The non-profit advocacy group, the Inkwell Awards, began its eighth season this summer by electing Jim Starlin, Clifford Meth and Laura Martin as its three new creator ambassadors to represent the group’s mission of promoting, educating and recognizing the art form of inking and inker artists in the comic book industry.

Jim Starlin is an iconic, fan-favorite creator whose career has earned a resurgence due to characters he created (Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora) appearing in Marvel Studios’ recent worldwide blockbuster, Guardians of the Galaxy, with more on the way. Starlin began at Marvel Comics in 1972 and has been working on and off in comics at various publishing houses ever since, as both a writer and artist. He has created and worked on a plethora of major and minor titles and characters, many of which have become synonymous with his name in the minds of many fans, often due as much to his unique pencilling and inking styles as his writing.

Clifford Meth is a writer, editor and comics historian. A founder of Aardwolf Publishing, Meth’s work has also been published by Marvel Entertainment, IDW, the L.A. Times Entertainment Newswire, and dozens of leading publications. He is also widely known for his advocacy for comics’ professionals, including Dave Cockrum, Gene Colan and Bill Messner-Loebs.

Laura Martin is an Eisner, Harvey, and Eagle Award-winning colorist. She has been coloring comics since joining Wildstorm Studios in 1995. Her fan-favorite work has since been published in major titles by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Valiant and others. Her current work includes Walter Simonson’s Ragnarok (IDW) and the 2014 Axis crossover event from Marvel.

Since the organization was formed in 2008, the roster of Inkwell Ambassadors has included Adam Hughes, Mike Marts, Ethan Van Sciver, Mark Brooks, Trevor Von Eeden, Sal Velluto, Cully Hamner, Joe Kubert, Eric Basuldua, Phil Jimenez, Jim Shooter and Brian Pulido. The more-involved Special Ambassadors include Joe Sinnott, J. David Spurlock and Mike McKone.

The Inkwell Awards is an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the world’s sole, registered advocacy for the artform of comic book inking. In addition to its stated mission, “The Inkwells” annually recognize and award the best ink artists and their work. The organization is overseen by a committee of industry professionals and assisted by various professional ambassadors and numerous contributors. They sponsor the Dave Simons Inkwell Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Kubert School and host the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame Award.