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.
BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH, a British expat, took American comics by storm in the late ’60s. After initial efforts on The X-Men, Daredevil and Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., it was Windsor-Smith’s turn on Conan the Barbarian that gave him the platform to showcase his prodigious talent. He also turned in memorable work drawing The Avengers and Doctor Strange in Marvel Premiere, after which the artist started his studio, The Gorblimey Press, producing original stories and art prints. Windsor-Smith returned to Marvel in the 1980s and ’90s on Machine Man and various X-Men stories, including “Lifedeath” and the character-defining Wolverine tale, “Weapon X.” He also helped launch the Valiant Comics universe, which included his creation Archer & Armstrong, and broke boundaries with his tabloid-format Barry Windsor-Smith: Storyteller series and Eisner Award-winning graphic novel Monsters.
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.
