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SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) – The comic book writer and editor Jim Shooter, 73, died this Monday (30). He was the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics between the 1970s and 1980s and is best known for the story “Secret Wars,” considered a milestone in the industry.
The death of Shooter, who was being treated for esophageal cancer, was initially announced by fellow writer and friend Mark Waid on his social media.
It is with profound sadness that we received the news of the passing of Jim Shooter, former editor-in-chief. Jim redefined the comic book industry, and we will reflect on his undeniable legacy in the coming days,” Marvel lamented on social media. “Our hearts are with his loved ones and with the many creators and fans who were touched by his work.
Fans and professional colleagues also commented on the writer’s death on social media.
Born on September 27, 1951 in Pennsylvania, United States, Shooter began his career in the comic book industry at a young age, when he was just 14 years old, by sending his first sketches to DC Comics. His stories caught the attention of the editorial team at the time, who invited him to write stories for characters such as Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Between the comings and goings of the comic book world, it was in the 1970s, at the invitation of then-editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, Marv Wolfman, that Shooter joined the team as a writer and editor.
He assumed the position of editor-in-chief in 1978, when he began a phase marked by classics such as the X-Men comics written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John Byrne, Walter Simonson’s Thor, and British writer Frank Miller’s acclaimed run on Daredevil—whose stories served as the basis for the Netflix and Disney+ adaptations of the character.
As a writer, he found success in the “Avengers” magazine, where he shared credits with illustrator George Pérez, also considered a comic book legend, who died in 2022.
With “Secret Wars,” a 12-issue series released between 1984 and 1985, Shooter helped popularize the so-called “mega-events,” formats known for bringing together the publisher’s most popular characters in stories that spanned multiple publications.
The success led to the release of other sagas under the same name—the most recent one, from 2015, is set to serve as the basis for the upcoming “Avengers” movies: “Doomsday,” scheduled for release in 2026, and “Secret Wars,” slated for 2027.
As an editor, Shooter also became known for advocating artists’ right to receive better compensation for their creations. At Marvel, he established programs for paying bonuses based on comic book sales and for distributing royalties to creators of characters that were licensed to toy companies.
His tenure at Marvel, however, was not without controversy. Shooter’s editorial style drew criticism from colleagues such as Byrne, who accused him of being overly controlling of scripts and censoring certain topics, such as the presence of homosexual characters.
After being fired by Marvel in 1987, Shooter accumulated stints at other publishers over the years, working as a writer, editor, and consultant for companies such as Dark Horse Comics and Illustrated Media Comics.
He also worked on the creation of different comic book imprints. He launched Valiant Comics in 1989, where he worked until being fired in 1992. Shooter would later participate in the founding of imprints such as Defiant Comics and Broadway Comics.