'Astonishing Avengers' Writer Steve Orlando Shakes Up the Team Roster

When vampires launched a worldwide attack on the Marvel Universe in BLOOD HUNT (2024), Captain America assembled an unusual team of heroes to protect the citizens of New York City. After the dust settled, he took this team and expanded it into the Avengers Emergency Response Squad (Aveng.E.R.S.), a rotating cast of characters headquartered in Avengers Mansion, starting in AVENGERS ASSEMBLE (2024). Now, in ASTONISHING AVENGERS INFINITY COMIC (2025), the Aveng.E.R.S. send specialized members to tackle threats that range from ancient Roman dictators to vengeful Russian gods and more.

Speaking to Marvel.com, ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025) writer Steve Orlando explained how the series’ dynamic roster helps keep the stories feeling fun and fresh. He highlighted a few standout characters, including Night Thrasher and Hercules, while teasing upcoming storylines featuring She-Thing and Mister Immortal. He also praised series artist Francesco Archidiacono, provided a few hints about the mysterious Staten Island Monolith, and so much more.

MARVEL.COM: Set the stage for us: what do readers need to know before they dive into ASTONISHING AVENGERS INFINITY COMIC (2025)?

STEVE ORLANDO: So buckle up! ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025) is all about rekindling the accessibility and raw creativity of the Silver and Bronze Ages. Anyone could show up in this run! Our roster is always changing with people coming and going—and just like AVENGERS ASSEMBLE (2024), the run that established the Avengers Emergency Response Squad, this series is where so many classic Avengers will be living! 

The mansion is open! We’ve got classic Avengers and we’ve got newcomers and surprise guests. We’ve got villains pushing our heroes to their limits—in many cases, people who’ve never faced the Avengers before. This is the adventure action book where anything goes! From the ancient gods of winter to dark forces webbing up our minds, to the fury of the undead legions of Frankenstein, and the deadly talents of the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation… this is the raw fun of comics—and it’s back, stronger than ever!

MARVEL.COM: ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025) boasts an impressively huge roster of characters. How do you decide who will be on the team for each of these adventures? 

STEVE ORLANDO: With ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025), the nice thing is we’ve got a dynamic roster. Some folks will always be in the mansion—the classic Avengers like Wonder Man, Wasp, and Photon. And some newcomers will stay, because they deserve the level up, like Night Thrasher. But like Lightspeed in AVENGERS ASSEMBLE (2024), we can also bring in surprises that match the mission! 

We’ll see Somnus for a dream arc, She-Thing for a wrestling arc. We’ve got Mister Immortal when we need an unkillable crash test dummy! We’ll see Daredevil bringing her unique skills to a duel with the master of winter! So, the story decides the roster—and we’re lucky that the menu is a few thousand characters long.

MARVEL.COM: Which specific dynamic is your favorite to write? Why?

STEVE ORLANDO: It’s nearly impossible not to say Hercules and anyone, because Hercules has been a joy—just like he was a joy in AVENGERS ASSEMBLE (2024)! His perspective is so unique. He’s old and wise but not jaded. He’s joyful but not naïve. And he’s loyal as hell. 

I also really enjoy the budding friendship between Shang-Chi and Lightning. Even though he is a guest, Mister Immortal is an incredible presence combined with Night Thrasher—and Night Thrasher has been a favorite as well. He’s smart, he’s skilled, he knows it—and he’s not afraid of speaking truth to power.

MARVEL.COM: So far, the Aveng.E.R.S. have faced Tyrannus and Diabol, with the Promethean Front following right behind them. How do you find the right villains for these characters, and what goes into developing them as Avengers-level threats?

STEVE ORLANDO: Often, the roster guides the villains. We finally got Jim Hammond, the original Human Torch, into the book. We knew he would be catching up with Captain America. So, who might have a grudge against them both? That’s where the Promethean Front came from—that and the established lore that in the Marvel Universe, there was another Frankenstein besides Victor, and Basil Frankenstein was deep in the Third Reich. 

When we look at who we want to showcase in an arc, we can mine for villains. And in between we can check in on the story brewing with Staten Island’s crimson monolith.

MARVEL.COM: Since its introduction in the first issue, the Staten Island Monolith has remained a mystery. How will it continue to play a role in future ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025) storylines?

STEVE ORLANDO: You’ll see more and more information about it—we’ll be uncovering this data along with Night Thrasher. But Night Thrasher’s studies of the monolith won’t simmer in the background forever. The long game leads the our first major arc’s finale, many chapters down the road, with the revelation of what the monolith is and what it’s doing on Earth. The bread crumbs will keep piling up! Hercules and Mister Immortal will be securing a big clue sooner than you think.

MARVEL.COM: Tell me about working with Francesco Archidiacono. What did he bring to the series?

STEVE ORLANDO: Francesco is a burst of raw creativity—and he’s fearless! Every arc of ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025) features so much of the new—new guest stars, new settings, new devices and new designs for villains. 

Some folks might see hurdles, but Francesco doesn’t just take it in stride; he crushes each challenge and gets even more powerful. Francesco is the feel of ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025), he is the look and energy of the book—he’s indispensable!

MARVEL.COM: What are you most excited for readers to see in ASTONISHING AVENGERS (2025)? (Just a tease will do!)

STEVE ORLANDO: Now you ask me to tease, after this smorgasbord of teases? Good thing there’s more! We mentioned we’ll be seeing She-Thing and the UCWF, right? That arc will feature a surprise from Mojoworld, and some terror born of a theme park. 

Down the line, we’ll be returning to the Ideaverse for a team of Avengers like none seen before—the Avenging Literary Society! And their leader? Jarvis! 

Captain America’s reunion with Jim Hammond is as fiery as you can imagine. And we’ll be checking in with ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM as well—as we see what happens when the High Evolutionary collides with the ruler of the world, with the Aveng.E.R.S. caught in the crossfire!

ASTONISHING AVENGERS INFINITY COMIC #8, the conclusion to “Deep Freeze,” is available now on Marvel Unlimited!

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