About the Author

Howard Mackie got his start at Marvel during the late 1980s as an editor and then a writer. One of his first series as full-time scribe was 1990's massively popular Ghost Rider, which introduced the alter ego Danny Ketch to the mythos of the Spirit of Vengeance. He also wrote prolifically in the Spider-Man and X-Men titles of the '90s.

Roy Thomas joined the Marvel Bullpen as a writer and editor under Stan Lee, scripting key runs of nearly every title of the time- Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, Sub-Mariner, Thor, X-Men and more. He wrote the first 10 years of Marvel's Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword of Conan; and launched such series as Defenders, Iron Fist, 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. Thomas later became editor of Alter Ego, a magazine devoted to comic-book history, and co-scripted the sword-and-sorcery films Fire and Ice and Conan the Destroyer.

Dann Thomas has written or co-written stories in multiple Avengers titles. At DC, she collaborated with husband Roy to create Infinity Inc., Jonni Thunder, Young All-Stars, and other Golden Age character tie-ins.

Javier Saltares created a name for himself as both an inker and a pencil artist. His comics career started on New Universe titles such as Psi-Force, Justice and D.P. 7 - but in 1990, with penciler and future brother-in-law Mark Texeira, Saltares helped create the intense visual style that made Ghost Rider one of the most popular comics of the decade. In recent years, after a turn drawing G.I. Joe for Devil's Due, Saltares returned to Marvel, re-teaming with Texeira on Wolverine and the Ghost Rider revival by writer Daniel Way.

Mark Texeira worked on Marvel's New Universe titles, including Psi-Force and Kickers, Inc., and other books - but his reputation caught fire in the early 1990s as a revamped Ghost Rider returned the character to fan-favorite status. Texeira helped introduce Black Panther to Marvel Knights in an acclaimed run, and his art has long been a regular sight for Marvel readers - particularly on gritty characters like Wolverine, Moon Knight, Punisher and a return to Ghost Rider.

Larry Stroman penciled X-Factor during the early '90s before beginning work on his creator-owned title Tribe. His work on notable comics characters includes Uncanny X-Men, Black Panther and the Heroes Reborn version of Iron Man for Marvel; DC's Darkstars; and Wildstorm's WildC.A.T.s. Stroman recently returned to the pages of X-Factor, re-teaming with author Peter David for a well-received story arc.