STAR WARS LEGENDS EPIC COLLECTION: THE REBELLION VOL. 6

As both writer and artist, Archie Goodwin (d. 1998) got his start in comic strips and cartoons before moving to Warren Publishing’s Vampirella — and from there to Marvel, where he eventually succeeded Gerry Conway as editor in chief. He has been credited with saving Marvel from financial ruin, with Roy Thomas, by securing adaptation rights to the legendary Star Wars franchise, perceiving its potential long before later merchandisers. He also wrote comic-book adaptations of Alien, Blade Runner and other hit films. He created both Marvel’s Graphic Novel line and its Epic Comics imprint — where, as editor, he occasionally appeared in caricature as alien, elf or other. He also edited early English translations of the Akira series and the works of Moebius. At DC Comics, he guided the destinies of Batman and Starman; one of his most memorable bodies of work was his collaboration with Walter Simonson on the “Manhunter” backup feature in Detective Comics, which won five Shazam Awards.

Bruce Jones, a professional writer for more than 30 years, was a founding contributor to the legendary horror magazines Creepy and Eerie. His run on Incredible Hulk shifted the title’s focus from traditional super-heroics to taut psychological thriller, propelling the series to best-selling status.

John Nadeau is known for drawing multiple series in Dark Horse Comics’ Aliens line, as well as his contributions to the publisher’s Star Wars output — not least as the most frequent artist on Star Wars: X-Wing Rogue Squadron.

Mel Rubi holds a special relationship with the scarlet-tressed Hyrkanian warrior-woman Red Sonja. Few in the character’s history have more consistently drawn out her power and beauty for loyal readers. Influenced by manga and anime as well as the works of the masters, Rubi’s expressive and dynamic artwork for Dynamite Entertainment’s hit Red Sonja series has helped define the modern She-Devil with a Sword.

Veteran illustrator Al Williamson (d. 2010) began his career at age 17 as an assistant on the Tarzan newspaper strip. Williamson soon found work at EC Comics drawing science-fiction stories for titles like Weird Science and Weird Fantasy. In the late 1950s he illustrated Western, jungle and war stories for Atlas Comics, the forerunner of Marvel. Williamson helped launch Warren Publishing’s Creepy and Eerie, and King Features’ Flash Gordon, a character he would continue to work with for years. Williamson illustrated the Secret Agent Corrigan newspaper strip for 13 years and the Star Wars newspaper strip for three. In the late 1980s, Williamson became an inker. His work on Daredevil and Spider-Man 2099 won several Harvey Awards; his inks on Atomic Age won him an Eisner.