Stan Lee is a man who needs no introduction. Nevertheless: Having begun his career with wartime Timely Comics and staying the course throughout the Atlas era, Stan the Man made comic-book history with Fantastic Four #1, harbinger of a bold new perspective in story writing that endures to this day. With some of the industry’s greatest artists, he introduced hero after hero in Incredible Hulk, Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men and more — forming a shared universe for rival publishers to measure themselves against. After an almost literal lifetime of writing and editing, Lee entered new entertainment fields and earned Marvel one opportunity after another. He remains one of Marvel’s best-known public representatives.
Jack "King" Kirby's comics career began in 1937 and continued for nearly six decades. With partner Joe Simon, Kirby first made his mark in comics in the 1940s by drawing and/or creating numerous features for DC Comics including SANDMAN, THE NEWSBOY LEGION and MANHUNTER, and for Marvel including CAPTAIN AMERICA, THE YOUNG ALLIES and the KID COMMANDOS. As the most valued team in comics, Simon and Kirby went on to create titles and concepts including FIGHTING AMERICAN, BOYS' RANCH and the creation of the romance comics genre. In 1961, the first issue of Marvel's FANTASTIC FOUR cemented Kirby's reputation as comics' preeminent creator, and a slew of famous titles followed that elevated him to legendary status, including INCREDIBLE HULK, AVENGERS and X-MEN. Kirby returned to DC in 1971 with his classic FOURTH WORLD TRILOGY, which was followed by THE DEMON and KAMANDI. Kirby continued working and innovating in comics until his death in 1994.
Industry legend Chris Claremont is best known for his epic sixteen-year run on Uncanny X-Men. Claremont’s focus on the themes of prejudice and tolerance struck at the hearts of comics fans, and he built an unparalleled following during the next three decades. Under his pen, the X-Men franchise spawned a vast array of spin-offs, many of them written by Claremont himself. His other credits include Iron Fist, Ms. Marvel, Power Man and Spider-Woman. Claremont has returned to the X-Men universe in New Exiles, GeNext, X-Men Forever, Chaos War: X-Men and Nightcrawler.
John Byrne has worked continuously in the comics industry as both writer and artist since 1975. After he initially collaborated with writer Chris Claremont on Iron Fist, Byrne and Claremont moved on to X-Men for a run still regarded as one of the title’s finest. Byrne contributed an equally famed stint on Fantastic Four, earning comparisons to the original Lee/Kirby issues for his imaginative plotlines and dynamic artwork. He also spun Alpha Flight into its own title. In 1986, he revamped DC’s flagship hero, Superman, reimagining the Man of Steel in a historic project heralded by a Time magazine cover. His remarkable contribution to the Marvel Universe extends to memorable associations with virtually every major hero, including celebrated runs on Captain America, Iron Man, Sensational She-Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Thing. In the 21st century, Byrne’s considerable body of work includes IDW’s Star Trek and Angel.
Dave Cockrum was an American comics artist known for his co-creation of the new X-Men characters Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus, and Mystique, as well as the antiheroine Black Cat. Cockrum was a prolific and inventive costume designer who updated the uniforms of the Legion of Super-Heroes and the X-Men. He rejuvenated iconic superheroes with striking costumes, featuring wide shoulder lapels, big belts, and buccaneer boots. His designs persisted well in the 1980s and the influence of his aesthetics can still be felt today.
Comic book illustrator Jim Lee is the editorial director of WildStorm Studios (which he founded in 1992) and the artist for many of DC Comics’ bestselling comic book and graphic novels, including All Star Batman and Robin, Batman: Hush, and Superman: For Tomorrow. He also serves as the creative director for the upcoming DC Universe Online videogame. Prior to DC, he was one of the founding fathers of Image Comics and best known for his run on the X-Men for Marvel Comics during which he co-created such characters as Gambit and Agent Zero. In his spare time, Jim enjoys a good laugh or two.
John Lind is a designer, editor, and co-founder of the Dark Horse Comics imprint Kitchen Sink Books (with Denis Kitchen). Specializing in print design with a client list that includes projects for Abrams, Bloomsbury, Chronicle Books, Disney, Hyperion Books, Simon & Schuster, and W.W. Norton in addition to numerous publishers in the comic industry.
