Behind the Web: Brian Michael Bendis Reveals the Untold Story of ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ in a New Graphic Novel

Spider-Man fans might know the story of the musical ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,’ but have you wondered what happened behind the scenes? Now you can find out in Brian Michael Bendis’ new graphic novel, ‘Fortune and Glory: The Musical.’ Bendis, who helped create Miles Morales, shares his experience working with Marvel and director Julie Taymor on the musical.

Though Bendis didn’t get a writing credit, he met Taymor and shared those moments in the book. In one part, he recalls a phone call with her where they debated which parts of Peter Parker’s story were outdated.

Bendis, a fan of the musical despite its flaws, highlights the issues it faced, like complaints from Spider-Man fans. The show, featuring music by Bono and The Edge from U2, also struggled with its songs. Most of them sounded the same, except for “A Freak Like Me Needs Company,” which became famous for its portrayal of the Sinister Six.

The musical struggled because it didn’t fully respect what fans love about Peter Parker. Bendis tried to add his knowledge of Spider-Man, but the final result missed the mark. The show became infamous on Broadway, not just for its poor reception but also because one performer tragically died during production.

Bendis’ graphic novel, ‘Fortune and Glory: The Musical,’ comes out on January 21. If you’re curious, you can listen to the Broadway cast recording!

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!

Liked this article? Follow us on Bluesky for the latest Marvel & DC news!