The Marvel Preview series “The Sword and The Star” was not only Rocket Raccoon’s first appearance, but Keith Giffen’s first published work. He moved into more mainstream titles with Defenders, penciling the adventures of the infamous non-team during some of its most nontraditional storylines. It was at DC, however, that he achieved his greatest recognition with creations Ambush Bug, an irreverent wannabe hero who tackled the comics industry itself, and alien mercenary Lobo, who was meant as an indictment of the violent vigilante genre, but became its most extreme success story. In addition to famed stints on Legion of Super-Heroes and Justice League, he also wrote X-O Manowar and Magnus, Robot Fighter for Valiant Comics, and adapted mangas Battle Royale and Ikki Tousen into English. He has played a vital role in cosmic crossovers at both Marvel and DC, writing Annihilation tie-ins for the former, and penciling 52 and Countdown to Final Crisis for the latter. Award-winning British author Dan Abnett has been a New York Times best-seller seven times and won the Best Comic Writer award in 2003. He has written more than fifty books — including best-selling Warhammer 40,000 novels and tie-in fiction for Doctor Who, Torchwood and Primeval. He co-created Death’s Head and Knights of Pendragon for Marvel UK in the 1980s, and contributed extensively to the UK’s illustrious 2000AD. He has also written Iron Man, New Mutants, Doctor Strange and Punisher for Marvel, and worked on some of Marvel’s epic cosmic comics including the Annihilation and War of Kings events, and the Nova and Guardians of the Galaxy series. Abnett is also known for his work on major games such as Alien: Isolation and Shadow of Mordor. He has returned to Marvel’s cosmos on Guardians 3000 and Guardians of Infinity. Andy Lanning is probably best known for his work co-writing Marvel's cosmic characters in Nova, various Annihilation series and Guardians of the Galaxy. During a career spanning decades, his writing credits also include Heroes for Hire, New Mutants and Punisher at Marvel; Resurrection Man, Legion of Superheroes and Superman/Batman at DC Comics; The Authority at WildStorm; and the creator-owned Hypernaturals at BOOM! Along with co-writer Alan Cowsill, he revived Marvel UK’s super heroes in Revolutionary War. Lanning is also a celebrated inker, best known for his work with Phil Jimenez on New X-Men and Amazing Spider-Man. He has worked with a dazzling array of talented artists including Mike McKone (Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man), Dave Gibbons (Secret Service), Mark Bagley (Fearless, Ultimate Spider-Man) and Ivan Reis (Justice League, Aquaman). Timothy Green II’s first comics work came on the DC series Fraction, written by David Tischman, and the miniseries Aeon Flux, serving as the prequel for the film starring Charlize Theron. His initial work for Marvel was the Annihilation: Conquest limited series Star-Lord. Other credits include Immortal Iron Fist and backup stories featuring Rocket Raccoon and Groot in Annihilators and Annihilators: Earthfall. Veteran artist Paul Pelletier has worked on a range of projects including Marvel collaborations with writer Dan Slott on She-Hulk and Great Lakes Avengers; Tony Bedard and Chris Claremont on Exiles; Dwayne McDuffie on Fantastic Four; Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning on Nova, Guardians of the Galaxy and War of Kings; Greg Pak on Incredible Hulks; and Cullen Bunn on Wolverine. Brad Walker first gained notice at DC drawing Batman stories in Detective Comics and Legends of the Dark Knight. His first high-profile assignment was the Villains United spin-off Secret Six, which led to an even bigger gig collaborating with Kurt Busiek illustrating Superman tales in Action Comics. His Marvel credits, Guardians of the Galaxy and Heroes for Hire, demonstrate his flair for depicting unconventional super teams. Walker has subsequently worked on DC’s Green Lantern family of titles.
