The past couple weeks have been a real roller coaster for Marvel Comics fans. First came the news that writer Brian Michael Bendis is leaving the company for DC after 18 years. Now today, we learned that Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso has stepped down and will be replaced by C.B. Cebulski, who previously served as Marvel's VP of international brand management. It's a chaotic time for Marvel right now, with big changes happening behind the scenes and the company trying to reinvigorate its comic book line with the Marvel Legacy relaunch. But I take this latest news as a positive sign for Marvel's future in 2018. The company needed a major editorial shake-up, and Cebulski may be just the person to right the ship.

Marvel Legacy teaser art by Mark Brooks. (Marvel Comics)

The decline of the X-Men happened under Alonso's watch. Art by David Yardin. (Marvel Comics)

Brian Michael Bendis' Biggest Marvel Stories 15 IMAGES

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I don't want to downplay Alonso's accomplishments over the years. He rose up the editorial ranks and steered the company through some of its biggest storylines ever. Alonso was there for epic crossover events like Avengers vs. X-Men and Secret Wars. He made it possible for writer Charles Soule and artist Steve McNiven to do the unthinkable in 2014's Death of Wolverine and kill off Marvel's most bankable character. He spearheaded 2012's Marvel NOW relaunch and guided Marvel towards the more seasonal publishing model they've been following over the last five years. He opened the door for more women and creators of color at Marvel, making the Marvel U. a more diverse and dynamic place in the process. And through it all, Alonso maintained Marvel's status as the top-selling publisher in the industry (apart from those few months where DC broke through to the top at the beginning of the New 52 and DC Rebirth).Still, it's been obvious for a while that Marvel has needed a major change in direction. They may be the top-selling publisher, but sales overall have been steadily declining in recent years. Fans clearly aren't as enthused about the direction of Marvel as they were even five years ago. Nor has the company managed to make up for the creative talent drain that's been a constant thorn in recent years. Bendis is just the latest example in a long line of A-List creators who have left Marvel to either become DC-exclusive or focus on their creator-owned projects. And regardless of how much Alonso may or may not have been calling the shots in this case, Marvel's efforts to downplay the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises in recent years will always be tied to his tenure as EiC. Not to mention the enormous reader backlash to Secret Empire and the Hydra Cap plot twist.Looking back on the Alonso era of Marvel, it doesn't seem like the company had the clear, steady vision that was so evident during Joe Quesada's tenure as EiC. Quesada helped Marvel rebuild and expand after the shaky period that was the late '90s. He helped cultivate a new generation of writers and artists that defined Marvel's voice in the 21st Century. At best, Alonso's Marvel Comics continued along that path. It's not that Alonso never took risks as EiC. I've already pointed out the many things he accomplished over the last decade. But too often, it's felt as though Alonso's Marvel has no real guiding philosophy other than "More of what works, less of everything else."The Marvel NOW relaunch has been followed up by another line-wide relaunch almost every year since, to clearly diminishing sales returns. Where once it was novel to see an iconic Marvel hero replaced by a younger, fresher upstart, it seems like there's barely a character who hasn't gone through that cycle in the last few years. Rather than being experimental and risky, the company often seems like a gold prospector constantly chasing after the next big mother lode. There have been far too many new, promising Marvel books canceled after a handful of issues where once they might have been given a year or more to find an audience. If it doesn't sell well right out of the gate, Marvel quickly loses interest.Cebulski's promotion excites me because he seems like just the person to return Marvel Comics to the riskier, more experimental company it was 15 years ago. Cebulski made his name during Quesada's time as EiC. He might be most fondly remembered for editing the original Runaways, a comic that's done more than any other in the last two decades to reach out and appeal to nontraditional superhero fans. I know people for whom Runaways is the only Marvel book they've ever felt compelled to read. And as much as that series was the baby of writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona, it wouldn't exist with Cebulski's contributions. Cebulski also has a strong manga-editing background and understanding of the Asian comic book market, which is why he's been spending so much time working in China and helping Marvel to expand its foothold in a market that's been historically disinterested in superheroes. He, better than most, must know the challenges facing Marvel and how best to move the company forward in this rapidly evolving marketplace.Cebulski's other great strength as an editor is attracting top creative talent. Before his role as VP of international brand management, Cebulski was Marvel's "Talent Liason," the person tasked specifically with attracting new creators and cultivating relationships. He was responsible for bringing everyone from Steve McNiven to Sara Pichelli to Skottie Young over to Marvel. One of the biggest problems facing Marvel these days is that they've never been able to build a strong, steady lineup of writers to fill the void left behind by Bendis, Rick Remender, Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue Deconnick, Ed Brubaker, Jonathan Hickman and the other big names who have left the company. They need someone who can both rally the talented creators who are at the forefront of the Marvel Universe right now - Jason Aaron, Charles Soule, G. Willow Wilson, Kelly Thompson, Gerry Duggan, Jim Zub, etc. - and bring in more fresh, engaging voices alongside them.The competition between DC and Marvel is a never-ending arms race of creative talent. Right now, DC is winning that race thanks to the Bendis announcement and the very impressive lineup that's shaping up for next year's "New Age of Heroes" line. Marvel once coined the term "Architects" to describe that Bendis/Aaron/Fraction/Remender/Hickman generation of writers. Marvel needs a new version of the Architects, and Cebulski seems uniquely qualified to make that happen."Fixing" Marvel Comics isn't something that'll happen overnight. It's going to be a long, dedicated process that involves cultivating new and existing talent, taking risks and failing as often as succeeding. But I'm optimistic that Marvel has made the right choice in choosing Cebulski to captain the ship during this difficult period. With any luck, it won't be long before the Marvel Universe is once again as fresh and exciting as it was a decade ago.

"Between the Panels" is a bi-weekly column from Jesse Schedeen that focuses on the world of comics. You can see more of his thoughts on comics and pop culture by following @jschedeen on Twitter , or Kicksplode on MyIGN