Marvel Comics' Thunderbolts is apparently headed for a relaunch, though the titular team's new lineup is being kept under wraps for the time being.
Today, Marvel released a promotional image teasing a new team of Thunderbolts. The image features the Thunderbolts wordmark, six silhouetted figures and a partially redacted tagline reading, "[CLASSIFIED] [CLASSIFIED] like lighting," all set against a plain white backdrop. "Like Lightning... a new Thunderbolts team strikes down on the Marvel Universe," the House of Ideas wrote, promising that the updated roster will be revealed tomorrow as part of the new comic's full announcement.
In the Marvel U, the Thunderbolts are a team of antiheros typically made up of reformed supervillains. Created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley, the Thunderbolts first appeared in 1996's Incredible Hulk #449. Baron Helmut Zemo led the original incarnation of the team, whose identities Marvel kept secret (much like in the new teaser) before revealing their true villainous nature as undercover members of the Masters of Evil.
Subsequent incarnations of the Thunderbolts have been led by the likes of Norman Osborn, the organization known as H.A.M.M.E.R., Luke Cage, the Winter Soldier and, of course, Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross (aka Red Hulk). The most recent incarnation was led by Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, who -- as the Mayor of New York City -- assembled a new team of Thunderbolts to help fend off Knull's forces during the King in Black event.
Fisk's Thunderbolts team consists of Taskmaster, Mister Fear, Batroc the Leaper, Rhino, Star, Ampere and Snakehead. As part of Devil's Reign, the Kingpin of Crime mobilized expanded Thunderbolts units to crack down on superhuman vigilantes, adding the likes of Electro, Agony, U.S.Agent, Doctor Octopus and Shocker to the team's ranks.
Source: Marvel Comics