Brian Michael Bendis Returns To Marvel With ‘Avengers’ #800
by Tony Thornley
He completely reshaped the Marvel Universe across over a decade of stories. Now, after years away, Brian Michael Bendis returns to Marvel Comics in December.
December’s Avengers #34 is the 800th issue of Marvel’s mightiest heroes. It’s a landmark chapter in the run from superstars Jed MacKay and Farid Karami, kicking off the climactic final chapter of the mega story that MacKay has been building for the last three years. It’s going to be a massive celebration of one of Marvel’s flagship books, and the extra-sized issue will include a landmark return.
Alongside MacKay and Karami’s lead story, Bendis will return to Marvel for the first time since 2017, when he moved over to DC Comics for an extended run on Superman and Justice League. The special 14-page story will reunite him with Mark Bagley, his longtime collaborator on Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble, marking Bagley’s first interior art in several years. This story is just the first of more special work at Marvel on the horizon from Bendis as well.
Taking place on the anniversary of the founding of the Avengers, the all-new story brings together the “Big Three,” Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America, for a high-stakes mission to take down Hydra’s latest weapon of mass destruction. They’re soon joined by many more teammates — past and present — for a thrilling showdown that exemplifies the team’s mission and impact!
“Returning to the pages of Marvel Comics has been an incredible experience,” Bendis shared. “To reunite with the Avengers on the occasion of an anniversary is doubly wonderful because anniversary issues are where we really celebrate our love of the characters and legacy. I made my Avengers debut on Avengers #500. I love the symmetry.
“And I get to reunite with my dear longtime Ultimate Spidey and Avengers collaborator Mark Bagley. Just reuniting would be magical enough, but him coming out of retirement to do this story with me was an incredible gesture. He has already penciled magical pages. It’s been a wonderful reunion between us and the characters.
“Thanks to everyone at Marvel for having me back for such an auspicious occasion,” he added. “This is the first of some truly special Marvel projects that I will be part of in the near future. Stay tuned…”
This has seemed like an inevitability since Bendis left DC a couple years ago. There’s no denying the impact that he had on the Marvel Universe. Ultimate Spider-Man completely redefined Spider-Man for the twenty-first century, his Avengers work formed the foundation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and his X-Men and Daredevil work similarly defined both franchises. Although fans can debate the quality of those stories, it’s impossible to debate the impact he had and continues to have.
Check out Bagley’s cover for the anniversary issue, and watch for more news about Bendis’s Marvel return soon!
