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.
NEAL ADAMS (1941-2022) Considered the groundbreaking artist of the 1960s, Neal received his own comic strip, based on the popular TV series Ben Casey, in 1962. The strip ran until 1965 at which time Neal made the move to comics for Warren Publishing and DC Comics. Neal's realistic style on such strips as DEADMAN and GREEN LANTERN/GREEN ARROW, at odds with the more cartoony comics of the day, made him an immediate star. He became DC's premier cover artist, contributing radical and dynamic illustrations to virtually the company's entire line. Neal's work has also appeared in Marvel's X-MEN, THE AVENGERS and THOR, on paperback book covers, and on stage, as the art director for the Broadway science fiction play, Warp. In the 1970s, Neal is the winner of several Alley, Shazam and Inkpot Awards, and was inducted into the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999.
