Springing from the fertile ground of the U.K. comics scene, Warren Ellis came to Marvel during the early '90s and proved his iconoclastic mettle in the ultra-edgy series Hellstorm and the miniseries Druid - followed by fondly remembered, extended runs on Excalibur and Doom 2099. After making a name for himself as a premier talent with Wildstorm's Stormwatch, Transmetropolitan, The Authority and Planetary, Ellis returned to Marvel to pen such titles as Ultimate Fantastic Four, the Ultimate Galactus Trilogy and Iron Man. His Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. was both a critical smash and cult favorite. In addition to reviving the 1980s New Universe in newuniversal and writing Thunderbolts, Ellis took over Astonishing X-Men following Joss Whedon and John Cassaday's departure, and penned perhaps the definitive story of the Armored Avenger in Iron Man's "Extremis."

Artist Mike McKone was pegged as a future industry superstar when his first work was published in DC's JLA and Legion. In 2001, McKone collaborated with writer Judd Winick to launch Marvel's Exiles, a surprise hit among X-fans. Two years later, he teamed with writer Geoff Johns to revamp Teen Titans for DC. Since signing an exclusive contract with Marvel, McKone's credits include Fantastic Four, Amazing Spider-Man and Avengers Academy.