What is Marvel thinking?!

[stalungrad]

Vastion

I mean that he churns out a lot of content that (it seems to me) he doesn't put much thought or effort into.

This is an interesting point. He really does produce a heavy workload, doesn't he? But it is difficult to tell how much he values the work.

I don't think he's in full-on hack territory, though. One of the major running themes in his books, it seems to me, is an increasing number of non-white superheroes. Luke Cage and Miles Morales being the biggest examples (there's lots of Bendis I've not read, but the addition of Echo to the Avengers suggests to me he does this a fair bit). That suggests an investment in the story beyond the next paycheque, to me.

[kissmekillme]

stalungrad

One of the major running themes in his books, it seems to me, is an increasing number of non-white superheroes. Luke Cage and Miles Morales being the biggest examples (there's lots of Bendis I've not read, but the addition of Echo to the Avengers suggests to me he does this a fair bit). That suggests an investment in the story beyond the next paycheque, to me.

rofl

You mean the addition of Echo because everyone figured out his obviously telegraphed plan of Daredevil is Ronin months in advance and he had to scramble to pull a "surprise" reveal out of his a**? And then his sexing her up and then fridging her in Moon Knight?

I'll give Bendis credit for a lot of things, but promoting minority superheroes sure as s**t ain't one of them. He's got a hard-on for Luke Cage just like he does for Jessica Drew, that's about all. Morales is an obviously calculated response to all of DC's whitewashing negative buzz to make Marvel look like the better man.

[Grimesby]

stalungrad

Vastion

I mean that he churns out a lot of content that (it seems to me) he doesn't put much thought or effort into.

This is an interesting point. He really does produce a heavy workload, doesn't he? But it is difficult to tell how much he values the work.

I don't think he's in full-on hack territory, though. One of the major running themes in his books, it seems to me, is an increasing number of non-white superheroes. Luke Cage and Miles Morales being the biggest examples (there's lots of Bendis I've not read, but the addition of Echo to the Avengers suggests to me he does this a fair bit). That suggests an investment in the story beyond the next paycheque, to me.

I can certainly see your point there. And you're right, there's really no way to tell how much effort he puts in. I just get that vibe because a lot of his work strikes me as very sloppy. Characters acting erratic and saying things I can't imagine anyone ever saying, juvenile conversations that seem like they were stuck in there because it popped into his head and he thought it was funny, plots that look like he's just making it up as he goes along, wanton punctuation (this is a small point, but when I see two, three, four exclamation points after something, it creates a very offhand, amateurish feel to the whole scene). And maybe he's trying really hard and all of this is just a measure of his ability. But I keep thinking there must be some talent in there, or he wouldn't have become this popular.