New Yorker Jim Valentino began his career in the late 1970s creating small-press, self-published comics. He served as a storyboard artist for animated features before his work took him to Marvel and titles including What If? and Silver Surfer. His flair for cosmic action made him a natural to both write and draw Guardians of the Galaxy, the first series bearing the name of the titular team. Guardians established Valentino as one of the superstar artists of the early 1990s, leading him to band together with others and form Image Comics, where he introduced his signature creation, ShadowHawk. Valentino served as Image's publisher, helping establish the company as an enduring major player in the industry.

New Yorker Jim Valentino began his career in the late 1970s creating small-press, self-published comics. He served as a storyboard artist for animated features before his work took him to Marvel and titles including What If? and Silver Surfer. His flair for cosmic action made him a natural to both write and draw Guardians of the Galaxy, the first series bearing the name of the titular team. Guardians established Valentino as one of the superstar artists of the early 1990s, leading him to band together with others and form Image Comics, where he introduced his signature creation, ShadowHawk. Valentino served as Image's publisher, helping establish the company as an enduring major player in the industry.