Writer/artist Larry Hama got his start as a penciler before becoming a respected editor and later a writer during the ’80s with his career-defining work on G.I. Joe and a memorable run on Wolverine. Through the years, Hama proved his versatility — writing Avengers, Blaze, Elektra, Generation X, Punisher: War Zone and multiple Venom limited series. Hama also contributed to Devil’s Due and IDW’s relaunched G.I. Joe franchises. At Continuity Comics, he created Bucky O’Hare, launching a franchise that extended to animation, video games and toys line. Hama revisited his era helming the adventures of Logan with the Wolverine: Patch limited series.
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.
Jeph Loeb is an Emmy Award-nominated and Eisner Award-winning writer/producer. In television, his many credits include Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Heroes, Lost and Smallville; and in film, Teen Wolf and Commando. He has written nearly every major comics icon, including the Avengers, Hulk, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America, Batman and Superman. From 2010 to 2019, he was Marvel's executive vice president, head of television, in which role he executive produced multiple series for Netflix, beginning with Daredevil in 2015.
The son of industry pioneer Joe Kubert, Adam Kubert has won numerous comics-industry achievement awards — including an Eisner Award and a Wizard magazine award. His landmark runs on Wolverine and Incredible Hulk made him a superstar, leading him to work on X-Men titles including the Marvel Universe-changing Onslaught saga. His subsequent efforts for Marvel include revisiting the world of Logan on Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine and the blockbuster sequel Origin II. Kubert joined the stellar artistic lineup of the event series Avengers vs. X-Men, and his subsequent work includes All-New, All-Different Avengers; Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man; and Captain America. In 2020, he made a triumphant return to his signature character for the Dawn of X relaunch of Wolverine.
Artist Val Semeiks landed his dream job in comics with an ongoing gig as penciler of Conan the Barbarian. His later Marvel credits include many X-Men-related titles and She-Hulk. In addition to work for DC, he has also done cartoons for MAD Magazine, and video game and toy design.
A copy of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way sparked Leinil Francis Yu’s interest in comics when he was 11. Whilce Portacio’s tutelage helped him land his first mainstream comics work on Wolverine in 1997. Following a successful run, Yu took on such titles as Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Superman: Birthright and Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk. After an extended period laying the groundwork in New Avengers, he and writer Brian Michael Bendis turned the Marvel Universe upside down with Secret Invasion, and the Marvel mainstay has subsequently worked on event comics including Avengers & X-Men: Axis and IVX, and such blockbuster titles as Star Wars.
