BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS: MAN WITHOUT FEAR!

By Arnold T. Blumberg     October 15, 2001

Brian Michael Bendis is definitely one of the good guys. Not only is he one of the hardest working men in comics, with titles like POWERS, ALIAS, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN, ELEKTRA, and many more under his utility belt, but he's a gracious fellow to boot. After our recent coverage detailing the debut of ALIAS, Bendis took the time to call and just say thanks. Aw, shucks, now he's gone and turned our heads.

In a desperate attempt to recover our editorial detachment, we've decided to jump right back in and give readers a preview of another project Bendis has waiting in the wings his return to DAREDEVIL. Bendis' first run on the title early this year was another opportunity for the industry and fandom to take notice of this prolific writer and his daring voice. Now, he returns with issue #26 (on sale October 17), joined by artist Alex Maleev. The two had previously collaborated on SAM & TWITCH, but this time Bendis promises to challenge readers with a story that will alter their notion of what might happen in the series....and it's only the beginning.

"I'm on it indefinitely," says Bendis. "I have a selection of stories that we're going to tell, but this first story arc is quite a doozy. I'm very proud of [Marvel Editor-in-Chief] Joe [Quesada] and [Marvel Knights Group Editor] Stuart [Moore] for allowing us to approach the book like this. It starts off as a crime story, the big Kingpin story that's been waiting to be told, and it sort of veers into a surprising direction. I really can't say much, but it has not been done in a mainstream comic book."

Bendis is clearly excited at the prospect of telling this new Daredevil tale. It's an enthusiasm he brings to every project, but on this particular series "It's the flagship Marvel Knights book," he explains there's an added sense of importance.

"I said if I come back to Daredevil, I want to have something totally unique to say about him," says Bendis, "a unique perspective on the character. I went over my list of ideas with Stuart, and he agreed that they hadn't been done before. And the one really big idea - it took a while, but Joe did approve it. I'm very excited to have it come out." Bendis is predictably tight-lipped about plot details, but he does offer a hint of things to come.

"I think it's about #31 when the book takes a turn. By page seven of our first issue it'll slap you right in the face. It all builds to something."

Bendis' first stab at the Man Without Fear certainly built to something a huge outpouring of acclaim from readers and critics alike. Bendis' first Daredevil story arc in issues #16-19, illustrated by David (KABUKI) Mack, was hailed as an innovative, ground-breaking piece, but he shies away from the "I" word.

"You know, it's sort of weird to announce, 'I am now going to be innovative!'" laughs Bendis, "because people decide if what you're doing is innovative or interesting. History chooses that. But when I was first given DAREDEVIL with David - that was probably one of the most gratifying creative situations I've ever been in. It was fulfilling to me on levels beyond what people think of it or their expectations of it. We never got mail like this in our lives, this emotional mail from people about what the story meant to them. The reaction was just phenomenal."

"That being said, it was quite flattering to be asked back to the book, because I literally have said out loud in college or wherever, 'If I could just get my hands on Spider-Man and Daredevil, I'd be a happy man.' Just having touched it once, I was all happy. No matter what you think of the art or the style of the story, I felt like at least I didn't f**k it up!"

That tension may also stem from the looming shadow that can affect anyone working on DAREDEVIL, and that shadow's name is Frank Miller.

"OK, we've all kissed Frank Miller's ass enough!" laughs Bendis. "But that work was so important to me. What the character really needs, now [is for me] to be as creatively vibrant on this book as I think I can be, to do my unique take on the character. We've all just been slaves to Frank Miller."

When it comes to that inescapable Frank Miller legacy, Bendis admits there was more of a challenge in trying to free himself from those preconceptions with Daredevil than with erstwhile Daredevil co-star, Elektra.

"It was a little easier [to put aside the Miller influence] with Elektra than it was on Daredevil to shake it, just because he so clearly defined it as a hardboiled crime book," says Bendis. "It's probably one of the reasons I do crime fiction, because I discovered that kind of work in DAREDEVIL when I was younger. Everything about that run on DAREDEVIL when I was high school made me go, 'Oh, that's what comics can be.'"

Now Bendis is showing a new generation of readers what comics can be, ably assisted by Maleev. Bendis has high praise for his partner in crime.

"The art is just about the highest caliber comic book art that's being put out," says Bendis. "Everyone's been floored by it. It is almost a photo-realistic rendering of human beings, just a gorgeous black and white film noir tone to it. It's just absolutely stunning." Bendis also credits Maleev with sharing his vision for the project.

"You just feel right away you're in touch with someone, you're on the same page. He brings everything extra to it, just like Mike [Oeming] does on POWERS. [So] when I was asked back with Alex, who was one of my greatest collaborators - and we had just gotten started when SAM & TWITCH ended - it was too good to pass up."

As to that distinct vision, Bendis is clear about his intentions for the series and its title character.

"It's a pulp book now, which is what it was in the beginning of its run," says Bendis. "[Daredevil is] a pulp character - it's like the Shadow meets the --."

It sounds like Bendis is taking the character back to his roots, but he's quick to qualify the announcement with a bit of healthy cynicism.

"I'm saying this fully knowing that every time I see someone announce a project, they always say that, and I always roll my eyes," Bendis laughs.