Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Pokemon Winds and Waves
  • New Games for 2026
  • GamesRadar+ Replay
  • Mario Day deals
Don't miss these
Spider-Man, Hulk, and Punisher posing in the jungle alongside a carved stone head
Marvel Comics Writer Jonathan Hickman is bringing Spider-Man 4 stars Spidey, Hulk, and Punisher together just in time for the movie
Marvel Rivals Elsa Bloodstone aiming glowing double-barrel shotgun
Third Person Shooters All potential upcoming Marvel Rivals characters based on leaks, datamines, and in-game hints
Superman in a battle-damaged costume brandishing both Mjolnir and Captain America's shield
Comics The best Marvel/DC crossover returns to pit the Avengers against the Justice League in the biggest superhero fight ever
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams in Wonder Man.
Superhero Shows Wonder Man review: "A low-key gem that's up there with the MCU's best"
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
Marvel Movies Marvel Phase 6 release dates, news, leaks, rumors, and more
Daredevil: Born Again
Superhero Movies Upcoming Marvel movies and shows for 2026 and beyond
Tom Holland as Peter Parker unmasked and in the middle of a fight during a scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Marvel Movies Spider-Man 4 release date, cast, leaks and theories, and everything else we know about the Marvel movie
Marvel Rivals Season 6.5 key art featuring Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone with a dinosaur
Third Person Shooters Marvel Rivals character tier list and the best ones to play as in the current meta
Marvel's Wolverine mask
Games Upcoming Marvel games, from the new Iron Man game to Marvel's Wolverine
Dario Agger charging at Thor/Sigurd Jarlson
Marvel Comics Thor has "nowhere to go but down" as Dario Agger the Minotaur returns to kill him in The Mortal Thor #11
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Wyatt Russell as US Agent in Thunderbolts
Marvel Movies Marvel star Lewis Pullman puts Avengers: Doomsday cameo overload fears to rest: "Every character has their moment"
Chris Evans as Cap in the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer
Marvel Movies Avengers: Doomsday release date, cast, plot, trailer, and more news
Robert Downey Jr. in the Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement video
Marvel Movies The Oscars will have a "Marvel reunion," and MCU fans are wondering if it means an Avengers: Doomsday trailer is coming
Avengers: Secret Wars - three Spider-Men during the Marvel movie No Way Home
Marvel Movies Avengers: Secret Wars release date, cast, plot, and more news
Spider-Man swinging through New York City
Marvel Comics Marvel brings back the most prolific Spider-Man comic writer of all time to revive Brand New Day before Spider-Man 4
  1. Comics
  2. Marvel Comics
  3. Thunderbolts

Marvel's New Thunderbolts* comic steals the MCU's asterisk, and the reason why is just as big of a mystery

News
By George Marston published 12 March 2025

New Thunderbolts* brings the asterisk from the MCU into its title as it assembles the Marvel Universe's "most dangerous loners"

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The New Thunderbolts leaping into action
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
2
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

The "most dangerous loners" in the Marvel Universe are joining forces in a new Thunderbolts* comic coming this summer - and yes, the title has an asterisk, just like the upcoming MCU Thunderbolts* film.

What does the asterisk mean? Well, much like with the movie, we'll have to wait to find out. But what we do know is the line-up, which will consist of leaders Black Widow and Winter Soldier, and team members Clea, Hulk, Laura Kinney Wolverine, Namor, and Eddie Brock who is currently Carnage. We also know that New Thunderbolts*, the official title of the comic, will be written by Sam Humphries and drawn by Ton Lima.

Portraits of the New Thunderbolts arranged in an asterisk pattern

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

The story kicks off when Black Widow and Winter Soldier discover a new threat known as the "Killuminati." No word yet on whether the villains have any connection to Tupac (real heads will know), but the threat they pose is dire enough to bring together some of the most powerful and dangerous heroes in the Marvel Universe, as they are apparently impersonating the members of the Illuminati, Marvel's secret group of ultra powerful protectors that has included members such as Doctor Strange, Mister Fantastic, Tony Stark, Professor X, and more.

You may like
  • The Great Lakes Avengers sitting around a table in a diner The MCU might slowly be assembling the weirdest Avengers team ever
  • Spider-Man, Hulk, and Punisher posing in the jungle alongside a carved stone head Writer Jonathan Hickman is bringing Spider-Man 4 stars Spidey, Hulk, and Punisher together just in time for the movie
  • Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Wyatt Russell as US Agent in Thunderbolts Marvel star Lewis Pullman puts Avengers: Doomsday cameo overload fears to rest: "Every character has their moment"

"THE WINTER SOLDIER. BLACK WIDOW. EDDIE BROCK: CARNAGE. THE HULK. NAMOR. CLEA. WOLVERINE. They’re the most dangerous loners and antiheroes in the Marvel Universe. Nothing could make them work together…but Bucky Barnes and the Black Widow are going to give it a shot," reads Marvel's official description of New Thunderbolts* #1. "Demented duplicates of the Illuminati are threatening the world, and if they figure out how to work together, they'll be as unstoppable as the originals. Bucky and Natasha need allies who will do anything to take the duplicates out – but wrangling a team of killers and monsters presents its own dangers. Welcome to the New Thunderbolts* – hope you survive the experience!"

The New Thunderbolts leaping into action

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

"I love every iteration of Thunderbolts," Humphries says in a statement. "I'm thrilled to continue the franchise's proud tradition of hard hitting action, powder keg personalities, and explosive surprises into a new era. This is a gang of seven of the biggest badasses and loose cannons from different corners of the Marvel Universe. Assembling a super team is like inviting the right combination of guests to a dinner party. So I imagined a dangerous, disastrous, unhinged Marvel dinner party, and went with that."

New Thunderbolts* #1 goes on sale June 11 with a main cover by Steven Segovia and a variant by Mark Bagley, both seen above.

The original Thunderbolts #1 is still the greatest trick Marvel ever pulled.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
George Marston
George Marston
Social Links Navigation
Entertainment Writer

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011, and now I'm the Entertainment Writer at GamesRadar+. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
The Great Lakes Avengers sitting around a table in a diner
The MCU might slowly be assembling the weirdest Avengers team ever
 
 
Spider-Man, Hulk, and Punisher posing in the jungle alongside a carved stone head
Writer Jonathan Hickman is bringing Spider-Man 4 stars Spidey, Hulk, and Punisher together just in time for the movie
 
 
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
Marvel Phase 6 release dates, news, leaks, rumors, and more
 
 
Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Lewis Pullman as Sentry, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, and Wyatt Russell as US Agent in Thunderbolts
Marvel star Lewis Pullman puts Avengers: Doomsday cameo overload fears to rest: "Every character has their moment"
 
 
Ghost, Bob, Yelena, and John Walker peeking around a corner in Thunderbolts
Avengers: Doomsday star says the movie is like "the Met Gala full of superheroes": "I was truly flabbergasted"
 
 
Elektra, Lin Lie, and Karnak joining forces against a demonic army
Marvel Rivals writer brings the comic story of the game's Iron Fist Lin Lie to its "climax" in Deadly Hands of K'un-Lun
 
 
Latest in Marvel Comics
Spider-Man, Hulk, and Punisher posing in the jungle alongside a carved stone head
Writer Jonathan Hickman is bringing Spider-Man 4 stars Spidey, Hulk, and Punisher together just in time for the movie
 
 
Superman in a battle-damaged costume brandishing both Mjolnir and Captain America's shield
The best Marvel/DC crossover returns to pit the Avengers against the Justice League in the biggest superhero fight ever
 
 
Cyclops, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Colossus leaping into action in the intro sequence of X-Men: The Arcade Game
After 13 years away, all-time- classic X-Men: The Arcade Game returns to headline a new collection of retro Marvel games
 
 
Dario Agger charging at Thor/Sigurd Jarlson
Thor has "nowhere to go but down" as Dario Agger the Minotaur returns to kill him in The Mortal Thor #11
 
 
Spider-Man swinging through New York City
Marvel brings back the most prolific Spider-Man comic writer of all time to revive Brand New Day before Spider-Man 4
 
 
Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson walking together with an image of Spider-Man fighting Venom in the background
Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson come together for a "heart-to-heart" in Venom #258
 
 
Latest in News
Jessica Rothe as Tree Gelbman in Happy Death Day
Happy Death Day director sets horror return with supernatural pic that may or may not be set on an airplane
 
 
Colin Firth in Disclosure Day
Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day gets a new trailer full of alien tech, psychic powers, and more weirdness
 
 
An orc from World of Warcraft roars at the screen
Blizzard's canceled WoW follow-up was a "1 server, 1 world" MMO with GTA and Animal Crossing influences, ex dev says
 
 
A Mega Floette ex wreaks havoc in Lumiose City
The next Pokemon TCG set is Chaos Rising, with "Mega Floette ex wreaking havoc as night falls in Lumiose City"
 
 
Nier: Automata screenshot
Nier Automata-inspired indie includes a system that Yoko Taro "stopped" being added to his own action RPG
 
 
Phoebe Dynevor in Thrash
Stay clear of the water this summer as yet another shark horror movie is on the way, and its first trailer is terrifying
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace in Project Hail Mary
    1
    Lord and Miller explain how their work on the Spider-Verse movies inspired their new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary: "People want a visual experience they've never seen before"
  2. 2
    1348 Ex Voto review: "Filled with potential, this action-adventure fails to deliver"
  3. 3
    The next Pokemon TCG set is Chaos Rising, with "Mega Floette ex wreaking havoc as night falls in Lumiose City"
  4. 4
    One Piece star fought for a manga-accurate Nami costume "for the fans" despite shooting in "the dead of winter": "She was really, really badass"
  5. 5
    How to get Marathon Schemas and how to use them

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...