From the Marvel Liveblogs today..

Walt Simonson is the new artist of The Avengers comic, with Brian Bendis, starting with issue 25, for six issues. And it's all very Avengers Vs X-Men.

It seemed that Walt Simonson had some issues with Marvel management after a couple of projects went a little sour a decade ago. But everything seems to be hunky dory now. And here are the quotes;

Brian:

"This is truly one of the most exciting things that has ever happened to me at Marvel. When I was a young, strapping lad trying to break into comics, I'm talking years and years ago, I met Walt at a convention. I showed him my childish sketches and he treated me like a peer. He was so generous an empowering and set me on a course to be where I am now. He would keep sending me letter of encouragement and critique. That was the moment I knew I wanted to do this. He is one of the most important people in my creative life. I always made it very clear if he was ever back at Marvel I would love to work with him. I'm so happy he decided to come join us and when I asked what he wanted to do, Avengers was a big pile of everything he wanted to do."

Walt:

"Well no pressure on me from here on out." "I'm in comics myself because of the work that Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Don Heck and those guys did back in the 60's. I was devouring everything Marvel had to offer. It was a treat for me to get into comics, to work at Marvel and to do Thor. I really enjoyed the Marvel Universe and had a lot of fun." "I got to write Avengers back in the late 80's with John Buscema and Tom Palmer. I didn't really get to draw the book though. I've never really gotten to draw the Avengers. I'm excited to draw them. But really, I wanted to work with Brian. We've always said it would be fun to work together, but I've been at DC. Now I'm back on the freelance trail and called Brian up. I did not expect to be handed a whole story arc. And when Brian said 'There are a lot of characters' I didn't really realize how many characters." "I have a lot of homework to do. There are a lot of characters I know and others I know but who have changed." "There are 30,000 or 40,000 characters on my first page. Thanks, Brian." "I'm really looking forward to drawing Captain America." "I look forward to drawing all the X-Men. I had the chance to draw them a long time ago in an X-Men/Teen Titans crossover."

Brian:

"To work with Walt and Neal Adams in one year…I can't imagine topping that."

Developing…