ROY THOMAS joined Marvel as a writer and editor under Stan Lee, scripting key runs of nearly every Marvel title: The Amazing Spider-Man , The Avengers , Daredevil , Doctor Strange , The Sub-Mariner , Thor , The X-Men and more. He wrote the first ten years of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan ; and launched the Defenders, Iron Fist, The Invaders and Warlock. At DC, he developed All-Star Squadron , Infinity Inc. and related titles, proving instrumental in reviving the Golden Age Justice Society of America. He co-scripted the sword-and-sorcery films Fire and Ice and Conan the Destroyer . Throughout it all, Thomas has edited the award-winning magazine Alter Ego , contributing heartily to the research and history of the medium. JOHN BUSCEMA (1927-2002) literally wrote the book on being a Marvel artist--namely, How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way --and few were better qualified. His career began in 1948 as a member of the Timely/Marvel Bullpen.

He left the field for advertising in the mid-'50s, but Stan Lee coaxed him back to comics in 1966. Buscema followed with a celebrated run on The Avengers with the first Silver Surfer series. He subsequently succeeded Jack Kirby on Fantastic Four , Thor and other titles. By the time of his retirement in 1996, Buscema had penciled nearly every Marvel title--including over 100 issues of his personal favorite, Conan the Barbarian . The entrance of GIL KANE (1926-2000) into the comic book field was interrupted by World War II, but upon his return the young artist swiftly rose to become one of the key stylists of his generation. At DC, Kane ushered in super heroes' Silver Age on Green Lantern and The Atom , while at Marvel he held influential tenures on The Amazing Spider-Man , Captain Marvel and Warlock . His 1971 Blackmark is regarded as one of the first graphic novels. Kane continued to produce captivating work until his passing in 2000.