Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis: What is your verdict?

[Twigglet]

Only other Avengers runs.

I've read a few, including Lees, Busieks and some other random issues, and I can safely say Bendis' Avengers run is now my favorite of all time.

Taken from Avengers: Dissasembled, to New Avengers, with Mighty and Dark Avengers added in as well. Is he anywhere near your favorite?

[Burning_Pumpkin]

Only other Avengers runs.

I've read a few, including Lees, Busieks and some other random issues, and I can safely say Bendis' Avengers run is now my favorite of all time.

Taken from Avengers: Dissasembled, to New Avengers, with Mighty and Dark Avengers added in as well. Is he anywhere near your favorite?

Yes, he is. And i've read as much Avengers as the next guy.

You know that this makes us the Anti-Fans!

[AllisterH]

Heh...expect a LOT of gnashing of teeth.

All I'll say is that Bendis has been the most influential writer in how the Avengers are perceived by comic book fans since Lee and Kirby.

[Dr-Strange]

I like the poll options.

Better than...

Yes: He is the best ever.

or

No: I hate the man.

Kudos, I did think this was going to be just another love/hate thread.

I was on the hating bandwagon for a while, then I sat down and read every New Avengers book in a day and thought although the quality did slip, all in all they were good. His weaklink for me was Mighty.

[Whitster]

Didn't read Mighty aside from the SI tie-ins but I'll def say yes to this question.

[giovedi]

No.

A few reasons: I don't like his characterization of some of my favorite Avengers characters. I don't like how he threw together his own personal dream team on New Avengers.

I don't doubt that he keeps a good schedule and is able to write several titles every month. He sells comics.

[steveg887]

Unless we're counting Millar's Ultimates, Bendis' Dark Avengers is the only Avengers run I've ever read. So I guess it's my favorite by default.

Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying the hell out of it, but I'm sure there are better runs out there (I hear a lot of good things about Stern and Busiek).

[XPac]

"Great" is obviously a subjective term that will differ from one person to another. I think his run is good, but probably not my favorite.

That said, no one can objectively deny that he's not one of he most important and influential writers to have ever graced the book. He built up the Avengers brand name into the spine of the MU and the top selling franchise in the entire comic industry.

[LordEd1976]

No.

I won't argue that his approach brought in new readers and was something different but it came at the expense of playing with continuity and characterization. Not to mention that SI had a great build-up but crashed when it came time to justifying said build-up. It really didn't feel like something he was working since day 1.

I would say it ranks just under the great runs

[NickGuy]

you know, i voted great but not near the best...then i realized i couldnt think of something i like more. so i wanna change my vote to yes

[Kunoichi]

I think some of his stuff is great.

When reading a lot in one chunk, his dialogue tics started to annoy me.

[Majinoaw]

Heh...expect a LOT of gnashing of teeth.

All I'll say is that Bendis has been the most influential writer in how the Avengers are perceived by comic book fans since Lee and Kirby.

Love him or hate him, he has been one of the most influential writers on Avengers in all time. He rebuilt that brand. It will suck once he leaves.

[NightMage]

Love him or hate him, he has been one of the most influential writers on Avengers in all time. He rebuilt that brand. It will suck once he leaves.

Can't deny that at all. I give him credit for rebuilding the Avengers but didn't like his writing.

As for it sucking once he leaves? Who knows, it might actually get better.

[DBrewer75]

he is a fave of mine

[deathcry]

Can't deny that at all. I give him credit for rebuilding the Avengers but didn't like his writing.

As for it sucking once he leaves? Who knows, it might actually get better.

Yea this is where I am. I love that there is lots of Avengers books and stories going on these days. Dig some of the ideas, not always the greatest execution. I just don't get all enraged about it like some here... its just fiction, and its still mostly fun.
I think the bar has been raised, as far as how the franchise does at marvel... so the hope is that the next writer(s) will be better...