Remender and Hardman's new Secret Avengers roster revealed

After the new year, the creative team of Rick Remender and Gabriel Hardman will be introducing fans to a brand new Secret Avengers team, beginning with issue 21.1. And as Marvel a has been hinting at for months now, the House of Ideas has some pretty big plans for the series and its heroes.

You see, Captain America has tasked Hawkeye with putting together a brand new team to go deep under cover as the Secret Avengers. As you'd expect, Clint has selected quite an odd bunch. America's new Secret Soldier, Venom, has been recruited to the team along with Captain Britain and Giant-Man. They'll see some additions in Remender and Hardman's upcoming arc, as other heroes like Beast, Valkyrie, and Black Widow will join the team.

"Our opening arc will have a big secret war, a big secret new world, a big secret new race, a big team death, a big secret team betrayal, and begin a secret affair. High stakes, intrigue, and tons of character drama as we unearth the mystery surrounding familiar automaton villains re-imagined as members of a new species - The Descendants!" said Remender in the press release.

For the new arc's introductory issue, Secret Avengers #21.1, Remender will be working with artist Patrick Zircher to give fans a taste of what's to come. Beyond that, Hardman joins Remender.

"Secret Avengers gives me the opportunity to draw an exciting group of heroes who I've never drawn before as well as design new villains and new worlds. Hawkeye, Beast and Valkyrie have been favorites of mine since I was a kid. That combined that with the crazy big, black ops tinged action/adventure makes this a book I had to draw," explained Hardman. "Rick is known for his wildly inventive scripts and he really delivers with Secret Avengers. This is an epic story that will have big repercussions. That's the kind of storytelling I like to be involved with."

Secret Avengers #21.1 arrives in stories January 25th, 2012.