Marvel’s New Avengers (2025) Issue #1 introduces a fresh and unpredictable roster—Carnage, Namor, Clea, Laura Kinney, Black Widow, and the Winter Soldier—all drawn into a bold, darker mission. This isn’t your classic team of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This is a more fractured, battle-hardened group led by those who have walked in the shadows. Here’s a full breakdown of the story, character arcs, and major events in New Avengers #1, as told through every beat of the comic.
Bucky Barnes in the Desert: A Quiet Storm Brews
The story kicks off in the desolate sands of New Mexico, where Bucky Barnes—no longer the Revolution, fully embracing his Winter Soldier identity—meets an elderly man named Earl at a quiet gas station. Their easy-going banter touches on life, slowing down, and the simple things. But beneath the surface of their relaxed conversation simmers something darker. Bucky accuses Earl of collaborating with Doctor Doom’s regime by ratting out local resistance fighters. Earl insists he’s just trying to survive and took a deal to get cheaper gas, not betray his neighbors.
Fire and Betrayal: Bucky Strikes Back
That conversation leads to an explosive turn. A Molotov cocktail is hurled at the gas station, erupting into flames—a direct response to the compromises made with Doom’s forces. In the aftermath, Bucky is ambushed by someone who knows him too well—someone who calls out his vulnerabilities. This moment marks a mental shift for Bucky: he drops the “Revolution” mantle entirely and embraces the cold precision of the Winter Soldier once again.
A Familiar Face: Black Widow Returns
The scene softens as we cut to a quiet room where Bucky lies in bed with Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow. Their chemistry is intact—equal parts romantic and sarcastic. Natasha teases him about his grim lifestyle, and Bucky admits he misses her. But there’s no time for sentimentality. Natasha gets down to business: there’s a mission they need to handle, and she wants Bucky on board. He pushes back, not one for teams, but Natasha insists. The mission leads them to a decaying Russian location that even Bucky didn’t expect her to target.
Chaos Under Doom’s Shadow: A Tense Resistance
Elsewhere, a heated conversation unfolds between members of the resistance. One voice vents about the futility of old strategies and the increasingly grim world under Doom’s regime. Despite the bleakness, another insists that giving up is not an option. Their mission is dangerous—but it’s necessary.
That mission? Infiltrating a Russian facility where villagers have been vanishing without a trace. Winter Soldier and Black Widow break in, their skills sharp as ever, ready to uncover whatever horror lies inside.
The Russian Facility: A Nightmare Unleashed
As the team enters the facility, an alert sounds—there’s an intruder at the East Gate. Soldiers rush in, but it’s already too late. Laura Kinney, the fierce Wolverine, is carving her way through them like a whirlwind. Natasha comments on her efficiency, while Bucky reassures her that Laura is “the best at what she does.” It’s a bloody, efficient takedown. But the true horror lies ahead.
The Wolverine Debate and the New Recruit
Amid the combat, Bucky and Natasha debate Laura Kinney’s place compared to her father, Logan. Bucky respects her—but still insists Wolverine Sr. is in a league of his own. Regardless, Laura proves herself. The story jumps to New York City, where Bucky approaches her about joining his team. Laura is hesitant. She’s not interested in becoming a brand or fighting alongside the likes of Captain Marvel and Cap. But Bucky isn’t looking for poster heroes—he wants someone who can walk the fine line between justice and vengeance. He needs her, vibe and all.
Inside the Nightmare Lab
Back at the Russian facility, the team uncovers grotesque human experiments. Victims with mutilated faces, people stitched together like horror props, and a woman with three eyes. It’s already too late to save them. Wolverine pushes for abandoning the mission and going on the offensive.
Their search leads them to a massive cloning machine. That’s when a sinister voice rings out—it’s the Jackal, the same twisted mind often tangled in Spider-Man’s rogues gallery. And he’s only just begun.
Showdown With the Jackal Begins
The confrontation escalates. Jackal mocks the heroes, explaining he has an army at his back and control over containment tech that could change everything. Natasha doesn’t care—she wants him taken down. But the Winter Soldier counters with a surprise: he holds a detonator of his own. Just when things feel like they’re about to implode, another presence arrives.
Namor Joins the Fray
Suddenly, an explosion rocks a new facility. We’re now in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, where Bucky finds Namor. Surrounded by killer whales, Namor listens to Bucky’s cryptic call for help. Though skeptical, Namor agrees—partly because of his old ties with the Avengers, and partly because he knows something’s deeply wrong on the surface world. He warns Bucky not to call it a “team,” but it’s clear that’s exactly what Bucky’s forming.
An Attack from Below: Clones and Chaos
Namor unleashes his fury on another facility, causing a powerful explosion that exposes even more of Jackal’s experiments. A cloning chamber bursts open, oozing green slime. Wolverine senses danger—and he’s right. An Iron Man clone bursts forth and attacks. The heroes are confused and horrified. If this isn’t the real Iron Man, who is it? And who’s behind the scheme?
Enter the Cloned Illuminati
We soon find out: the Jackal has cloned the Illuminati—Charles Xavier, Reed Richards, Black Panther, Doctor Strange—and turned them evil. These twisted doppelgängers attack our heroes without remorse. Clea senses the evil Doctor Strange clone in New York and is drawn into the fray. Meanwhile, Namor comes face-to-face with his own grotesque clone: Imperious Rex, a tentacled abomination who mocks Namor’s arrogance.
Wolverine considers whether to hold back. But Iron Man’s clone makes one thing clear: heroes hold back—they don’t.
Jackal’s End and a Devastating New Player
Namor viciously attacks the Iron Man clone and confronts Jackal, ready to tear him apart. Jackal smirks, bragging that he can clone himself endlessly. But before Namor can act, someone else does.
Jackal is suddenly decapitated. Black Widow and Bucky turn to see the culprit: Blackbolt. With a mere whisper of his voice, he unleashes a sonic scream so powerful it sends allies and enemies alike flying. Even those trying to flee to safety aren’t spared from the devastating force of his voice.
What’s Next for the New Avengers?
As the dust settles, it’s clear this isn’t a standard Avengers lineup. Bucky’s roster—made up of outcasts, former villains, and morally gray warriors—is ready to take on the growing darkness. Scar, Clea, and even Carnage are teased for future issues, each a wildcard in their own right.
The evil Illuminati clones pose a real threat, and the mystery of Jackal’s cloning project is far from over. For now, the team has barely survived its first mission, but what comes next may push even these hardened warriors to their limits.
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