About the Author

Jonathan Hickman is the award-winning writer/artist of critically acclaimed independent titles Pax Romana, Transhuman and The Nightly News. Teaming with writer Brian Michael Bendis, he launched Secret Warriors for Marvel, spinning out of Secret Invasion. He has also scribed the Dark Reign: Fantastic Four miniseries, which served as a warm-up for his revered runs on Fantastic Four and FF, and two S.H.I.E.L.D. series. One of Marvel's cornerstone writers, Hickman helped launch the Ultimate Universe into its second decade with Ultimate Comics Ultimates, Ultimate Thor and Ultimate Comics Hawkeye before bringing his intricate plotting to the pages of Avengers and New Avengers. His impressively full plate includes a trio of lauded series for Image: East Of West, Secret and the Eisnernominated The Manhattan Projects.Artist Jim Cheung has worked for Marvel Comics on-and-off since the 1990s, most notably drawing titles such as the Black Knight, Force Works, Iron Man, Maverick and an extensive run on X-Force. He also did popular work on the CrossGen series Scion. In 2005, Cheung launched the critically acclaimed Young Avengers series with writer Allan Heinberg. He has also illustrated New Avengers: The Illuminati with writer Brian Michael Bendis, and reunited with Heinberg and their signature characters in Avengers: The Children's Crusade.Artist Mike Deodato was already a renowned illustrator in his native Brazil when he got his big break in American comics in 1994, illustrating DC's Wonder Woman. For Marvel, he drew such series as Avengers, Elektra, Spider-Man and Incredible Hulk. After refining his inimitable style on the creator-owned Jade Warriors, he returned to Marvel for a second turn on Incredible Hulk, with writer Bruce Jones. Following stints on Brian Michael Bendis' New Avengers and J. Michael Straczynski's Amazing Spider-Man, he helped launch Warren Ellis' brave new take on Thunderbolts and reconnected with Bendis on Dark Avengers.