Thunderbolts: Who are MCU’s The New Avengers and how do they Differ from the Comics Version?

The MCU just delivered one of its boldest shakeups yet. Thunderbolts has officially crowned a new team of heroes — or, more accurately, former anti-heroes — as the next Avengers. In a surprising twist during the film’s explosive finale, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) rebranded the Thunderbolts as the “New Avengers” in a carefully staged press conference, pulling the rug out from under both the team and the audience.

But this lineup is unlike any Avengers squad we’ve seen before — and it’s raising eyebrows both in the MCU and among longtime Marvel fans. From their controversial origins to their public image problem, the MCU’s New Avengers couldn’t be further from the celebrated team that saved the world in 2012. When compared to their comic book counterparts, the differences are even starker.

Who are the new Avengers in the MCU?

By the end of Thunderbolts, a new team has been officially introduced as Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and Bob Reynolds/Sentry (Lewis Pullman).

But their promotion is far from a heroic triumph — it's a PR stunt orchestrated by Val, who manipulates a live press conference to announce the Thunderbolts as the government-sanctioned New Avengers. Despite defeating The Void (Sentry’s destructive alter ego) and saving New York, the team’s controversial past haunts them.

Unlike the universally celebrated original Avengers, the public remains skeptical. Headlines during the credits hint at distrust, and even within the team, there's unease — as seen when John Walker jokes about the “nasty memes” circulating online. These aren't your usual world-saving icons; they’re a mismatched crew of former villains and unstable heroes, now thrust into the spotlight.

The current lineup includes three super soldiers (Bucky, Red Guardian, and Walker), one stealth operative (Ghost), one highly trained assassin (Yelena), and a powerhouse who’s barely holding back his darker half (Sentry). While they have some serious skills, they noticeably lack the firepower and cosmic experience to take on threats like Thanos or Kang. Still, as Yelena points out, they’re the only government-approved Avengers — whether the world likes it or not.

To complicate matters, Thunderbolts' end-credits scene reveals a brewing rivalry with Sam Wilson’s Captain America. It’s revealed that Sam has filed for the legal rights to the “Avengers” name, potentially setting the stage for a clash in Avengers: Doomsday. 

With other legacy heroes like Falcon (Joaquín Torres), Ant-Man, Thor, Shang-Chi, and possibly members of Wakanda and the Fantastic Four in Sam’s orbit, it’s clear the MCU is heading toward a major Avengers identity crisis.

How do they Differ from the Comics Version?

In the comics, the New Avengers made their debut in New Avengers #1 (2005) by Brian Michael Bendis and David Finch after the original Avengers disbanded. That team featured icons like Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, and later Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Echo, Ronin, and even the unstable Sentry. But unlike the MCU version, the comic book New Avengers operated independently from the government and actively opposed the Superhuman Registration Act during Civil War.

The MCU's New Avengers, by contrast, are a state-sponsored initiative — essentially tools of political control rather than self-directed protectors of the world. While the comic version emphasized trust, legacy, and leadership among elite heroes, the MCU’s team leans heavily into redemption arcs, chaos, and moral ambiguity.

Also notably different is the public perception. The comics’ New Avengers may have operated in secret, but they were mostly admired when they surfaced. Meanwhile, the MCU’s version struggles for acceptance, seen as imposters rather than successors.

While both versions include the Sentry, his role in the comics is more integral, with his psychological instability playing a central part in team dynamics. In the MCU, Bob is a ticking time bomb — and not even a fully trusted member of the group.

Perhaps the biggest difference, though, is philosophical. The comic New Avengers were formed out of necessity — heroes stepping up after a crisis. The MCU’s team was formed out of manipulation and optics, a product of political agenda rather than heroic legacy.

Thunderbolts is now playing in theaters.