebranding their latest series under the same banner. Now we've been given our first look at the series' antagonists, which seem to create an absolute nightmare scenario for these New Avengers.
Written by Sam Humphries and illustrated by Ton Lima, New Avengers will launch a fresh storyline this June. The comic features the introduction of the KILLUMINATI, monstrous mirror versions of the original Illuminati , whose unchecked hubris threatens the world, as recently announced in an exclusive interview with IGN.
The team's inception promises to reshape the line between heroes and villains, blurring familiar moral boundaries. With the KILLUMINATI serving as the main antagonists and a radical new roster of Avengers, including Bucky Barnes, Wolverine, Hulk, Namor, Clea, Black Widow, and Eddie Brock's Carnage in the Avengers lineup, this series looks incredibly promising.
The KILLUMINATI Explained
The Illuminati's Evil Twin
In New Avengers, the KILLUMINATI emerge as a deadly force to be reckoned with, casting a dark shadow over the Marvel Universe. The KILLUMINATI are twisted versions of the Illuminati, a group of powerful and influential heroes like Reed Richards, Iron Man, and Black Panther, who have long been considered Earth’s protectors. However, in this new storyline, their evil counterparts are far from the noble leaders fans once ired. These new villains offer fans a more demented version of these classic heroes, creating a truly worthy antagonist for the New Avengers.
Sentry Is Ushering In Marvel's New Era, And the Hero's Creator Knows Exactly Why We're All Obsessed
The Sentry’s arrival has ushered in a new era for Marvel and now, one creator is chiming in with their thoughts about what the hero means.
While Marvel has a long history of heroes becoming villains, what sets the KILLUMINATI apart is their distorted personalities and grotesque mutations, as shown in variant covers for the first five issues. The artwork, including variants by Josemaria Casanovas, Rod Reis, and Ivan Tao, brings these chilling figures to life. Their presence challenges the New Avengers, pushing this team of misfits into uncharted territory. While the KILLUMINATI possess immense power, their greatest flaw may be their arrogance, which will surely be their ultimate undoing.
The Illuminati are not New to The New Avengers
The Illuminati’s Legacy in New Avengers
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. The Illuminati's original iteration, first introduced in New Avengers (2005), played a crucial role in Marvel's post-Avengers disbandment era. As secretive leaders of Earth’s mightiest heroes, they worked behind the scenes to protect the planet, but their decisions often came at a high cost. This morally gray group, which included the likes of Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Black Bolt, aimed to prevent global catastrophes, but their actions were not without controversy.
New MCU Report Reveals That Avengers: Doomsday Directors Joe & Anthony Russo Directed The Thunderbolts* Post-Credit Scene
The Russo bros. reportedly directed Thunderbolts*' post-credits scene, which suggests it's more closely linked to Avengers: Doomsday than it seems.
The Illuminati are revived in this new comic arc, but in a much darker form. The KILLUMINATI take the place of the original team, mirroring their abilities while exaggerating their darker qualities. The New Avengers must face these twisted versions of their predecessors, a challenge that forces them to rethink everything about their own roles as protectors of Earth. This clash is a direct reflection of the moral conflict the original Illuminati faced in their own time, now amplified by the KILLUMINATI’s more sinister goals.
The Unique Collaboration Between the Comics and the MCU
How The Parallel Shift Makes Both Feel Special
The seamless integration of concepts from both the comic books and the MCU makes this new iteration of the New Avengers even more intriguing. While the New Avengers comic draws inspiration from the classic Illuminati saga, it also takes cues from the MCU's as well, marking it a unique collaboration between the two universes. With both mediums exploring the implications of these shifting alliances and the struggle between heroes and villains, this seems to be a promising development for Marvel.
I Can't Believe the MCU Just Robbed Tony Stark of a Major Marvel Milestone
The Marvel Cinematic Universe loves Iron Man, but the debut of its latest team has just removed one of his greatest contributions to comic book lore.
The KILLUMINATI’s rise not only pays homage to the Illuminati's legacy but also offers a fresh perspective on team dynamics. With the Thunderbolts leading the charge, some of the strongest of Marvel's heroes will get the unique spotlight to prove they're truly worthy of the Avengers title. The series represents a blending of old and new, capturing the essence of what makes the Marvel Universe so compelling while offering fans something entirely different. It's a crossover of ideas that maintains the integrity of each storyline, giving both universes room to grow without stepping on each other’s toes.
New Avengers #1 hits comic shops on June 11, 2025.
-
Thunderbolts*
8/10- Release Date
- May 2, 2025
- Runtime
- 127 minutes
- Director
- Jake Schreier
- Writers
- Eric Pearson, Joanna Calo
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
Cast
Yelena Belova
Bucky Barnes
Thunderbolts follows seven disillusioned individuals who find themselves trapped in a perilous situation. Tasked with a daunting mission, they must face the most shadowy aspects of their histories in order to survive and achieve their goals.
-
New Avengers
Your comment has not been saved
When the Avengers are apparently killed by Kang the Conqueror, an automatic function created by Tony Stark calls up several allies up as replacements.
Your comment has not been saved