Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Atlantis Rising

Tom DeFalco’s earliest comic-book scripts were for Archie and DC; he soon moved to Marvel, where he wrote Avengers, Machine Man and other titles, also launching Dazzler, a hit series of the early ’80s. In addition to writing long and well-received runs on Amazing Spider-Man and Thor, DeFalco edited many titles, eventually becoming editor in chief. During the 1980s, he headed the creative team that provided fictional biographies for G.I. Joe members, originally included with Hasbro’s toys and later used as the basis for multiple storylines on the animated series. Perhaps his best-known work is multi-title character Spider-Girl, whom he introduced in 1998. DeFalco has authored multiple books, including Ultimate Guides for Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk and Spider-Man.

Paul Ryan collaborated with Mark Gruenwald on Squadron Supreme, D.P. 7, Quasar and other titles. His #356-414 run on Fantastic Four is rivaled in length only by John Byrne and Jack Kirby. At DC, he penciled Batman, Flash and multiple Superman titles. He spent years penciling the Amazing Spider-Man comic strip, and penciled and inked the daily comic strip The Phantom for King Features Syndicate from 2005 until his death in 2016.

Dante Bastianoni penciled most of Tom DeFalco’s Fantastic Force, along with issues of Fantastic Four Unlimited and Namor the Sub-Mariner.

Geoff Isherwood’s penciling work ranges from Daredevil and Doctor Strange to Silver Surfer and Conan the Barbarian. He has also been a book-cover designer and film storyboard artist.