Bucky Barnes spent all of his life fighting, most recently as Revolution. However, his recent experiences with the Thunderbolts soured him on fighting as part of a group. Besides, what place is there for a one-man revolution in One World Under Doom? But there is still a need for heroes who can make difficult choices and face unusual threats. This gives rise to a team of New Avengers — just in time to face a new, evil version of the Illuminati.
The first issue of New Avengers sets the stage for the team. After catching up with on-again/off-again love interest Black Widow, Bucky Barnes is back in action. Once again using the Winter Soldier codename, Bucky starts gathering allies for a mission to investigate a lumber camp that is inexplicably acquiring advanced technology.
This leads to the discovery of the Killuminati. Unstable, if not outright evil, these clones represent a clear and present danger to the world. This leaves the New Avengers with a need to expand, opening the door for unlikely recruits like Eddie Brock’s Carnage and the Hulk.
New Avengers focuses on team dynamics and origin
A frequent problem with many superhero team books is the lack of logic behind the team’s foundations. Quite often, the ensemble is thrown together with little thought behind just why these characters are working together. This may be because of an editor’s dictating which characters might be used and the burden of justifying the choice falling on the writer. Thankfully, there are no such issues with New Avengers.
Using Bucky Barnes as the team’s core, writer Sam Humphries takes care to show precisely how each of the New Avengers is recruited. In the case of Namor, he appeals to Namor’s nobility and their shared history. For Laura Kinney, aka Wolverine, he recalls how they worked well together during a recent encounter in her solo series. Clea, however, becomes involved after sensing magic like that of Doctor Strange. It is a small thing, but it helps to pace the action as it introduces the ensemble.
That action is as well-illustrated as it is well-paced. Artist Tom Lima has a good eye for detail, yet his line work is uncluttered and his inks are lightly applied. The colors of Rain Beredo are perfectly chosen, with some amazing uses of light and shadow throughout. These range from the subtle glow of electronic displays to the fire of explosions.
New Avengers #1 is a solid start to what promises to be an interesting anti-hero epic. Fans of the Hulk and Carnage may be disappointed we do not see them in this first issue, despite what the cover promises. Nevertheless, it is a thrilling opening act with good art and great character work.
Grade: 8/10
New Avengers #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on June 11, 2025.
