Duality has always been a theme of the Thunderbolts comics. They can be villains acting as heroes, an evil patrolling force… Or the New Avengers, as the smart marketing of Marvel’s latest movie showed us. In the original story, villain Baron Zemo created them when he used the Masters of Evil as a substitute for The Avengers in order to trick authorities. However, despite his intentions, the team reformed and became real heroes. Well, some of them.
The New Avengers also have a rich history, formed for various necessities and by a diverse set of people. Like with the Thunderbolts, sometimes they are even secretly the villains, and the Thunderbolts and New Avengers continuity is intrinsically tied together. You can’t miss checking out the two teams’ grand history. So, we have the seven best comics that tell you all about them, and the different sides of the coin they have served.
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1. Thunderbolts (2023)
Writer: Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly
Artist: Geraldo Borges
Lanzing and Kelly’s team is the closest to the Thunderbolts* movie, featuring Yelena Belova, Bucky, Red Guardian, and U.S. Agent. But it’s way more versatile, also including Black Widow, Shang-Chi, and Songbird, for example.
Get Thunderbolts: Worldstrike on Bookshop.org
2. Thunderbolts (1997)
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Mark Bagley, Vince Russell
Taking us back to the beginning, we have the first Thunderbolts story. It’s fun to see how much it evolved throughout time, but Busiek’s work is one of the best to this day. He wrote a complex run with outstanding character development and exciting action.
Get Thunderbolts Epic Collection: Justice, Like Lightning on Bookshop.org
3. New Avengers (2013)
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Steve Epting, Rick Magyar
Hickman’s New Avengers is a great reading for this MCU phase in general, as it sets up Secret Wars. It features a fantastic cast of heroes, with Black Panther assembling the Illuminati again to stop a collision of multiple parallel realities. Not only that, it also cements Doctor Doom as the best villain ever.
Get Avengers By Jonathan Hickman Omnibus Volume 1 on Bookshop.org
4. The New Avengers (2004)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Finch, Danny Miki
Bendis’ roster consists of many seasoned Avengers like Captain America, Iron Man, and Hawkeye (as Ronin), and first-time members, such as Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Luke Cage. Also, Sentry (and his alter-ego, Void) shines as an important player in the story.
Get The New Avengers Omnibus Volume 1 on Bookshop.org
5. Dark Avengers
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mike Deodato Jr.
Mimicking their origin, this comic sees Norman Osborn transform his Thunderbolts into the new Avengers. Each villain assumes the role of a hero like Bullseye, who pretends to be Hawkeye. It’s a different and interesting iteration of the group and the highlight of the Dark Reign storyline.
Get Dark Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection: Osborn’s Reign on Bookshop.org
6. Thunderbolts (2022)
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Sean Izaakse
After the events of Devil’s Reign, Hawkeye is tasked with creating the new Thunderbolts and redeeming the group’s name. He’s the main character, but everyone gets their chance to shine. Jim Zub proves again that he’s perfect for team-up books.
Get Thunderbolts: Winter Soldiers on Bookshop.org
7. The New Avengers (2025)
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Ton Lima
This comic received the same treatment Thunderbolts* did and changed its name to The New Avengers. Despite that, it’ll (thankfully) avoid MCU synergy and feature a monstrously different team. Let’s hope Carnage, Namor, Wolverine (Laura Kinney), Clea Strange, Hulk, Bucky, and Black Widow survive the experience. This new book hits stores on June 11, 2025.
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