SPIDER-GIRL MODERN ERA EPIC COLLECTION: LEGACY

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.

Few can match Ron Frenz’s record of substantial stints on two of comicdom’s most influential and revered characters, Spider-Man and Superman, both of whom he provided with controversial new looks. Frenz succeeded John Romita Jr. on Amazing Spider-Man, and his artwork was favorably compared to Steve Ditko’s original web-slinger. With Roger Stern, he introduced the Hobgoblin, covering the mysterious villain’s debut and revealing his identity more than a decade later in Hobgoblin Lives. With writer Tom DeFalco on Thor, Frenz debuted a new look and identity for Marvel’s Thunder God, eventually branching into Thunderstrike. Later, Frenz and DeFalco launched the MC2 Universe, home of Spider-Girl, the only Marvel heroine to reach 100 consecutive issues.

Best known for long runs on Spider-Girl and Untold Tales of Spider-Man, artist Pat Olliffe has also illustrated such Marvel series as Nomad, Sensational She-Hulk, Thor, Thor Corps, Unlimited Access, Warlock and the Infinity Watch, Last Hero Standing and Last Planet Standing.

Paul Ryan collaborated with Mark Gruenwald on Squadron Supreme, D.P. 7, Quasar and other titles. His #356-414 run on Fantastic Four is rivaled in length only by John Byrne and Jack Kirby. At DC, he penciled Batman, Flash and multiple Superman titles. He spent years penciling the Amazing Spider-Man comic strip, and penciled and inked the daily comic strip The Phantom for King Features Syndicate from 2005 until his death in 2016.