Zeb Wells

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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]

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.

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]

Virgin Comics[edit]

  • Snake Woman:
    • Snake Woman (with Shekhar Kapur, Michael Gaydos, Dean Ruben Hyrapiet and Vivek Shinde, 2006–2007) collected as:
    • 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]