Marvel’s biggest super-team is back in the “Fresh Start” era with a new roster and a new direction. And yes, the big guns are very much back in action. This is the best Avengers team in a good long time.

Updated with official preview text:

Thor Odinson. Steve Rogers. Tony Stark. The Big Three of the Avengers are reunited at last! And just in time to save the world from total annihilation at the hands of their most powerful enemies yet: the 2000-foot-tall space gods known as Celestials.

Behold the coming of the Final Host.

Who will answer the call to assemble for a wild new era of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? Hint: one of them has a flaming skull for a head. And what strange, world-shaking connection exists between the Final Host and Odin’s ancient band of Prehistoric Avengers?

Assemble!

The Avengers are back in Marvel’s Fresh Start in a very big way, loaded up with the biggest and best team members. And Captain Marvel, who I could have probably done without, but she fits in well. Same for Doctor Strange.

Oh, and Ghost Rider, which makes zero sense. No seriously, I don’t get that choice at all. Ghost Rider as an Avenger? Eh, that just doesn’t seem to fit at all. Not for me anyway. Even so though, I think you’d be hard-pressed to not admit that this is a great lineup.

Cap, Iron Man, and Thor assure that right off the bat. Throw in Black Panther and She-Hulk and you’ve got a winner. As cool as that is, I’m almost more happy about who’s not in the lineup. Characters like Spider-Man and Wolverine are some of my favorite comic heroes of all time, but I never thought they should have been Avenger mainstays. There was just something… wrong about that. I’m glad to see this roster was built with an eye towards the classic teams.

Much like with the Venom #1 preview we ran yesterday too, this new #1 is a first issue sort of in name only. That’s because the Legacy numbering is still very much in effect. While that might make for some confusing moments at times, I’m pretty happy about it.

If you’re a comics veteran, then you probably are too. There’s just something nice about seeing that big, triple-digit number on the cover of your favorite book. There’s a history implied, and it’s something you don’t get with a #1.

Anyway, enjoy the preview. Avengers #1 hits stands this May from Jason Aaron and Ed McGuinness.