A central figure at Marvel in the 1980s, he revolutionized comics.
Jim Shooter, former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and one of the most influential figures in the comic book industry during the 1980s, died at age 73 after battling esophageal cancer. His death was announced on Monday (7/1) by writer and editor Mark Waid.
Considered a prodigy, Shooter began working in comics as a teenager. He sent scripts to National Comics—today known as DC Comics—in the 1960s and was hired by the legendary editor Mort Weisinger, who placed him on the company’s payroll. At age thirteen, he was already contributing financially to his working-class family in Pennsylvania by writing scripts for the “Legion of Super-Heroes” comic, where he created characters such as Karate Kid, Iron Lad, and the villains of the Fatal Five. He was also the creator of the villain Parasite, an enemy of Superman.
Meteoritic rise to the top of Marvel
After briefly stepping away from the industry, he returned to DC in the 1970s, resuming work with Superman and the Legion. In 1976, he was recruited by Marv Wolfman to Marvel, initially serving as an editorial assistant. In 1978, at just 26 years old, he took over as editor-in-chief of the publisher.
As editor-in-chief, Shooter implemented unprecedented professional practices at the time: he ensured timely payments to artists, created royalty programs, and offered health insurance. He also supervised a generation of writers and artists who transformed Marvel. Under his leadership, memorable eras emerged, such as those of Chris Claremont and John Byrne on “X-Men,” Frank Miller on “Daredevil,” and Walt Simonson on “Thor.”
Shooter also conceived the miniseries “Secret Wars” (1984), illustrated by Mike Zeck and John Beatty. The work was Marvel’s first major crossover event, with developments spanning multiple monthly comics, and established a business model that revolutionized the comic book industry and remains in place to this day.
Why was Jim Shooter so divisive?
Despite his success, his management was marked by conflicts with writers and editors. Known for his rigid and micro-managing style, Shooter eventually broke ties with the very talents he had promoted, such as Frank Miller and John Byrne, leading both to move to DC, where they signed on for iconic projects. Miller would create “The Dark Knight,” and Byrne would reimagine Superman in a way that made the cover of Time magazine.
Even criticized by many, colleagues such as Larry Hama praised his integrity. In a Facebook testimony, Hama recounted how Shooter bent Marvel’s internal rules to secure health coverage for the widow of an artist at the company, who died one day before the deadline for enrollment. “He said, ‘They owe it to him. We’ll just not mention that he’s already dead,'” Shooter supposedly told Hama.
Legacy continued beyond Marvel
Shooter was fired from Marvel in 1987. In the 1990s, he returned to the market as founder of Valiant Comics, a publisher that revitalized characters such as Magnus and Solar, Man of the Atom, while also launching new superheroes with strong appeal at the time. The company attracted talents such as Bob Layton, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Don Perlin.
He also tried other ventures, such as Broadway Comics (connected to Lorne Michaels’ production company, creator of “Saturday Night Live”), and wrote comics for Dark Horse and DC in the following decades. In 2007, he returned to “Legion of Super-Heroes” for a brief stint at DC.
Final peer recognition
Paul Levitz, principal author of “Legião dos Super-Heróis” and former president of DC Comics, wrote a tribute to his colleague on Facebook. “Jim was an excellent superhero writer, character creator, sharp-eyed editor, and a man who dedicated himself fully to what he did.”
With a critical eye, Levitz concluded: “In my view, he was weaker as a business manager, although that’s what he most wanted to be. But what he did well, he did gloriously… and my inner child will always be grateful for his inspiration.”
About The Author
