Hello netizens, Fracadactyl here! Welcome to Creator Highlights, a new segment I’m trying out that shines the spotlight on comic creators. More importantly, the methods of communicating their ideas. Our first contender will be Brian Michael Bendis, easily one of the biggest names in comics. His contributions are what help make the Ultimate Marvel Universe and Marvel MAX imprint. These contributions even help get him into DC. However, it’s not all as smooth as people think it is. After reviewing some of Bendis’ content people are questioning Bendis’ ability as a writer.
One of Bendis’ main strengths is his affinity for crime fiction. It is the genre he first starts out with before going to the mainstream. Bendis’ imprint Jinxworld comes from one of his major series Jinx. Practically all of these involve complex and intricate relationships between contrasting main characters in worlds that are practically insane. In The United States of Murder for example; a mob enforcer and a hit-woman stumble into a conspiracy which sets a crime family run America ablaze. Similar styles enhance one of his most notable series Alias, the series that inspires Netflix’s Jessica Jones.
And who could forget Powers? Powers is essentially bridging crime fiction together with the superhero worlds that Bendis exposes himself to. On the surface, it’s a noir-esque series that just happens to take place in a world full of superheroes. But later on, the crazy world of comics comes up to both enhance and cause conflict with the characters. Bendis’s decompressions style of writing enhance the scenes even further. By working closely with an artist, Bendis helps develop a cinematic story through storyboards. Needless to say, this style gets mainstream peoples attention.
Pushing Up, Pulling Down Brian Michael Bendis
Being one of the most prolific writers often means being the go-to guy for big events; by extension this means getting caught in something unsuitable. In the 2000s Marvel starts to go towards its worst and most desperate with Bendis’ success propelling him to events. Bendis took over Avengers and the following New Avengers makes him the de facto writer for crossovers events going forward; helping build towards big events from House of M to Secret Invasion. Unfortunately for some comic readers, Bendis’ slow burn approach can get a little irritating. Rather than jumping on points or anything to keep readers in suspense, it’s mostly uneventful surprises.
As such, Bendis’ influence is not always good. The events that Bendis heads often accompany high body counts. No rhyme or reason, it’s just for the sake of reactions on the editors part; and because Bendis just doesn’t like working with some of the characters. Personally, Secret Invasion is an all-time low. But since Bendis’ style bring in sales Marvel pushes other writers to use the decompressions style. Some people like Geoff Johns wouldn’t have it and decide to leave Marvel for DC. My how the tables turn.
Finding and Cleaning the Stains
Not everything is because of Bendis though, House of M in particular was because Bendis wanted to make something memorable. It’s finale however, was proposed by editorial and Bendis implemented it for the effects it would have. Unfortunately, this was the final nail in the coffin for a lot of X-Men breakthroughs from the Morrison era. I cover more why this is a problem here. But for Bendis, the only thing that really seemed to stick is the formulaic exploitations. Not to mention when Bendis gets the Spider-Woman series he wanted, he just recycles a lot of Jessica Jones elements; but that’s because she’s the intended star in Alias.
However after a bit of back tracking I have come to realize something. Bendis will always work with the publishers but he won’t always like when outside series get in his way. As such he clashes with other series like those by Mark Millar. For Bendis, Civil War disrupts his vision of what he’s trying to build up towards. Looking through this lense, I doubt Secret Invasion’s ending of supervillains taking over is what Bendis intended. If you want further insight, look no further than Siege.
Wiping the Slate Clean
In the above title, Norman Osborn tries to recreate the events of Civil War on the Asgardian embassy. It feels like an attack the altruistic elements sorely missing throughout the Marvel Universe. This is essentially Bendis calling Millar and Marvel out for the event in the first place. However it is also criticizing some of his own pessimistic work on account of the Sentry. By the end the list of all superhero’s identities is gone and the villains are where they belong. With Avengers Prime, Bendis reminds the trinity of their altruistic human sides.
Afterwards he collaborates with a couple of writers including Johnathan Hickman for Secret Warriors. He even reestablishes himself by playing his strengths in crime fiction, noir, and street level heroes. His run with Daredevil for once puts the lawyer of Matt Murdock in front. While looking bleak, there is a sense of glee in some parts perfectly reflecting Murdock’s state. Occasionally Bendis also reworks people like the Guardians of the Galaxy and the X-Men. Jessica Jones meanwhile explores characters of Bendis’ creation and gives them closure.
Reexamining Brian Michael Bendis
I’ve seen a few videos about how Brian Michael Bendis learns to have fun with characters. This is certainly the case with Invincible Iron Man. However at the same time he also has a shaky reputation when it comes to his legacy characters. Miles Morales is a good character, but the way Bendis frames him seems off. In his first appearances he’s more like Peter Parker in a new environment. Fortunately he does get a chance to reinvent Miles in 2016 and Into The Spider-Verse. This video here goes into more depth. Then there’s Riri Williams (Ironheart), but her controversies are not just in misogyny. One of her main controversies is that she comes from out of nowhere. There’s no build-up or meaningful explorations, just the air of keeping Tony Stark’s armor warm.
And then there’s the fact that Brian Michael Bendis heads the Civil War II event. I can’t tell if Bendis is selling out completely for a successor to something he criticized, or if he’s playing a joke on Marvel for a shameless cash grab. Still it isn’t the same with Defenders, featuring the same lineup from the Netflix show. However, Bendis plays to all of the characters strengths. Heck, his bibliography is full of half of the members. But I suppose it helps that this team is more down-to-earth and has a good improvisational structure. Which is what makes his transition into DC all the more disappointing.
Man of Rusted Steel
Bendis takes a big risk by stepping out of his comfort zone in Marvel. With everything he leaves behind; it probably is for the best. Some series are good but there’s a sense of burnout in a few of them.
However, his role in the Superman comics is not ideal. While Superman remains in character, every supporting character acts like parodies of themselves. Lois and Superboy Jon Kent lack that familial connection that fans come to love. It almost like there’s supposed to be a grand plan, but it never manifests; it’s just a bunch of conspiracies that go nowhere. In the words of Rob Jefferson of Comics Explained, Bendis is practically “making things up as he goes”. The only good thing to come out is the Invisible Mafia that plays to Bendis’ crime writing.
Yet Bendis still seems to be a good collaborator; he tries to make the most of his DC time through any outlet he can show off in. This includes his buddy pair up in Naomi for a hit that gets the fans loyalty. Batman Universe meanwhile is where Bendis uses his improvisational writing to create a series evoking the best of the Silver Age. His own works like Pearl also show up in his own imprint Jinxworld. Then there’s Event Leviathan and its sequel in Checkmate, a genuine mystery story that has a lot of Bendis’ shortcomings. In short, dragging a plot along to make character interactions that fans react at. Even his Justice League run is little more than a followup to his Naomi story.
Brian Michael Bendis: Reinvent Your Direction First
Overall Bendis is someone who likes to write characters in fun ways like with Spider-Man, the Guardians, and Iron Man. However his insistence on playing the long game feels more like an exploitation of work contracts; he’s more of a commercial writer than anything else. His abilities with crime fiction and noir settings are the stuff of legend; Jinxworld is a practical testament to this. As are keeping major characters in tact at all times. The only problem is, he provides a lot of distractions to cover a lack of depth.
What do you all think? Is Brian Michael Bendis a good writer or is just luck? Thanks for coming to the end, and as always Remember to look between the panels.