Tom DeFalco’s earliest comic-book scripts were for Archie and DC; he soon moved to Marvel, where he wrote Avengers, Machine Man and other titles, also launching Dazzler, a hit series of the early ’80s. In addition to writing long and well-received runs on Amazing Spider-Man and Thor, DeFalco edited many titles, eventually becoming editor in chief. During the 1980s, he headed the creative team that provided fictional biographies for G.I. Joe members, originally included with Hasbro’s toys and later used as the basis for multiple storylines on the animated series. Perhaps his best-known work is multi-title character Spider-Girl, whom he introduced in 1998. DeFalco has authored multiple books, including Ultimate Guides for Avengers, Fantastic Four, Hulk and Spider-Man.

Brazilian artist Joe Bennett debuted on Marvel’s Ravage 2099. He then drew Image Comics’ Supreme, and returned to Marvel as the artist of Nova, X-51 and The Crew. Bennett has contributed to Captain America, Amazing Spider-Man and Thor, and worked extensively at DC Comics, including on 52. His work on Immortal Hulk won him new levels of acclaim.

Lee Weeks is an acclaimed penciler who has illustrated runs on Daredevil and Incredible Hulk. Among his extensive Marvel credits are Civil War and World War Hulk tie-ins, Fantastic Four and Invaders one-shots, and multiple Spider-Man series — including the web-slinger’s team-up with Daredevil in the Mysterio Manifesto. Weeks provided both script and artwork for Spider-Man: Death and Destiny, which revisited the death of Gwen Stacy, and has written stories for various Marvel anthologies. Elsewhere, he has illustrated Dark Horse’s Comics’ Greatest World, Eclipse’s New DNAgents and more.

Working in a unique style, Clayton Crain notably came into the public eye with the release of the Garth Ennis-written limited series Ghost Rider: Road to Damnation, followed by Ghost Rider: Trail of Tears. Following a well-received stint on Sensational Spider-Man, Crain helped relaunch X-Force with writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost, redesigning the team for a new millennium. He has inimitably rendered the sinister, symbiotic foes of Spider-Man to great acclaim in Venom vs. Carnage and Carnage.