Marvel Comics revealed Thunderbolts* got a rename of New Avengers yesterday, and today we’ve got more details about the villains in the series: Killuminati. The group consists of the doubles of the Illuminati in a series written by Sam Humphries and artist Ton Lima. These twisted villains will be featured on the first five issues of this highly-anticipated ongoing series.
“My basic concept was — the Illuminati were seven kings and heroes from seven different corners of the Marvel Universe, so what if we did the same with some of the biggest badasses representing mutants, the mystical world, the Spider family, the gamma family, and so on?” Humphries told IGN in an exclusive interview and first look. “I have immense gratitude for our amazing editor Alanna Smith who supported this idea from the jump, even though she had to liaise with pretty much every Marvel editorial office to make it happen.”
Check out the covers below.
New York, NY— May 8, 2025 — Some threats that arise in the Marvel Universe are so great, they ignite all-new eras of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! This June, the KILLUMINATI, mysterious doubles of the Illuminati, threaten the world, assembling not just the mightiest—but the world’s deadliest heroes in NEW AVENGERS by writer Sam Humphries and artist Ton Lima. Today, behold the KILLUMINATI in all their twisted glory in new KILLUMINATI VARIANT COVERS that will be featured on the first five issues of this highly-anticipated ongoing series.
Previously announced as NEW THUNDERBOLTS*, NEW AVENGERS stars Bucky Barnes, Black Widow, Hulk, Namor, Wolverine (Laura Kinney), Clea, and Carnage (Eddie Brock), a radical Avengers roster in the spirit of Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch’s decade-defining New Avengers. It’s a dangerous mix of loners, anti-heroes, killers and monsters, and that’s exactly what’s required to take down the KILLUMINATI! The KILLUMINATI are as unstoppable and ambitious as their original counterparts–only with their worst traits magnified and their hubris unchecked—and if the NEW AVENGERS don’t learn how to work together, these demented doubles will quickly have the world in their grasp!
“My basic concept was — the Illuminati were seven kings and heroes from seven different corners of the Marvel Universe, so what if we did the same with some of the biggest badasses representing mutants, the mystical world, the Spider family, the gamma family, and so on?” Humphries told IGN in an exclusive interview and first look. “I have immense gratitude for our amazing editor Alanna Smith who supported this idea from the jump, even though she had to liaise with pretty much every Marvel editorial office to make it happen.”
Check out the first four KILLUMINATI VARIANT COVERS by Josemaria Casanovas, Rod Reis, Ivan Tao, and Salvador Larroca and preorder NEW AVENGERS #1 at your local comic shop today!
NEW AVENGERS #1 – 75960621145600111
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by TON LIMA
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Killuminati Variant Cover by JOSEMARIA CASANOVAS – 75960621145600161
On Sale 6/11
NEW AVENGERS #2 – 75960621145600211
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by TON LIMA
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Killuminati Variant Cover by ROD REIS – 75960621145600251
On Sale 7/16
NEW AVENGERS #3
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by TON LIMA
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Killuminati Variant Cover by IVAN TAO
On Sale 8/20
NEW AVENGERS #4
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by TIAGO PALMA
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Killuminati Variant Cover by SALVADOR LARROCA
On Sale September
NEW AVENGERS #5
Written by SAM HUMPHRIES
Art by TIAGO PALMA
Cover by STEPHEN SEGOVIA
Killuminati Variant Cover by TBA
On Sale October
Meet the KILLUMINATI, demented duplicates of the original Illuminati who will debut this June in ‘NEW AVENGERS’. Read More