Brian Michael Bendis is a popular guy. Born out of the independent comics scene of the late 90s, he excelled as part of the revamped Marvel Comics under the editorial guidance of Joe Quesada and has become the arguably the biggest draw in traditional American comics. He's currently writing seven ongoing series (Avengers, New Avengers, Moon Knight, Ultimate Comics Spider-man, Powers, Takio, Scarlet), two television shows (Powers, Ultimate Spider-Man) and is also working on a feature film adaptation of his series Fire. Busy guy, eh? Well, as it turns out he's so busy that he's taking a break from comic conventions to get it all done.
According to a post Sunday on his Jinxworld forum, Bendis is making this weekend's appearance at Chicago's C2E2 his last convention "For a while, maybe for years". Bendis chalks it up to the above work as well as several new announcements such as something from Icon and some video game work. For years, Bendis has been a smiling face at many of the top American comic conventions — as well as some of the smaller regional ones — so this change is something big … and could presage something more.
This is pure speculation, but what if the two television adaptations of his work, Powers and Ultimate Spider-Man, prove successful? Bendis has long carried a love for television and movies that is second only to comics, but could these Hollywood developments limit how much he could commit to Marvel's super-hero line? After being Marvel's go-to guy for it's line wide events for the past four years, this year's Fear Itself showed Matt Fraction stepping into the hot seat — and although that could merely mean both Fraction and Bendis are in that same lofty position as Marvel quarterbacks, you could also speculate that Marvel could be prepping for a possible downswing in Bendis' time in the next few years.
When reached for comment, Bendis assuaged any worries this armchair commenter and fan might have.
"If anything this is about me making sure I don't drop any books or forgo any projects in comics," the writer explains in an iFanboy exclusive. "The fact of the matter is that I have done this before. when my first daughter was born I took almost 2 and half years off of the convention circuit without telling anybody. I only mentioned it this time because I thought it was a little interesting. I didn't mean to make it into a headline story."
The Portland-based writer elaborated on the role that conventions play in the workload of a comic creator, and the cons of cons (pun intended).
"Doing conventions instead of your comics is a trap as old as the convention industry and one that I have dedicated myself not to ever fall victim of," the writer reassures. "I have always said nothing is more important than comic books and graphic novels to me. I have proven that time and time again. that will continue forever. Good news like the Powers TV show and the Ultimate Spider-Man TV show only create more opportunity for me to make more comics."
Listen up, iFanboy readers: if we make those two shows a success, Bendis will do more comics. Personally, I'd like to see a sequel to his auto-bio comic about comics & Hollywood, Fortune & Glory.
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Losing Bendis would be bad for marvel sales, but for him….he would make waaaay more $$ Also, maybe his departure will give some new up and comer writer to comics a chance to shine.
If this isn’t irony I don’t know what is. Bendis you got me into comics so it’s only natural you get me out. =p
But seriously I don’t blame him, it’s nice to step back out of creating new things on a weekly basis and refocus your life.
So whatever he chooses to do I bet he’ll be awesome at it.
this really is pure speculation. why not take the man at his word? less conventions means more time to write comics.
So Marvel is going to just allow him to do this? A guy who, whether we like it or not, has represented the company as ‘the’ writer for years now.
If he wants to leave comics to work in TV that’s fine, I’m not judging him for that. But I seriously doubt Marvel is just going to let him leave like that.
Does the “quitting comics” aspect of the article has any solid evidence? or is it just a supposition by the author of the post? I would be a shame to loose Bendis, but there is a lot of talent brewing on comics today. I’ll wait to see how this develops and meanwhile I’ll pray for him to never quit doing The Bendis Tapes.
@TheNextChampion what is it that you are saying Marvel should do?
Well, looking back, he was very cryptic on answering about his future in Ultimate Spider Man… So maybe he is indeed going to pull a “BKV”
@ohcaroline: I’m not saying they have to do anything. I’m just saying that I’m shocked Marvel let him not go to conventions. They are losing a big draw to conventions…..their ‘architect’ as it were.
@Simon Actual quote from the above article: “This is pure speculation”
@TheNextChampion He’s not leaving comics. He just said so.
If it would mean him having more time for creator-owned projects I’d be all for him dropping from Marvel to do that and tv.
@josh: I didn’t say he was definitely leaving comics either I said ‘if’.
@TheNextChampion – It doesn’t really mention he’s leaving Marvel in the article only that he won’t be appearing at conventions. I highly doubt Marvel would try and force a creator to go to a convnention when he’s stating that he needs the time to focus on his work load.
If I were Marvel I’d be happy and supportive. The guy writes books that sell, why would you do anything to disrupt that? If you look above 4 out of the 7 books he’s writing monthly are Marvel titles and one of the shows he’s on is a Marvel show. If conventions are messing with those schedules I would assume Marvel could care less if he stops going to them if it means getting work done.
It seems like it would be akin to asking for a vacation day and your employer saying you can never have a vacation day again because you were their number one employee. My guess is you’d tell them quickly to @#$% themselves and look for a job elsewhere.
Let’s not forget that he is also writing Moon Knight coming up soon. If he skips going to Wonder Con and some wizard worlds to keep writing I’m ok with that. I would imagine that a lot of creators go to cons to supplement their income. Clearly Bendis is beyond that and surely sees that his time is spent better else where. As far as speculation into the future of his comics career, folly.
@josh Thanks for the clarification, and I had actually read it. However I still fail to see the point to base an article around just an speculation. I mean no disrespect to Chris, also this is the first time I have felt this way about an article here, but I find the tone a bit sensationalist.
@jmstump: Again, I said the word ‘if’ and I read the article. I didn’t say Bendis was definitely leaving comics.
I just don’t see any reason to thing he would quit comics totally. maybe cut back but not quit
@TheNextChampion I wasn’t addressing him leaving comics. I was addressing your first comment “So Marvel is going to just allow him to do this? A guy who, whether we like it or not, has represented the company as ‘the’ writer for years now.”
It was in the article that he wouldn’t leave comics. BUT he could always leave Marvel and do comics elsewhere.
Seeing people argue about this is exhausting.
Con, shmon; if I ran Marvel, Brian Bendis would be chained to the radiator.
@Jimski That’s what i was thinking. Isn’t the writing the most important thing. Would people be talking about it if Christopher Nolan said he would never do another press junket again? who cares as long as the movies get made am i right?
@RoiVampire That’s what I was trying to get across. I hope that I didn’t confuse anyone otherwise.
@jmstump oh no, not at all. honestly i read jimski’s post and responded just to that one
This the difference of being an actual marvel employee, and being a freelancer. It’s generally the convention that pays for him to go to these events, not Marvel. (Might be differenet for SDCC), but the smaller cons generally pay the GOH’s ways, at least thats how it works for sci-fi cons.
Like the article said, he has done this before, he’s skipped SDCCs before. He mentioned the real reason he went to 2010, was to announce Tokio.
Well written article. Good job.
bendis is making sure he stays on top of his comics, tv, & video game work; sounds good to me. moving on…
yeah, it’s exhausting, and sad, and annoying
If Bendis moves on, I will miss him, but props to him going and making money. I do think it’s a big jump from taking time off from conventions to him leaving comics. He’s not an artist who can make bank at conventions.
I love how the bulk of the article is about Bendis NOT giving up any comics time, yet people are still going on about how this will affect his time to do comics.
@josh
“I have always said nothing is more important than comic books and graphic novels to me.”
Bendis has clearly stated that doing nothing is more important than comics! Bendis is leaving comics to spend more time doing NOTHING!
😉
All of this silliness wouldn’t have taken place if not for the somewhat sensational title and approach to the article. Bendis made it more than clear that he’s not quitting comics. So why the big headline grabbing teaser? Not really necessary, IMO. Unless you’re looking to up your page hits.
I’m not complaining by any means. It’s really a who cares kind of thing. No egregious acts have taken place. Go for the sensational headlines if you want to get more clicks. To each, his own. Just pointing out what led to the ridiculous conversation in the comments. That, and I believe that a little constructive criticism is good for everybody.
the freakout comments on this thread is like Deja Vu for Sports Illustrated’s “Truth and Rumors” section.
Bendis : “I didn’t mean to make it into a headline story.”
So ifanboy makes it into a headline story.
I dont blame him. He got soo much on his plate . I am lil cornfused how it does it now .??!! LOL
You know, I convinced myself Josh wrote this article for some reason. Sorry, I should have address my comment about to @chrisarrant
As long as he does not quit doing Word Ballons then its all good.
(And as long as he’s not trying to spend more time with his family.)
@ChrisArrant
All kidding aside (and it’s hard for me not to make stupid jokes), this is actually a nicely written article. The first paragraph in fact is a great little bio of Bendis.
But the more and more I think of it, the more and more I dislike the title to the piece. It really is reminding me of what a supermarket tabloid might put on a cover to grab the reader — and I hate supermarket tabloids. (I’m being a bit judgmental, but honestly that’s how I feel about it.)
I second the motion for a Fortune & Glory sequel.
too bad bendis doesn’t have a podcast that addresses this very question at least once a year…wait a minute…HE DOES! 😉
Has Elmore Leonard left writing novels due to his decades of film and TV succsess?
(the answer is, no)
@wordballoon Wait, wait, are you saying Elmore Leonard and Bendis are working on NOTHING…together! Each would leave their respective fields for NOTHING! What a scoop! 😉
(I know, I know, it’s a really dumb joke, but man I’m lovin’ it.)
Well damn didn’t see this bit of news. I was at the convention and was a few feet away from the guy but didn’t bring any stuff for him to sign. His lines were insane (so much so that I missed out on getting a Skottie Young signature/sketch). That said I’m sure everything will work out with the TV shows since the source material is so fantastic!