X-Force Omnibus Vol. 1 Rob Liefeld First Issue Cover [New Printing]

Re-imagining New Mutants into X-Force was only the start for industry maverick Rob Liefeld, one of the leaders of the 1990s comics revolution. After introducing both Cable and Deadpool, he launched an even bigger collaboration as one of the founders of Image Comics with his original property Youngblood. In 1996, he participated in Marvel’s controversial multi-title Heroes Reborn event. After collaborating with Alan Moore on revamped Image creations, Liefeld reunited with co-writer Fabian Nicieza on an X-Force miniseries and then revisited Heroes Reborn in Onslaught Reborn with writer Jeph Loeb. Liefeld returned to his most famous co-creation with the graphic novel Deadpool: Bad Blood and introduced a new sensation in Major X.

Since his start on the New Universe’s Psi-Force and backup stories in Classic X-Men, Fabian Nicieza has written most of Marvel’s major super-teams — including Alpha Flight, the Avengers, the New Warriors, the Thunderbolts and the X-Men. Together with artist Rob Liefeld, Nicieza transformed New Mutants into the blockbuster X-Force. The writer also tackled solo heroes ranging from Cable and Deadpool (later combined in Cable & Deadpool) to Gambit and Nomad. He edited Marvel’s Star imprint, contributed to multititle X-events like “X-Cutioner’s Song” and “Phalanx Covenant,” and wrote various “pre-modern” limited series such as Adventures of Captain America and Citizen V and the V-Battalion. Elsewhere, he has written both JLA and Justice League Adventures, The 99, Turok, X-Files, and others.

After a stint on Incredible Hulk with writer Peter David, artist Todd McFarlane moved to Amazing Spider-Man, where he and writer David Michelinie introduced Venom. Achieving a devoted following with his then-experimental style of unconventional panel layouts, extreme close-ups and other innovations, McFarlane became both writer and artist on a new series, titled simply Spider-Man. He later joined several fellow industry prodigies to form Image Comics. McFarlane’s major contribution was Spawn, the demonic mercenary whose first-issue sales of 1.7 million copies remain a benchmark for an independent. His other industry credits include DC’s Infinity Inc. and “Batman: Year Two” in Detective Comics. He has earned the Inkpot Award, the National Cartoonists Society’s Award for Best Comic Book and the NFL’s Artist of the Year Award for designing the Baltimore Ravens’ program covers. In addition to the Image subsidiary Todd McFarlane Productions, he heads McFarlane Toys and Todd McFarlane Entertainment, and is producer of a Spawn film and an award-winning animated series.

Guang Yap began his comics career at Aircel Publishing, co-writing and co-penciling Dragonring, and inking Samurai. Moving to Marvel in 1991, he illustrated several Spider-Man and X-Men family annuals, plus a Ghost Rider/Cable team-up serial for Marvel Comics Presents. At DC, Yap contributed inks to several Green Lantern titles, including Mosaic and Green Lantern Corps Quarterly, before transitioning into the animation industry. Under the name Robert Yap, he has storyboarded several children’s cartoons including Arthur’s Perfect Christmas and the TV series Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat.

Hired on the strength of his Official Marvel Tryout penciling submission, Mark Bagley rose to prominence as the artist of 1990s sleeper hit New Warriors. Following an acclaimed run on Amazing Spider-Man, he worked with writer Kurt Busiek on Thunderbolts. When Marvel launched its Ultimate line, Bagley and Brian Michael Bendis led the way with Ultimate Spider-Man, whose years of success made the pair the longest-running creative team in Marvel history. Bendis and Bagley have also collaborated on Avengers Assemble and the creator-owned Brilliant. His subsequent credits include Fantastic Four, Cataclysm: The Ultimates’ Last Stand, Hulk, All-New X-Men and Venom.

An alumnus of the Joe Kubert School, artist Tom Raney gained prominence at Marvel with short runs on Uncanny X-Men and Warlock Chronicles; Wildstorm, where he helped introduce the Stormwatch characters who became the Authority; and DC, where he helped revamp the Outsiders. His notable Marvel credits include Mutant X (a series he helped launch), a second Uncanny X-Men run, X-Men: The Search for Cyclops, Thor, District X and Ultimate X-Men. Since bringing to life the stunningly crafted Annihilation: Conquest crossover, he has illustrated the Secret Invasion: Inhumans, Dark Reign: Hawkeye and Black Widow: Deadly Origin miniseries.