Comics Bagley leaves Ultimate Spider-Man

[XSpidercideX]

Bagely has been probably my fav. artist since his run on Amazing in the 90's. Sad to see him go. Hopefully we can get him to replace one of the weaker 616 artists.

 

[JackSkellington]

Bagely has been probably my fav. artist since his run on Amazing in the 90's. Sad to see him go. Hopefully we can get him to replace one of the weaker 616 artists.

As much as I'd love to see Bagley back on a 616 Spidey title (hell, only way they'd get me to start buying 'em again!) I don't think Bag's next project will have anything to do with Spidey. Having drawn him for so long on USM (& for a while on 'The Pulse') I've got a feeling that he'll be wanting a bit of a break from drawning Spidey. Hopefully not a very big break though.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

He had short break, but he didn't do anything in between! Prior to that, his only work for Marvel was The New Warriors.

He did a stint on Thunderbolts as well, iirc...

Anyway; wishing Mark the best. I think i'll definitely drop the book when he leaves...i usually dont follow artists, but USM just wont be the same without him, imo.

Wondering where he'll end up next....

 

[Ultimate Jay]

Hopefully, another Ultimate title.

Drop the book when he leaves? Eh... i don't get that. I would only if the new guy is REALLY bad.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Now it would be great if he joined one of the 616 spidey titles...AMZ maybe

Bags has already done a very long run on Amazing Spider-Man.

 

[The Last Meatbag]

No
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I won't believe it



No

 

[Lt. Figgnuts]

He did a stint on Thunderbolts as well, iirc...

Actually, IIRC, he launched the original Thunderbolts title, didn't he?

 

[Ultimate Jay]

I finally got my hands on the 2nd USM Annual, and Brooks did a great job, but two things bother me about the way he draws Spider-Man. He does this weird thing with his rib cage - almost makes him look like a multi-jointed action figure or something - plus, he puts the eyes too low on his mask - it just looks off.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Brooks is good and yes at times...his style does resemble Bagley's but no one can replace Bagley.

Over a hundred issues....always consistent and drew the best Spider-man I've ever seen.

Bagley is "The" Spider-man artist.

 

[Captivated]

Noooooooooooo!!!! I've dreaded this day.

Wanting to go out while at the "top" of his game?! I'm sorry, but that just sounds stupid.

After so long... it won't be the same... changing artists will be like ending the title and beginning a new one...

And IMO the odds are good that they will NOT find a decent replacement. With all the great talent out there I've been sorely disappointed with most of the current Spider-man artists.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Noooooooooooo!!!! I've dreaded this day.

Wanting to go out while at the "top" of his game?! I'm sorry, but that just sounds stupid.

After so long... it won't be the same... changing artists will be like ending the title and beginning a new one...

And IMO the odds are good that they will NOT find a decent replacement. With all the great talent out there I've been sorely disappointed with most of the current Spider-man artists.

Why is it stupid?

Every creative mind in any field strives for that feeling. Thats the best way to go out when you've been doing something successful for so long. Go out on top. Don't wear out your welcome.

Who the hell wouldn't want to go out while on top? USM is extremely successful. Over 100 issues now with the same team. I'm sorry but Bagley deserves to leave this way. He's earned it.

 

[shinlyle]

Why is it stupid?

Every creative mind in any field strives for that feeling. Thats the best way to go out when you've been doing something successful for so long. Go out on top. Don't wear out your welcome.

Who the hell wouldn't want to go out while on top? USM is extremely successful. Over 100 issues now with the same team. I'm sorry but Bagley deserves to leave this way. He's earned it.

I have to say that I agree. If he had only done 30 issues or so, and then said he wanted to leave at "the top of his game", I'd be a little bitter. However, when he's been doing this series since 2000, and he's done 110 CONSECUTIVE issues without so much as a guest-penciller, I'll say that he's earned a respite.

I hate to see him go, but I can't fault the guy for doing so. Hell, I might want to leave Spidey after drawing 110 issues straight, as well (doubtful though...)

 

[hippy fascist]

The real problem here is that despite being a fortnightly title I can't think of a single time USM was late. How are they gonna find another artist that can keep that schedule. Either the books going monthly or we're gonna start seeing regular delays on the book. Either of which is gonna lose it some of it's readership since USM is a great book for getting casual readers into comics. Also I don't mind the way bendis drags a story out when I get an installment every two weeks but if it goes monthly it's gonna lose any sense of momentum it currently achieves.

 

[Captivated]

Why is it stupid?

Every creative mind in any field strives for that feeling. Thats the best way to go out when you've been doing something successful for so long. Go out on top. Don't wear out your welcome.

Who the hell wouldn't want to go out while on top? USM is extremely successful. Over 100 issues now with the same team. I'm sorry but Bagley deserves to leave this way. He's earned it.

I can understand it if he's just ready for a change. But he is nowhere NEAR wearing out his welcome!

This just sounds silly to me... he says he's doing the BEST work ever, and he isn't tired of it yet... but he might be someday, so why not quit now.

BAGLEY: “I’ve had an incredible time with Ultimate Spider-Man,” Bagley told CSN, “but I don’t want to stagnate. Right now, Brian and I are doing some of the best work we’ve ever done on the comic, and I think it’s best for me to leave while we’re on the top of our game.”

Yeah... who needs all this success. I know it's not the same as saying - "my life (or marriage) is going really great right now, I think I'll end it before it goes downhill" - but it still sounds a little wacky.

Quiting while you're ahead is for gambling.

 

[ragingdemon155]

I can understand it if he's just ready for a change. But he is nowhere NEAR wearing out his welcome!

This just sounds silly to me... he says he's doing the BEST work ever, and he isn't tired of it yet... but he might be someday, so why not quit now.

BAGLEY: “I’ve had an incredible time with Ultimate Spider-Man,” Bagley told CSN, “but I don’t want to stagnate. Right now, Brian and I are doing some of the best work we’ve ever done on the comic, and I think it’s best for me to leave while we’re on the top of our game.”

Yeah... who needs all this success. I know it's not the same as saying - "my life (or marriage) is going really great right now, I think I'll end it before it goes downhill" - but it still sounds a little wacky.

Quiting while you're ahead is for gambling.

He's not "quitting" while he's ahead. He's stepping down after doing something for an EXTREMELY long time and being successful at it. Has any other artist drawn ONE character as long as he has??? Jeez, come on now. Spider-man is all he's really drawn the last 10 or so years. He needs a change.

Best way to leave is now. You've broken a historic record in comic books and the book is really successful.

Like him or not....I think Bagley has earned the right to "step down" at his choosing when it comes to USM.

 

[Ultimate Jay]

I agree 100%.

I hate to see him go, but i fully understand why he feels the need to move on. I hope he ends up on another Ultimate title, though, since that's pretty much all I read these days.

Whoever they get to replace him - Brooks seems the most likely candidate - i don't think should try to copy his style at all. This is one reason i'm in favor of Brooks, since he's done the annuals, and has a different style, but with a similar feel - if that makes any sense.

Bagley set the tone for USM with the look of these characters, and I only hope whoever takes over can continue to portray the characters the same way. That's my #1 fear here - that whoever takes over will completely change the look of the characters (Peter & M.J. especially).

 

[Captivated]

He's not "quitting" while he's ahead. He's stepping down after doing something for an EXTREMELY long time and being successful at it...
Like him or not....I think Bagley has earned the right to "step down" at his choosing when it comes to USM.

I know that's what he's doing, and if you read my whole post, you'd know I wasn't saying that I begrudge him the right to say, "I think it's time to try something else." He obviously had a deadline in his head... make it to the record.

But he IS "quitting while he's ahead." He said so. It's the way he put his leaving that sounded silly to me. Jeeze.

 

[14k london spider]

Noooooooooooo!!!! I've dreaded this day.

Wanting to go out while at the "top" of his game?! I'm sorry, but that just sounds stupid.

After so long... it won't be the same... changing artists will be like ending the title and beginning a new one...

And IMO the odds are good that they will NOT find a decent replacement. With all the great talent out there I've been sorely disappointed with most of the current Spider-man artists.

I must say i'm a little surprised by your reaction, i thought you weren't keen on Bagley's Spider-man? for what it's worth i feel the same. Bags look is so distinctive, Bags and Bendis are such a great team that i can't imagine the book without either one of them. You can't help but feel that it's essentially the end of the USM's golden era damnit Bagley has been my favourite spidey artist since the 90's and him on ultimate played a big role in getting me back into comics after the clone saga turned me off. and since its inception it's been the most consistantly best title. sucks

 

[Captivated]

I must say i'm a little surprised by your reaction, i thought you weren't keen on Bagley's Spider-man? for what it's worth i feel the same....

I don't know where you got that idea... I've never complained about Bags.

I grew to really enjoy his style on ULTIMATE Spider-Man. I think his art fits Peter in high school just fine. (I just don't like it when artists portray ADULT Spidey like a skinny little freaky thing. I would not care for 616 Spidey to be drawn that way.)

The few times they brought in a sub (Brooks and that TERRIBLE sinister six artist who I have blocked out of my memory...) it just wasn't as good. The characters in this title (the way Bendis writes them) are very dependant on FACES and expression.

When I think of Ultimate Peter and MJ, it's Bagley's faces I see. Brooks name has been lauded, and he is good, but I don't care for his FACES... and that IS a big deal.

Honestly... my continuing to read this title is going to hinge on how well I like Bags replacement. I'm afraid they are going to think "young" and equate that to some wild, freaky style, like Ramos. That would be a total deal killer for me.

 

[Ultimate Jay]

Oh God... I cringe at the thought of the Ultimate Six art.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Wanting to go out while at the "top" of his game?! I'm sorry, but that just sounds stupid.

That doesn't sound stupid to me. You do realize that probably more than 3/4 of his career has been spent drawing Spider-Man, right?

Let the guy move on and do something else for once. Yeesh.

 

[arachnid-guy]

Ahhh good luck, I say. He's going onto greener pastures.

I'm sure if I was in his position, I'd be 'sick' of drawing the ol' red and blue- he's been drawing him in bits and bobs ever since the 90's.

I for one think an artist trying to 'be' Bagley would be a crime. Another artist needs to secure his print on Ultimate Spidey. Like Romita (Sr. and Jr.) on Amazing after Ditko left.

Mike Wieringo, perhaps? He has a good style.

Imagine a younger Pete?

 

[Chris Wallace]

I'm gonna miss him. Big time. If it were up to me. Mark Brooks would step in.