Iron Man: Armor Wars

Bob Layton began as a prolific and popular inker for Charlton, Marvel and DC Comics, where he first teamed with longtime collaborator David Michelinie on Claw the Unconquered and Star Hunters. The Michelinie-Layton duo’s writing work on Iron Man (1978-1982 and 1987-1989) is one of the most popular and influential interpretations of that character. Leaving Marvel in 1990, he became a key writer/artist/editor at Valiant Comics, where he co-created characters such as X-O Manowar and rose to the post of editor in chief before departing. He still does occasional freelance work for DC and Marvel, notably Michelinie-Layton reunion projects Iron Man: Bad Blood (2000), Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (2008) and Iron Man: The End (2009).

After beginning his writing career on DC horror titles, David Michelinie moved to Marvel. He and co-writer/inker Bob Layton established Iron Man’s battle with alcoholism, use of specialized armor variants and vendetta against Doctor Doom, as well as other aspects of the character that endure to this day. Michelinie’s unique blend of action, suspense and humor distinguished not only Iron Man, but also Amazing Spider-Man. With artist Todd McFarlane, he introduced the vicious vigilante Venom; he also wrote the first Venom limited series, Lethal Protector. Michelinie’s run as Amazing writer was second in length only to that of Stan Lee himself, while he also authored tie-in titles Spectacular Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man and Spider-Man. He moved from Marvel’s flagship character to DC’s with a stint on Superman’s Action Comics, later returning to the world of Tony Stark for writing collaborations with Bob Layton on Iron Man: Legacy of Doom and Iron Man: The End.

Barry Windsor-Smith — best known for Marvel’s Conan and Red Sonja — also illustrated memorable Uncanny X-Men, Iron Man and Daredevil stories; he revealed Wolverine’s origin in the “Weapon X” serial. Windsor-Smith has also published several art books in the tradition of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

Formerly a regular artist on Solo Avengers, as well as West Coast, Mark Bright is noted for working with writer Christopher Priest on Falcon, Power Man and Iron Fist, Quantum and Woody and other titles. He has also drawn Marvel’s incarnation of G.I. Joe and several DC flagship characters in Action Comics Weekly, Batman and Green Lantern.

Barry Windsor-Smith — best known for Marvel’s Conan and Red Sonja — also illustrated memorable Uncanny X-Men, Iron Man and Daredevil stories; he revealed Wolverine’s origin in the “Weapon X” serial. Windsor-Smith has also published several art books in the tradition of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.