Jim Shooter entered the comic-book field at age 14 as writer and penciler of the “Legion of Super-Heroes” feature in Adventure Comics. Later moving to Marvel, he wrote Daredevil, Ghost Rider, Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-in-One and other titles. As editor in chief, he tightened Marvel’s publishing schedule; added new titles; nurtured fresh talent; launched the New Universe; and wrote the 12-issue Secret Wars and its sequel, Secret Wars II. Eventually leaving Marvel, Shooter wrote for Valiant, Defiant and Broadway Comics before entering different creative fields at Phobos Entertainment and TGS Inc. Later returning to DC to write Legion of Super-Heroes, he subsequently helped revamp Gold Key heroes at Dark Horse.
Mike Zeck regularly drew Master of Kung Fu, Power Man and Iron Fist, Spectacular Spider-Man and other hits of the late 1970s. He joined J.M. DeMatteis on a remarkable Captain America run, reviving Baron Zemo, Nomad and Deathlok. In Secret Wars, he helped introduce the alien costume that eventually became a component of Venom; reuniting with DeMatteis, he drew the groundbreaking “Kraven’s Last Hunt” storyline for the Spider-Man titles. He has also drawn DC’s Aquaman, Green Lantern, Lobo and others.
Bob Layton began as a prolific and popular inker for Charlton, Marvel and DC Comics, where he first teamed with longtime collaborator David Michelinie on Claw the Unconquered and Star Hunters. The Michelinie-Layton duo’s writing work on Iron Man (1978-1982 and 1987-1989) is one of the most popular and influential interpretations of that character. Leaving Marvel in 1990, he became a key writer/artist/editor at Valiant Comics, where he co-created characters such as X-O Manowar and rose to the post of editor in chief before departing. He still does occasional freelance work for DC and Marvel, notably Michelinie-Layton reunion projects Iron Man: Bad Blood (2000), Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (2008) and Iron Man: The End (2009).
