I Can't Believe The New Avengers' Origin Story Is So Similar To The Original Avengers Despite Happening Over A Decade Later For The MCU

The Thunderbolts*

introduced the world to The New Avengers, but I can’t help but notice some striking similarities to the original Avengers debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)

. Thunderbolts* came with an unexpected twist with the big reveal that these heroes are none other than The New Avengers, as they are crowned by Valentina. This came after he movie built up the idea that they might become the Thunderbolts, another superhero team appearing in the Marvel Comics.

However, after years of working alone and separately, these heroes come together to form a new team, and fight for what’s right. This is an interesting and strong narrative for the story, and one that makes perfect sense considering all the characters on the roster. However, it also presents a lot of commonalities with the first group of heroes to take on that name.

The Battle Of New York Was The First True Test For The Avengers

The Avengers Found A Way To Work Together In The Battle Of New York

The individual members of the collective group known as the Avengers did not begin their hero careers together. Some were agents of SHIELD, some were nomads running from their powers, others were rejects, and, of course, there were heroes like Captain America who could conceivably bring a ragtag group together. For years, these heroes operated apart, before Nick Fury brought them together, and ᴀssigned them the mission of protecting the world from danger.

For a while, this remained a simple idea, but when Loki brought the Chitauri to New York, the Avengers needed to come together. It was their first time working together, and there was a steep learning curve, but thanks to some quick thinking, and a shared desire to protect and help others, the Avengers were born out of the Battle of New York.

The New Avengers Didn’t Become A Team Until They Saved New York From The Void

The Void Threw New York City Into Darkness

In Thunderbolts*, all the characters who would become a part of The New Avengers were on their own individual ᴀssignments. They put years of work into becoming elite mercenaries, only to be double-crossed by the person who brought them together, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. However, they managed to put their heads together, and recognize how they had been betrayed in time to turn their attention to Valentina. Initially, this was the only reason they continued working together.

As reluctant allies, they made it to New York, and confronted Valentina and Sentry, only to be utterly beaten. But when the Void began consuming the city and everyone in it, that was the moment they decided to work together. Yelena stepped into the darkness to save Bob, and soon after, the rest of the newly formed team followed her. And when they managed to rescue Bob and save the city, Valentina introduced them to the world as The New Avengers.

It’s Fitting That The MCU’s Premiere Team Shares Its Birthplace With Marvel Comics

New York Holds A Deeper Meaning For Marvel

This symmetry between the two teams goes even deeper when considering the birthplace of Marvel Comics itself. While New York is obviously one of the world’s foremost cities, it also stands out as the home of Marvel Comics, because Marvel was founded in New York all the way back in 1939. To this day, Marvel continues to have a presence there, and now with the movies of the MCU paying homage to that fact, it feels more connected to the city than ever.

But the way that both The Avengers and The New Avengers were tested and proven in the city goes to show how important this place is to the heroes who would become Earth’s Mightiest. With both teams coming from humble beginnings, experiencing hardships, and moments that allowed them to grow, they found a way to persevere. And after all was said and done, these heroes put their own interests to one side in order to protect others, and ensure the world isn’t consumed by powers that appear overwhelming. Which funnily enough ties back into the themes and ideas explored in Thunderbolts* around mental health.