Zeb Wells

Summary

Zeb Wells is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, director, and voice actor. He is known for his work at Marvel Comics, as well as being a writer, director, and voice actor on the Adult Swim animated series Robot Chicken. He is also the co-creator and executive producer of SuperMansion, as well as the voice of Robobot.

Zeb Wells
Wells at the San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2023
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer
Notable works
SuperMansion, Robot Chicken, New Mutants Vol. 3, Venom: Dark Origin
Spouse(s)
(m. 2010; div. 2023)
[1]

Career edit

Wells is an Emmy and Annie Award-winning writer[2] and actor for the TV show Robot Chicken, including the Emmy-nominated Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II. He later directed the sixth and seventh seasons of Robot Chicken.

Wells has written numerous titles like Heroes for Hire and Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways and various Spider-Man titles[3] and in 2006 signed an exclusive contract with Marvel.[4] He then wrote Venom: Dark Origin telling the origin of Eddie Brock and the Symbiote,[5] as well as the Dark Reign: Elektra tie-in series.[6]

He wrote twenty of the first twenty-one issues of the third volume of New Mutants, a series he launched with artist Diogenes Neves, including the crossover with Necrosha.[7] Being published in parallel with that series was Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Anti-Venom – New Ways To Live.[8]

Wells launched the series Avenging Spider-Man with artist Joe Madureira in November 2011.[9] He later wrote two Carnage miniseries with artist Clayton Crain: Carnage: Family Feud and Carnage: U.S.A.

In 2015 Wells co-created the stop-motion animated comedy television series SuperMansion and directed the first season.

In 2021, Wells was announced as one of the writers for the Amazing Spider-Man: Beyond storyline.[10] In 2022, Wells took over as lead writer for The Amazing Spider-Man along with artist John Romita Jr. starting in April 2022.[11] The book was relaunch with a new #1 after the Beyond storyline, making it the sixth new #1 for the title. In 2023, Wells claimed Marvel Editorial warned him not to attend any comic conventions after the release of #26 due to a surprised plot twist in the issue (later revealed to be the death of Ms. Marvel).[12] Wells' run has come under scrutiny, particularly for the dissolution of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson's relationship, Mary Jane's new love interest Paul Rabin and the handling of Ms. Marvel's death, which has been criticized as fridging.[13] CBR's Andrew Cutler claimed the series "needs a course correction" and that "the creative team must make changes to improve the overall quality of the storytelling".[14]

Personal life edit

Wells was married to Saturday Night Live cast member Heidi Gardner from 2010 to 2023.[15][16]

Bibliography edit

Marvel Comics edit

  • Spider-Man:
    • Spider-Man's Tangled Web:
      • Volume 3 (tpb, 160 pages, 2002, ISBN 0-7851-0951-X) includes:
      • Volume 4 (tpb, 176 pages, 2003, ISBN 0-7851-1064-X) includes:
    • Peter Parker: Spider-Man:
      • Spider-Man's Tangled Web Volume 4 (tpb, 176 pages, 2003, ISBN 0-7851-1064-X) includes:
        • "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" (with Jim Mahfood, in #42–43, 2002)
      • Senseless Violence (tpb, 160 pages, 2003, ISBN 0-7851-1171-9) collects:
        • "Just Another Manic Monday" (with Francisco Herrera, in #51–52, 2003)
        • "Rules of the Game" (with Michael O'Hare and Khary Randolph, in #53–55, 2003)
        • "Reborn" (with Sam Kieth, in #56–57, 2003)
    • Spider-Man/Doctor Octopus: Year One #1–5 (with Kaare Andrews, 2004) collected as SM/DO: Year One (tpb, 120 pages, 2005, ISBN 0-7851-1532-3)
    • Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man #13–16 (with Patrick Scherberger, 2006) collected as MASM: Concrete Jungle (tpb, 96 pages, 2006, ISBN 0-7851-2005-X)
    • Spider-Man Family #1: "A New Assassin from Beast Road" (with Akira Yamanaka, 2007) collected in SM: Japanese Knights (tpb, 128 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3212-0)
    • The Amazing Spider-Man:
      • Brand New Day, Volume 1 (hc, 200 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2843-3; tpb, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2845-X) includes:
      • Brand New Day, Volume 2 (hc, 168 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2844-1; tpb, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2846-8) includes:
        • "Sometimes It Snows in April" (with Chris Bachalo, in #555–557, 2008)
      • Kraven's First Hunt (hc, 112 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3216-3; tpb, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3243-0) includes:
      • Crime and Punisher (hc, 136 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3393-3; tpb, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3417-4) includes:
      • Election Day (hc, 184 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3395-X; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3419-0) includes:
        • "Spidey Meets the President!" (with Todd Nauck, in #583, 2009)
      • 24/7 (hc, 176 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3396-8; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3420-4) includes:
        • "Birthday Boy" (with Paolo Rivera, in Extra! #2, 2009)
      • Died in Your Arms Tonight (hc, 192 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-4459-5; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4485-4) includes:
        • "Fight at the Museum" (with Derec Donovan, in #600, 2009)
      • The Gauntlet, Volume 5: Lizard (hc, 128 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4615-6; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4616-4) collects:
        • "Shed Prelude" (with Xurxo G. Penalta, in Web of Spider-Man #6, 2010)
        • "Shed" (with Chris Bachalo and Emma Rios, in #629–633, 2010)
      • Origin of the Species (hc, 232 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4621-0; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4622-9) includes:
    • Venom: Dark Origin #1–5 (with Angel Medina, 2008–2009) collected as V: Dark Origin (tpb, 120 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-2748-8)
    • Anti-Venom – New Ways to Live #1–3 (with Paulo Siqueira, 2009–2010) collected as The ASM Presents: AV (tpb, 120 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4161-8)
    • Carnage:
      • Carnage #1–5 (with Clayton Crain, 2011) collected as C: Family Feud (hc, 168 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5112-5; tpb, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-5113-3)
      • Carnage U.S.A. #1–5 (with Clayton Crain, 2012) collected as C U.S.A. (hc, 120 pages, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-6073-6)
    • Avenging Spider-Man #1–5 (with Joe Madureira, Greg Land, and Leinil Francis Yu, 2012) collected in Spider-Man: My Friends Can Beat Up Your Friends (hc, 120 pages, 2012, ISBN 0-7851-5778-6)
  • New Warriors v3 #1–6 (with Skottie Young, 2005–2006) collected as NW: Reality Check (tpb, 144 pages, 2006, ISBN 0-7851-1661-3)
  • Fantastic Four/Iron Man: Big in Japan #1–4 (with Seth Fisher, 2005–2006) collected as FF/IM: Big in Japan (tpb, 120 pages, 2006, ISBN 0-7851-1776-8)
  • Marvel Romance Redux: Guys & Dolls: "Formula for Love!" (with Gene Colan, 2006) collected in Marvel Romance Redux: Another Kind of Love (tpb, 168 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2090-4)
  • Doc Samson #4–5: "Living Totem" (with Frank Espinosa, co-feature, 2006)
  • Civil War: Young Avengers/Runaways (with Stefano Caselli, 2006) collected as Civil War: YA&R (tpb, 112 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2317-2)
  • Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four #17–20 (with Kano, 2006–2007) collected as MAFF: All 4 One, 4 for All (tpb, 96 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2209-5)
  • Heroes for Hire (with Al Rio, Clay Mann and others, 2007–2008) collected as:
    • Ahead of the Curve (includes #8–10, tpb, 120 pages, 2007, ISBN 0-7851-2363-6)
    • World War Hulk (collects #11–15, tpb, 120 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2800-X)
  • Daredevil: Battlin' Jack Murdock #1–4 (with Carmine Di Giandomenico, 2007) collected as D: Battlin' Jack Murdock (tpb, 104 pages, 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2534-5)
  • Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust?: "Marvel Boy: Master of the Cube" (with Steve Kurth, one-shot, 2008)
  • Elektra:
    • Dark Reign: Elektra #1–5 (with Clay Mann, 2009) collected as Dark Reign: Elektra (tpb, 120 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3843-9)
    • Shadowland: Elektra (with Emma Rios, one-shot, 2010) collected in Shadowland: Street Heroes (hc, 192 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4887-6; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4888-4)
  • X-Men:
    • New Mutants vol. 3 (with Diogenes Neves, Paul Davidson and Leonard Kirk, 2009–2011) collected as:
      • Return of the Legion (collects #1–5, hc, 144 pages, 2009, ISBN 0-7851-3992-3; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4064-6)
      • Necrosha (includes #6–10, hc, 160 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-3993-1; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4065-4)
      • Second Coming (includes #12–14 and Second Coming #2, hc, 392 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4678-4; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-5705-0)
      • Fall of the New Mutants (collects #15–21, hc, 168 pages, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4583-4; tpb, 2011, ISBN 0-7851-4584-2)
    • X-Necrosha: "Binary" (with Ibraim Roberson, one-shot, 2009) collected in X-Necrosha (hc, 448 pages, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4674-1; tpb, 2010, ISBN 0-7851-4675-X)
    • Hellions (with Stephen Segovia, 2020–2021)
      • Vol. 1 (collects #1-4, tpb, 128 pages, 2020, ISBN 130292558X)
      • Vol. 2 (collects #7-12, tpb, 160 pages, 2021, ISBN 1302925598)
      • Vol. 3 (collects #13-18, tpb, 176 pages, 2022, ISBN 1302930184)
      • Hellions By Zeb Wells (collects #1-18, hc, 512 pages, 2022, ISBN 1302933728)
  • Ant-Man vol. 2 #1-5 (with Dylan Burnett, 2020) collected as Ant-Man: Worldhive (tpb, 2020)

Virgin Comics edit

  • Snake Woman:
    • Snake Woman (with Shekhar Kapur, Michael Gaydos, Dean Ruben Hyrapiet and Vivek Shinde, 2006–2007) collected as:
      • A Snake in the Grass (collects #1–5, tpb, 144 pages, 2007, ISBN 1-934413-01-1)
      • The Faithful (collects #6–10, tpb, 144 pages, 2007, ISBN 1-934413-07-0)
    • Snake Woman: Tale of the Snake Charmer #1–6 (with Vivek Shinde, 2007) collected as SW: TotSC (tpb, 144 pages, 2008, ISBN 1-934413-20-8)
    • Snake Woman: Curse of the 68 #1–4 (with Pradip Ingale, Manu P. K. and M Subramanian, 2008)

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II Dengar / Imperial Officer / Youngling (voice)
2009–2016 Robot Chicken Various voices 12 Episodes
2009 Titan Maximum Marine #3 / Tank Commander / Cadet #6 (voice) 2 Episodes
2010 Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III Dengar (voice)
2012 Robot Chicken DC Comics Special Sinestro / Swamp Thing (voice)
2014 Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise Sinestro / Swamp Thing / Captain Cold (voice)
2015–2019 SuperMansion Robobot / Jewbot / Groaner / Newscaster
Robobot / Deathbots (voice)
25 Episodes
2015 Robot Chicken DC Comics Special III: Magical Friendship Green Arrow / Swamp Thing (voice)
2022 She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Writer Episode: "The Retreat"
2023 The Marvels Uncredited Co-writer
2024 Deadpool & Wolverine Co-writer
TBA Marvel Zombies Head writer
Unaired Star Wars Detours Dengar (voice)

References edit

  1. ^ https://www.lizmoody.com/thelizmoodypodcast-heidi-gardner/
  2. ^ Debruge, Peter (January 30, 2009). "Kung Fu Panda Rules At Annie Awards". Variety. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
  3. ^ Evans, Sam (October 11, 2002). "Zeb Wells: Tangled Web". Comics Bulletin. Retrieved March 15, 2008.
  4. ^ "Zeb Wells Exclusive". Marvel.com. March 20, 2006.
  5. ^ Ekstrom, Steve (June 20, 2008). "Behind the Symbiote: Zeb Wells on Venom: Dark Origins". Newsarama. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  6. ^ Ekstrom, Steve (February 18, 2009). "Zeb Wells on Dark Reign: Elektra". Newsarama. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
  7. ^ Richards, Dave (July 24, 2009). "CCI: Kyle, Yost, Carey, and Wells Talk "Necrosha"". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  8. ^ Rogers, Vaneta (December 8, 2009). "WEEKLY WEBBING with WELLS: Anti-Venom, Punisher, Lizard". Newsarama. Retrieved December 12, 2009.
  9. ^ Manning, Shaun (June 13, 2011). "Zeb Wells and Joe Mad Talk "Avenging Spider-Man"". Comic Book Resources.
  10. ^ Marvel (June 24, 2021). "New Team of Writers Take Spider-Man Beyond Your Wildest Expectations in 'Amazing Spider-Man' #75". Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Marvel (January 13, 2022). "Zeb Wells And John Romita Jr. Launch A New Volume Of Amazing Spider-Man". Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Schreur, Brandon (2023-04-19). "Marvel Writer Zeb Wells Claims Upcoming 'Amazing Spider-Man' Reveal Is So Controversial That Editorial Warned "Not To Do Any Comic Conventions After This Issue Comes Out"". CBR. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  13. ^ Marston, George (May 16, 2023). "The death of Kamala Khan in Amazing Spider-Man #26 may be "shocking" for all the wrong reasons". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  14. ^ Cutler, Andrew (2023-07-25). "Zeb Wells' Amazing Spider-Man Run Takes One Swing Forward, Two Swings Back". CBR. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  15. ^ "In Conversation with Heidi Gardner".
  16. ^ https://www.lizmoody.com/thelizmoodypodcast-heidi-gardner/

External links edit