Brian Bendis talks 'Siege'

Writer Brian Michael Bendis has spoken about the upcoming Marvel miniseries Siege.

The series, announced last week, will mark the end of Marvel's ongoing Dark Reign storyline.

Siege will also see the reunion of the founding triumvirate of the Avengers team - Iron Man, Thor and Captain America - who have been divided by the events of the last few years.

The three Avengers will unite to protect Thor's home of Asgard from invasion by Norman Osborn, the villainous star of Dark Reign.

"It's two things at once," Bendis told Newsarama. "For one, it's the shocking finale of the Dark Reign that poured all over the Marvel universe this year. At the same time, it's the opening of a very, very large brand new chapter, particularly for the Avengers franchise - but also for things going forward in the Marvel U next year.

"It's a tight four-issue miniseries, not eight or ten; four issues that sets up and delivers what I think will be a huge payoff for people picking it up.

"Asgard is part of it; Thor is a big part of it, and so is Iron Man, Captain America, the New Avengers, the Mighty Avengers, the Dark Avengers, the Secret Warriors and more.

"Usually, big shifts like this are precipitated by a change in creators or lagging sales or something, but not for this. This status quo change isn't something we have to do - but it's something we want to do."