The comics industry was surprised in November when it was announced that writer Brian Michael Bendis had signed an exclusive contract with DC Comics, bringing to an end his 18-year run with Marvel. A result of the move, Bendis will no longer write the adventures of Miles Morales, the Ultimate Universe Spider-Man he created with artist Sara Pichelli.
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On Sunday night, the prolific writer completed his final issue of Spider-Man, and admitted he’s having a difficult time submitting the script.
I have written my last issue of Spider-man. its sitting here and I’m having a really hard time pushing send to @nick_lowe_ 18 years… pic.twitter.com/F9n9xYIDfn
— BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (@BRIANMBENDIS) January 15, 2018
“I have written my last issue of Spider-Man,” Bendis tweeted. “It’s sitting here and I’m having a really hard time pushing send to [editor Nick Lowe] — 18 years…” Accompanying the post is an animated GIF of Spider-Man shopping in a grocery store and picking up a box of Uncle Ben’s rice. Of course, Uncle Ben is a reference to Ben Parker, whose death led nephew Peter Parker to become a superhero, guided by the philosophy, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
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Bendis, who is recovering from a serious illness, has a couple of series to wrap up before beginning his DC journey. The landmark 600th issue of Invincible Iron Man will be his last Iron Man story, March’s Jessica Jones #18 already has a female writer lined up for when Bendis departs, and the fate of the street-level team The Defenders is still up in the air.