Brian Michael Bendis Officially Returns for Avengers #800

One of the most celebrated Avengers writers of all time is returning to Marvel to take over the franchise, joined by a legendary collaborator who is leaving retirement to right the ship of Marvel’s flagship series.

Brian Michael Bendis Returns to Marvel for Avengers #800

Ultimate Spider-Man Collaborator Mark Bagley Leaves Retirement to Join Him

In a new press release, Marvel has confirmed that Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers, New Avengers, Dark Avengers) will return to the series for December 3’s Avengers #34 (legacy numbering Avengers #800.) Bendis wrote various Avengers titles from 2004-2012, helming major story arcs like ‘Avengers Disassembled’ the launch of the New Avengers, Dark Avengers and Mighty Avengers.

Bendis will be joined by Ultimate Spider-Man collaborator Mark Bagley, who Bendis states is stepping out of retirement in “an incredible gesture,” continuing that, “He has already penciled magical pages. It’s been a wonderful reunion between us AND the characters.”

Bendis left Marvel to work exclusively for DC comics in November 2017, working on titles including Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes. His return to Marvel is therefore a big deal, with Bendis confirming, “This is the first of some truly special Marvel projects that I will be part of in the near future. Stay tuned…”

What Will Bendis’ Avengers Look Like?

Marvel’s press release reveals that in Avengers #800, Bendis will go back to basics to celebrate the team’s legacy, focusing on the ‘Big Three’ heroes of Iron Man, Thor and Captain America:

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!

Where Bendis’ Avengers run will go from there is so far unknown, however a ‘back to basics’ opening suggests this theme may continue. Indeed, this is one of the few concepts that Bendis never fully tackled with the Avengers (outside the Avengers Prime miniseries with Alan Davis.) Bendis’ tenure on the Avengers was dedicated to redefining the brand, starting out by shattering the team and debuting the New Avengers series, which was based on combining the publisher’s best-selling heroes, including Spider-Man and Wolverine.

It would be interesting to see Bendis attempt to tell ‘classic’ Avengers stories, especially because fans haven’t been particularly happy with the series in a long time…

Our Take on Brian Michael Bendis Returning to the Avengers

While Bendis is a celebrated creator with an illustrious career at Marvel Comics, it’s been almost a decade since he was seen as one of the most influential writers in comics. Bendis’ tenure at DC is generally seen as a disappointment, though more because it was oversold than because of a lack of great comics. Bendis’ Superman/Action Comics takeover introduced interesting new ideas, and his ‘Wonder Comics’ initiative included some great stories about younger heroes, but nothing that had much of a life beyond his tenure.

At the same time, Marvel does need something big to enliven interest in the Avengers. Jason Aaron’s Avengers Volume 8 and Jed MacKay’s Avengers Volume 9 have been met with mixed interest, failing to make the Avengers feel like an important team in the Marvel Universe, and lacking much of the interpersonal drama that Bendis’ work is known for. This could be a marriage made in Heaven, whether or not Bendis returns to his throne as a major influencer across the entire Marvel brand.

Brian Michael Bendis‘ return to Marvel will invite both excitement and cynicism from Marvel fans, however if any franchise needs both a major shake-up and Bendis’ character-focused writing, it’s the Avengers in 2025.