Brian Michael Bendis Leaves Marvel, Signs Exclusivity Deal With DC
Well, that was unexpected.
Brian Michael Bendis, co-creator of the Ultimate Universe, of Miles Morales and countless other modern Marvel characters, is set to leave Marvel effective immediately in order to complete a move to DC Comics.
Announced via DC's social media channels earlier today, the move will see Bendis write exclusively for the Burbank company for a "multiyear, multi-faceted deal". The publisher are yet to announce any titles that the writer might be involved with, but news of the apparent switch has obviously gotten people talking.
The news that Bendis, who has critically-acclaimed stints on Daredevil, Spider-Man and Alias to his name, is leaving will no doubt be encouraging for DC fans. The publisher has gone from strength to strength since DC Rebirth first dropped, and with Bendis now involved, it's likely that even greater changes are now in store.
While writers switch between the big two all the time, the former Daredevil and Spidey scribe's sudden withdrawal from the House of Ideas is really quite significant. No other creator has had as palpable influence on the development of the Marvel Universe this century than him, and the years he spent on the Man Without Fear, Jessica Jones and Spider-Man are widely considered to be some of the best the publisher have ever had.
Time will only tell what the future now holds for Bendis, or for the wider DCU as a whole for that matter, but - as far as switches go - this has to be one of the biggest.
What do you think of Bendis' move to DC? Excited? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!