In the wake of Devil's Reign, superheroes have been outlawed in New York City but starting next month, a new team of authorized heroes will assemble in Thunderbolts #1.
The five-issue limited series will be written by former Thunderbolts scribe Jim Zub and illustrated by artist Sean Izaakse, known for his recent work on Fantastic Four: Life Story. In the classic Thunderbolts tradition, Zub and Izaakse will introduce an unexpected lineup that mixes together iconic Marvel superheroes, fan-favourite breakout stars, conflicted anti-heroes, and exciting newcomers.
Carefully selected by Mayor Luke Cage to bring justice like lightning throughout his city, the new team will be led by Hawkeye and include Spectrum, America Chavez, Power Man, and Kara Killgrave, a.k.a. Persuasion. Also joining this ragtag squad be new two new recruits: mystery man and experienced supersoldier Gutsen Glory, and debuting in issue #2, a strange creature known as Eegro the Unbreakable.
The team’s first mission will be taking down Kingpin’s own corrupt Thunderbolts that wreaked havoc throughout the Devil's Reign saga and restoring the team’s name in an action-packed brawl Marvel Comics says you won’t want to miss.
"A lot of times people will look at a cast of characters and say, 'This team lineup is different so this isn't the team I want,' but, it's like you said, the Thunderbolts have gone through so many iterations," Zub said in an interview with CBR. "There have been incarnations where they're purely criminal, others where they're criminals trying to be heroes, and everything in between, but I've always felt like, at their heart, the Thunderbolts are a team struggling for redemption."
"Individual members and the team as a whole struggled to dig themselves out of their worst selves or resist the natural pull of who they've been in the past," he concluded. "So, for me, redemption is the heart of the Thunderbolts concept."
Thunderbolts #1 arrives in comic book stores on August 31. Check out a first look below with interior artwork by Sean Izaaske, and covers from Sean Izaakse & Chris O'Halloran, David Nakayama, Paulo Siqueira & Rachelle Rosenberg, Stefano Caselli & Federico Blee, and Todd Nauck.