Mark Bagley leaving Marvel

Ending a two plus decade run illustrating comics at Marvel, Mark Bagley will be hanging it up after Mighty Avengers #11. Bagley broke into the industry by winning the Marvel Try-Out Book contest in 1983, and contributed to New Wariors, Amazing Spider-man and Thunderbolts during his tenure at the House of Ideas. He is probably best known for his 111 issue run alongside Brian Micheal Bendis on Ultimate Spider-man. That's a run that even exceeded that of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby on Fantastic Four.

"I look back at where I was at the beginning of my career and I sometimes can't believe I won the MARVEL TRY-OUT contest. I know that there are things in my past that some fans really loved, and bless 'em. But, I really have tried to improve my skills, and continue to do so. I think the worst thing that can happen to an artist is to figure out what they are trying to do…that is a sure sign of becoming a caricature of yourself. I'm still a sponge, absorbing everything I can, and trying to incorporate what works into what I do."

No word on what Bagley plans to do next, but one can only imagine it will involve plenty of relaxing, and no worries about how to draw Dr. Doom's anger face (or lack thereof I guess).

Mark Bagley leaving Marvel