Avengers will reach its 800th issue in January 2026, and the special milestone issue will herald the return of one of the title’s most celebrated creators. Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley will provide a story in the book, which will be Bendis’ first work at Marvel since 2018.

The 800th issue (Avengers #34 in the current continuity) will feature a 14-page backup story written by Bendis and illustrated by Bagley, reuniting the creative team behind Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble. The main story will be provided by the current Avengers creative team of writer Jed MacKay and artist Farid Karami.

The story will see Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor on a mission to neutralize Hydra’s new weapon of mass destruction. In the high stakes situation, they will be joined on the mission by teammates from the present and the past for a major battle. Avengers #800 will feature a wraparound connecting cover by Russell Dauterman and a variant cover by Bagley.

Bendis first left his mark at Marvel as the writer on Ultimate Spider-Man, the first book in the Ultimate Marvel imprint. He relaunched the Avengers in 2005’s New Avengers and penned several well known storylines like Avengers Disassembled, Secret War, House of M, Secret Invasion, and Age of Ultron. While at Marvel he also co-created popular modern heroes like Miles Morales, Jessica Jones, and Riri Williams.

“Returning to the pages of Marvel Comics has been an incredible experience,” Bendis said. “To reunite with the Avengers on the occasion of an anniversary is doubly wonderful because anniversary issues are where we really celebrate our love of the characters and legacy. I made my Avengers debut on Avengers #500. I love the symmetry.”

“AND I get to reunite with my dear longtime Ultimate Spidey and Avengers collaborator Mark Bagley,” Bendis continued. “Just reuniting would be magical enough, but him coming out of retirement to do this story with me was an incredible gesture. He has already penciled magical pages. It’s been a wonderful reunion between us and the characters. Thanks to everyone at Marvel for having me back for such an auspicious occasion. This is the first of some truly special Marvel projects that I will be part of in the near future. Stay tuned…”