Marvel Comics is gearing up for another line-wide publishing initiative in 2018. In what's been dubbed a "fresh start" in the publisher's video announcement, fans can expect new series, new creative teams and more.

Along with the announcement comes the first piece of promo art by Jim Cheung, featuring many familiar faces from across the Marvel Universe. In the past, paying close attention to the released artwork for new initiatives has offered clues for Marvel's upcoming publishing plans. This trend appears to continue in the "Fresh Start," with heroes one would expect to see -- Captain America, Iron Man and Spider-Man -- surrounded by some more surprising faces like Gambit, She-Hulk and Venom.

Fresh Start Roll Call

Iron Man, Captain America and Thor are known as Marvel's "Big Three," though Odinson hasn't gone by the name Thor for quite some time. After becoming unworthy to lift his hammer Mjolnir, the Odinson relinquished his Thor duties to Jane Foster. However, the "Death of the Mighty Thor" storyline and Jane's cancer appear to be leading to the original Thor's return, with a shiny gold arm and new gold hammer.

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Fans got their first look at this revamped Thor in a Russell Dauterman splash page for The Mighty Thor #700. The image was meant to tease various events across the Marvel Universe, including Loki possessing the Infinity Stones and Gauntlet, Jane Foster's death, the coming of the Mangog and more.

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With Iron Man's suit of armor, it's hard to tell if what we're seeing is yet again a new model, or the return of a classic suit. In either case, we know now that it's Tony Stark once gain taking on the Iron Man role, after Riri Williams and Doctor Doom filled that role following Civil War II. Iron Man and Captain America will both reach milestone issues in the coming months, with Iron Man #600 and Captain America #700, respectively.

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We know Dan Slott will replace Brian Michael Bendis as the writer of Iron Man, and with Captain America back to his heroic nature post-Civil War II as well, writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee may step aside for a new creative team once they've reached Issue #700.

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Bendis' move to DC Comics leaves many of his titles in limbo, but Marvel's "Fresh Start" should make the transition to new creative teams easier. Bendis has gone on record as saying that Marvel has big plans for characters he helped co-create (Jessica Jones, Miles Morales and Riri Williams), and two of the three can be found on the "Fresh Start" teaser image. We shouldn't put too much stock in Riri being missing, of course -- Ironheart won't disappear just because Tony's back as Iron Man. In fact, we already know Ironheart will join her fellow teenage heroes as a member of the Champions.

The Defenders -- another group of characters closely associated with Bendis -- are also visible, though Daredevil, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones are missing Iron Fist to round out the team. Marvel hasn't announced whether The Defenders will continue once Bendis leaves, though the group's prominence on the Netflix streaming service should guarantee some sort of future for the street-level heroes. It's also worth noting that the vigilante Punisher stands among the more pristine heroes, minus the War Machine armor he's currently using as a weapon in his solo series -- and sporting a smile on his face...

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Newly resurrected heroes also spring into action, with the original Wolverine returning in Marvel Legacy #1, and adult Jean Grey rising in Phoenix Resurrection. Much of the mystery behind Logan's return should finally be revealed, beginning in this week's Infinity Countdown Prime. Meanwhile, Jean Grey is stepping into the forefront as the leader of the recently-launched X-Men Red.

With the mention of Miles Morales earlier, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Ms. Marvel and Robbie Reyes Ghost Rider pictured alongside the young Spider-Man. Ms. Marvel has become a cultural phenomenon since her debut, while Robbie Reyes guest-starred on the last season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and will soon join his first superhero team in Avengers #1.

Not one, but two Hulks will stomp into the "Fresh Start" period, and neither is Amadeus Cho, who took on the mantle after Bruce Banner was killed in Civil War II. Banner will return as an Immortal Hulk in Avengers: No Surrender, while She-Hulk will also become an Avenger with the title's relaunch.

It's All Connected

Many of the characters in Marvel's "Fresh Start" campaign all have something in common: they're either heavily tied to the Marvel Cinematic Universe of films and television, or they potentially will be. The latter is up in the air at the moment, and hinges on Disney's bid to purchase a majority of 20th Century Fox's assets -- including the Fantastic Four and X-Men film franchises.

This could explain why characters like Gambit and Deadpool are present. Fox is chugging along with its X-Men shared universe, with Deadpool 2 out May 18, and a Gambit solo film still in the midst of a seemingly never-ending search for a director. Though the Fantastic Four are still missing in the Marvel Universe, seeds for their big return were planted in Marvel Legacy #1, and Marvel Two-In-One pairs Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm as they search the multiverse for their missing friends and family.

RELATED: Marvel's 2018 'Fresh Start' Includes a New Avengers #1 By Aaron & McGuinness

The mere presence of X-Men and Fantastic Four characters should come as a sigh of relief to many fans, if you take into account their perceived decrease in visibility across marketing channels and comics. If the Disney/Fox merger goes through, expect to see even more of your favorite mutants and Marvel's first family going forward.

Of course, other superstars of the MCU like Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man and Nadia Pym Wasp round out the remaining cast of the "Fresh Start." An early clip of the released teaser video zooms in on Ant-Man and Wasp, which is sure to spark speculation of a new series for the bite-sized duo ahead of their film on July 6.

Marvel's new initiative echoes the one that began what can be considered this new era for the publisher, Marvel NOW! Fans can expect more announcements involving creative teams, titles and heroes getting to step into the limelight in the days and months ahead.