Mark Bagley Returns to Marvel and Ultimate Spider-Man

To tweets of joy from comics fans and professionals alike, Marvel announced this week the return of artist Mark Bagley to Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, the series with which he and writer Brian Michael Bendis broke Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's record for the longest continuous Marvel Comics run of any creative team. Bagley's first issue back will be Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #156, beginning the "Death of Spider-Man" storyline.

Mark Bagley left Marvel Comics in 2007, after completing 111 issues of what was then called Ultimate Spider-Man, volume 1 of which eventually sold one million copies. The artist signed an exclusive contact with DC Comics, for whom Bagley drew the yearlong weekly series Trinity, written by Kurt Busiek. Bagley's next major assignment was with writer James Robinson on Justice League of America, which he drew for just 13 issues.

"While I appreciate the opportunities DC afforded me, it's great to be coming home to my first love-Marvel," said Bagley. "I'm thrilled to be working with Brian again and I'm totally excited by our new project."

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man fans concerned with the fates of outgoing artists David Lafuente and Sara Pichelli can take some comfort in the following Tweet from Brian Michael Bendis:

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #156 goes on sale in March.