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Brian Michael Bendis Explains ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN TV Series: 'It's for Kids.'

The man responsible for one of the best comic book series in the Ultimate line-up shares his thoughts on Ultimate Spider-Man and returns to write this weekend's episode entitled "Freaky". Check out more after the jump.

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By Alex Lynch - 6/16/2012


Brian Michael Bendis is the man behind about over 150 issues of different incarnations of Spider-Man and he returns to write another incarnation this weekend in the new Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Freaky" where Wolverine (Steve Blum) guest stars and accidentally switches bodies with Peter Parker.

This episode is based on a story that actually ran in the Ultimate Spider-Man comics line. It was a two part plot that ran in Ultimate Spider-Man #66-67 called Jump The Shark.

Brian Michael Bendis spoke with Newsarama and he said the following:

"It's an adaptation of sorts of the 'Jump the Shark' story from the comic book, when Spider-Man and Wolverine inexplicably switch bodies," Bendis said. "It was originally an idea from editor Nick Lowe, who I strangle in the book because of it, and here I am writing it again."




However, writing this one episode isn't his only involvement in the Ultimate Spider-Man TV Show. Brian Michael Bendis is also a consulting producer. Therefore, you can tell that he is extremely aware of the criticism that the show gets.

"I've had a couple of these people coming up to me on Facebook," Bendis said. "I don't know what to say — 'You know, you're watching Disney XD.' It's not on Showtime. I want you to like it too, but like it in the context of what it's for. It's for kids. We're thinking of them while we write it."

"I know it's weird," Bendis said. "You see all of our names [Joe Kelly, Paul Dini, Steven Seagle] on the credits, and some of us have been responsible for very mature and involved storytelling, and then there's this other thing — which by the way takes just as much work — but is meant to spark the imagination of younger kids. "


Brian Michael Bendis has stated that he will write more episodes in the show and that he is extremely proud of it's success. He then assured any doubting parents that the TV show episode will not end in the same way that the comic book did where Mary Jane suggested to Peter that they wait until they are older to try something that Wolverine had attempted while stuck in Peter's body. It was never said what he tried to do, but I'll let you decide.

"I'm still shocked that's in the comic," Bendis said, with a laugh. "That's what you call perfect innuendo. I remember the conversation — 'He doesn't say what she's talking about.' It could be anything!"


What do you think of Steve Blum guest starring on Ultimate Spider-Man?



Source: Newsarama
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35 Comments
Duhdaduh - 6/16/2012, 3:35 AM
he's right.
FrankieDedo - 6/16/2012, 3:45 AM
LOL despite BMB is a dumbass, he said something right, it's a show for kids, so if you're more than 12, JUST. DON'T. WATCH. IT. who the hell really cares about this show??
DukeAcureds - 6/16/2012, 3:49 AM
Y'know, for kids.
DukeAcureds - 6/16/2012, 3:54 AM
Actually, as a fully grown man, I find absolutely nothing appealing in shows like Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes and such. They're really too childish to watch. But Ultimate Spider-Man is so much fun, it's like pop art. Also, the talent working on this show is a fanboy feast. If you want a more adult, serious Spider-Man, read the comics or watch the new movie or whatever, but disliking a show like this really just shows how young you are that it would be so important to you for them to take Spidey seriously. Learn to relax and enjoy things like this. It's a good show.
Knightrider - 6/16/2012, 3:54 AM
I agree it is for kids, but when this is compared to the 90's Spiderman or Batman series, which were both for kids, this seems way to dumbed down even for kids.
TheAlexLynch - 6/16/2012, 3:58 AM
I find that the 90s animated series was mostly watched by teenagers. This is for like 10 year olds.
DukeAcureds - 6/16/2012, 3:58 AM
What was MJ talking about? Anal.
JBatesyFilmreviews - 6/16/2012, 4:14 AM
I understand that he is making this for kids but thats no excuse, some of the kids who watch these shows are mature for their age, cartoons should be for everyone, I'm 18 and I love Avengers EMH, Young Justice and Green Lantern. Even when I was a kid I loved the Batman the animated series and even though kids used to watch it, adults and kids a ilk still watch it to this day. You cannot justify a show for being utter shit by saying 'it's for kids'.
Asterisk - 6/16/2012, 4:29 AM
I never was a fan of the 90s Spider-Man series. I didn't know so many people like it.
TheAlexLynch - 6/16/2012, 4:38 AM
@JBatesy, Yes, those series are for kids too but the studios recognize that teenagers and adults watch them. With Ultimate Spider-Man though, the main focus is just kids. They don't want adults to be watching it because the main purpose of it is to get kids attached to Marvel so when they are older they can watch TV shows like Avengers EMH and more and fully understand them and eventually become a full comic book reader.
DukeAcureds - 6/16/2012, 5:15 AM
I can enjoy the old '90s Spidey show, but, when it came out I was expecting something more akin to the X-Men cartoon.
I can't believe people are saying that Bendis doesn't know what he's talking about. You're all a bunch of morons.
Avengers - EMH is a noisy, messy kids show. Would you really be buying it, if it were a comic-book?
Ultimate Spider-Man is actually really enjoyable. It's so simple that it's like a newspaper funny strip. If I ever really got into EMH, however, I'd reallyu have to have a word with myself.
bigkev12 - 6/16/2012, 6:15 AM
True the show is for kids but so was X-Men, and SPiderman in the 90's and both of those shows where smarter than a lot of the reality junk on television now. Even look back at the golden age of cartoons the 80's those shows where meant for kids but they didn't try to talk down to them, Ultimate Spiderman is just a lame spongebob wannabe cartoon and nothing like the smart stuff Marvel could and should put out
Tomontherun99 - 6/16/2012, 6:42 AM
I don't know why every puts the 90s Spidey show on a pedestal, sure it was most of our first exposures to comic books but watching it now it doesn't hold up nearly as well as Batman and X-Men from around the same time, the animation is choppy and one thing I have noticed is that Spidey throws less punches in that series than Superman did in both the Donner movies and Superman Returns. Besides, it's just for kids. They are probably going to love it because hey, kids are idiots but when they revisit it in their teen years or later in life they are going to be just as disappointed as we were when our precious 90s Spider-Man series was not as good as we remember it.
superotherside - 6/16/2012, 6:49 AM
When I was a kid I didn't like shows like this. I doubt that kids would like this show over EMH, Spectacular Spider-man, SMTAS, GLTAS, or Young Justice. People think they have to dumb stuff down for kids but you don't, kids are smart. They get a lot more stuff than adults do sometimes.
DravenWayne88 - 6/16/2012, 7:09 AM
I don't understand why both Marvel nor DC have ever tried making an animated series for mid-teens to adults, or just something in the PG-13 range. I understand they wanna bring in kids in order to get them as fans when they're older, but why constantly cater to only one demographic. Especially DC with all their great animated films. I would think that trying something new and creating a series with the tone of anyone of the animated movies be a no brainer. Not to mention, look at the awesome stories of the comics. Can you imagine how many people (both adults and kids included) would watch a Batman animated series if it was in the style and tone as Batman, Detective Comics, The Dark Knight, or Batman & Robin? Can any of these companies just take a chance!?
StarSpangledBruce - 6/16/2012, 8:01 AM
I'm tired of that excuse.
StarSpangledBruce - 6/16/2012, 8:01 AM
And I like the show.
DukeAcureds - 6/16/2012, 9:05 AM
I like the show, too. When I was younger I would've loved EMH, but then, I'd just grow up to realise it was actually just a piece of shit all along. Ultimate Spider-Man is not a piece of shit. It is very well done. Rips off Scott Pilgrim every two seconds, but that's not a bad thing.
AlSimmons - 6/16/2012, 10:11 AM
"It's for kids" is just an excuse for lazy storytelling. "Oh I can get away with anything because my audience is stupid hahaha!" No, kids are not stupid. They're immature, low on focus and laugh mainly at body humor, BUT they do know crap when they see it.
AlSimmons - 6/16/2012, 10:14 AM
DukeAcureds, EMH is awesome. I don't know what you're talking about. So much character development happens in that show. Go watch the episode where Hank Pym's suit gets stolen to see what I'm talking about. In USM it's just the lame "oh we need to stop being jerks to each other and get along" crap.
DukeAcureds - 6/16/2012, 10:48 AM
Yeah, there's some good moments, but you have to sift through so much cartoon-action noise to get it. And even then, it's middle of the road shit. The kind of shit that only makes something worthj watching if you are a very mature child or a teenager. I mean it's not exactly the beating the crap out of your wife and then she leaves you but you're both still invested in each other so you see each other behind Captain Americas back and care abvout each others career prospect and then have meaningless sex with a teenage groupie who wants you to dress up as the guy who is screwing your ex-wife and then invent a robot with an oedipul complex... is it?
DanteSparda - 6/16/2012, 11:20 AM
If this series it's just for kids then why cancel the Spectacular Spider-man? That was a great show, the best Spider-man show ever in my opinion, and kids loved it!
OverCross - 6/16/2012, 12:56 PM
breakUbatman - 6/16/2012, 2:40 PM
Spark the imagination i don't think so, this show is just ridiculous with the "humor".


No one is going to graduate from watching this to EMH because EMH is dead.
SkywayTraffic - 6/16/2012, 3:14 PM
I can enjoy hundreds of kids shows. With this it's like they're going for the teletubby's audience. Two totally different things.
huexolotl - 6/16/2012, 3:45 PM
There exist animation that adults enjoy, its a wonderful medium. I know several adults who enjoy animation in one form or another.

This show, apparently, is for children. The creator of the show is saying he made this for children.

If you're an adult and you're complaining that you don't like the show, maybe don't watch it and maybe do something else.
Jollem - 6/16/2012, 9:51 PM
Brian Michael Bendis has done so many good things for comic books and what they mean to people.

@BMB - Disassembled was awesome! imo, a fresh and brilliant revamping. similar to a fun D&D game. take the character(s), and fudge 'em up. take away what makes them them and then they can really show you why and who they are.
neonhero - 6/16/2012, 10:51 PM
"It's for kids" doesn't fly as an excuse for me. The late Maurice Sendak (author of Where The Wild Things Are) said, "You cannot write for children. They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them", which for me includes quality story telling, not spider-vehicles...
Masterpace - 6/17/2012, 5:02 AM
Maybe it is for kids like every superhero animation but still "it's for kids" crap didn't stop Spectacular Spider-man, Avengers Earth mightest heroes or even young justice and still someone above age of 8 could watch those series without feeling after the show that you just lost 20min of your life.
Action - 6/17/2012, 5:00 PM
Yeah? Remember, Teletubbies was for kids too and the show was a piece of s%$# I like spiderman but this show sucks.
BIGBMH - 6/17/2012, 7:03 PM
Avatar: The Last Airbender was for kids to. That didn't stop it from telling a great story though.
PeterParker1991 - 6/18/2012, 3:07 PM
Why do these comic book based shows always aim for a young audience instead of people that actually know about these characters? I mean, what 5 year old is going to even know who Nova or White Tiger is? I just don't get how Bendis can really say this show is aimed at kids. Doesn't make sense to me.
marvelfan83 - 6/19/2012, 5:14 AM
Sorry BMB, I tend to believe this is just an excuse. Wasn't Spectacular Spider-Man written just for kids too? Yes, that show had goofy/funny parts, but damn it, everything about that show WAS Spider-Man. All this show looks like is they wanted to copy Young Justice, but they didn't want to make it so obvious. So, they just went overboard with the obnoxious humor and bastardized Spider-Man in the process.

After Avengers EMH is finished, I'm thinking about putting a parental lock on all the Disney channels so I never accidentally give them anymore ratings.

Oh, and BMB, if this show is truly for the children demographics, wouldn't you think that at least getting the right heroes/villains personas with the right characters would be important? How in the hell am I supposed to convince my 11 year old nephew that HARRY OSBORN WAS NEVER VENOM?
CaptainObvious - 6/19/2012, 7:36 PM
This is a terrible excuse. I've rewatched cartoons I saw as a kid in the 90's and they are still funny and entertaining to me. Just because it's a kids show, doesn't mean it shouldn't appeal to older audiences.
Nighmarewalking117 - 6/20/2012, 11:05 PM
lol the thing about the "Anal" funny as hell. That's awesome, it would have been funnier if that was M.J. was talking-about that, but it probably did "involve" something about "sex" in the conversation?

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