Brian Michael Bendis is on “fire.”

He’s currently anchoring the Marvel universe, writing everything from big events like Secret Invasion and Siege to ongoing goodness like Ultimate Spider-Man and EVERY Avengers book known to man. He’s got a TV adaptation of Powers in the works at FX and he’s also working with Universal on a Jinx movie.

Bendis is again set to work with Universal on the film version of Fire, his 2001 graphic novel from Image. My favorite heartthrob Zac Efron is set to star and executive produce the film with his manager, Jason Barrett. Bendis is also on board to write the adaptation.

The product description from the Fire graphic novel reads…

Journeyman fans rejoice! Kevin Falls, creator of the late (and some would say, ‘great’) NBC show, is working on the pilot to Brian Michael Bendis‘ upcoming TV adaptation of Powers.

Previously, FX’s president and General Manager, John Landgraf had been asked about the project and he was able to confirm that it was still in the works and that Bendis had an outside writing partner who he described as,

What he had not confirmed previously was the identity to this mysterious writer.

Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D. #1: Marvel Motion Comic
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Alex Maleev
Marvel Comics
Released: August 19, 2009
Price: $.99 (on iTunes)

Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev have been trying to get this Spider-Woman series off the ground for what seems like a decade, and they’ve finally managed to do it. However, Marvel has decided to make this series the first in their big push of Motion Comics, similar to what DC has done with Watchmen, and is currently doing with Superman: Red Son. I’m not sure who decided these motion comics are the next big thing, but somebody’s putting a lot of money behind it, so we’re going to keep getting them for a while. The interesting thing with this series is that we will see a print version of this story in a few months, but we’re getting the motion version of it first. The one thing this really has going for it is the price point of 99 cents on iTunes (available for the first two weeks, then the price jumps to $1.99). It’s much easier for me to make an impulse buy on this when the price is so low, and if they maintain that price, I could see picking this series up.

The story in this one follows Spider-Woman, or Jessica Drew to her friends, as she is recruited to become an agent of S.W.O.R.D. (as it says right there in the title). S.W.O.R.D. is in charge of protecting the Earth from alien invaders, and Spider-Woman is tasked with tracking down one of the Skrulls who recently attacked. She travels to the seedy Asian port of Madripoor where she ends up confronting him.

Every year at Con season, Marvel EIC Joe Quesada likes to take time out to connect with fans at the fan favorite Cup O Joe panel. Taking questions as well as making a few announcements, Quesada gives it to ’em straight and usually brings a few friends along.

At New York Comic Con this past weekend, Quesada thankfully did have a few friends in tow. Joining him on the panel was marketing maven Jim McCann, Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley, uber writer Brian Michael Bendis, and the world traveling talent scout/writer CB Cebulski.

Sitting down to a rousing welcome from the crowd, Quesada pre-ambled to the crowd that this panel is as fun as they make it, and luckily the fans decided on “fun” for the day by cheering their faces off. After introducing the rest of the crew, Joe directed everyone’s attention to the PowerPoint presentation for the announcements segment.

Marvel Entertainment will begin selling digital “In-Motion” comic books through iTunes, it was announced yesterday at the Digital Media panel at New York Comic Con.

The company is working with Neal Adams and Continuity Studios to create a new form of digital comics for iTunes dubbed motion comics, which feature panels that animate scenes and add spoken dialog from voice actors. No exact price point was discussed, however, it was mentioned that multiple prices could happen depending on the content.

The Comic Con panel offered a preview of an Astonishing X-Men motion comic based on the recent Joss Whedon run, with more original content planned in the future, according to Brian Michael Bendis. Bendis, along with frequent collaborator Alex Maleev, will do a new Spider-Woman motion comic starting in February, which will be the first in-continuity title produced specifically for the new digital medium.