While working at a convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey, Kevin Smith wrote and directed Clerks, a low-budget independent film financed in part by the sale of his own comic-book collection. Clerks went on to become the surprise indie hit of 1994, grossing more than $1 million and earning Smith a distribution deal with Miramax. Since Clerks, Smith has written and directed more than a half-dozen hit movies — including Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Jersey Girl, Dogma and Clerks 2. A lifelong comics fan, Smith jumped at the opportunity to adapt his Clerks movie characters into a comic-book series for Oni Press, writing Clerks: The Comic Book and a four-issue Jay and Silent Bob miniseries. In 1998, Smith’s longtime friendship with newly appointed Marvel Knights editors Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti led to his critically acclaimed eight-issue run on Daredevil — garnering Smith a Wizard Fan Award, a Harvey Award and an Eagle Award for Best Writer. Smith followed up his debut with a successful revamp of the original Green Arrow for DC Comics in a story hailed as “exhilarating” by Entertainment Weekly. Smith also scripted another famous Marvel icon with Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do. Smith lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife, Jennifer, and daughter, Harley.

Joe Quesada became Marvel’s editor in chief in 2000, instilling an excitement and buzz that had been lacking for years. He is now Marvel’s chief creative officer. Quesada began as an artist at Valiant and DC during the early 1990s and soon co-founded Event Comics, introducing original characters Ash and Painkiller Jane. By 1998, Quesada’s reputation as both artist and publisher led to the founding of Marvel’s groundbreaking Marvel Knights imprint, with Quesada illustrating the flagship book, Daredevil. Marvel Knights’ critical and sales success led to Quesada’s appointment as editor in chief. In addition to overseeing Marvel’s creative output, Quesada remains an active writer and artist on projects including the Daredevil: Father miniseries and the Spider-Man “One More Day” crossover.