Stan Lee (1922–2018) began his long career with wartime Timely Comics, but “the Man” made comic book history with Fantastic Four #1, harbinger of a bold new perspective in comic book writing that endures to this day. With some of the industry’s greatest artists, he introduced hero after hero in The Incredible Hulk, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Uncanny X-Men, and more, forming a shared universe for rival publishers to measure themselves against. After a lifetime’s worth of writing and editing, Lee was involved in movies and television via his company POW! Entertainment. He was Marvel’s chairman emeritus and best-known public representative.

Dan Abnett is a seven-times New York Times bestselling author and an award-winning comic book writer. He has written over fifty novels, including the acclaimed Gaunt’s Ghosts series, the Eisenhorn and Ravenor trilogies, volumes of the million-selling Horus Heresy series, The Silent Stars Go By (Doctor Who), Rocket Raccoon and Groot: Steal the Galaxy, The Avengers: Everybody Wants To Rule The World, The Wield, Triumff: Her Majesty’s Hero, and Embedded. In comics, he is known for his work on The Legion of Super-Heroes, Aquaman, The Titans, Nova, Wild’s End, and The New Deadwardians. His 2008 run on The Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel formed the inspiration for the blockbuster movie. A regular contributor to the UK’s long-running 2000 AD, he is the creator of series including Grey Area, Lawless, Brink, Kingdom and the classic Sinister Dexter. He has also written extensively for the games industry, including Shadow of Mordor and Alien: Isolation