The series was written by regular Sonic the Hedgehog writer Ian Flynn[1] and ended on a cliffhanger.

The first issue of New Crusaders was released digitally on May 16, 2012, through Archie Comics' Red Circle app, with print publication set to begin monthly on September 5, 2012.

[3] The initial story arc, Rise of the Heroes, ended with the shock death of Fireball,[4] a decision made to ramp up the stakes and to remove the most grounded character, leaving the others at a disadvantage.

[6][7] After six months, Archie went for same-day print and digital releases and Paul Kaminski announced the second arc: "we’re going to be exploring just how deeply that hell has burned this team (pun fully intended), and just what in the world Brain Emperor is after.

[8] Archie's co-CEO Jon Goldwater said the New Crusaders: Dark Tomorrow arc would start "in May" in a January 1, 2013 interview and two #1 covers were released.

Incoming Red Circle editor Alex Segura mentioned "[I] have a great fondness for New Crusaders and the stuff that book aimed to do" in a March 2014 interview, but announced that Archie was not going to continue it: "These won’t be all-ages superhero books that we hope will appeal to older readers.

After saving his colleagues' children from the Brain Emperor's attack in the series' first issue, The Shield took it upon himself to train the teenagers to harness their parents' powers and become a new team of superheroes.

[12][15][16] Alex Tyler spent a portion of his adolescence in juvenile hall due to his regular lashing out.