Jim Shooter, Who Led Marvel Comics to Historic Heights in the 1980s, Has Passed Away

Jim Shooter, the editor in chief during Marvel Comics’ 1980s renaissance, has passed away at the age of 73 after a long battle with esophageal cancer.

A longtime comic fan, Shooter began submitting scripts to D’s Superboy and the Legion of Super Heroes at just 14. His first credit would come in Adventure Comics #346, which was published in July 1966.

After working at numerous comic book publications in the 1970s, Shooter joined Marvel as an assistant editor and writer in 1976. At the time, Stan Lee had left Marvel, and the publication was rudderless. While it had the creative talent, it lacked the leadership.

Nerd Term 30

Shooter would fill that role when he became Marvel’s 9th editor-in-chief in 1978.

Leading Marvel To New Heights

At the time Shooter took the reins at Marvel, the comic book industry was undergoing significant changes. As the American newsstand began to die off, comic book publishers found themselves at a crossroads. Instead of appealing to broad, casual audiences, the industry started to pivot to comic shops and die-hard fans.

Capitalizing on this shift, Shooter directed his staff to write tense stories that leaned into Marvel’s deep lore. These comic books would appeal to die-hard, longtime fans.

John Romita, Morrie Kuramoto, Mary MacPherran, Arthur Goodman, Gail Munn, Jim Galton, Barbara Maier (Boris Vallejo’s cousin), Barry Kaplan. Seated: Dorothy Marcus, Millie Shuriff, Nora Maclin. Photo: Jim Shooter

Encouraged by Shooter’s directive, Chris Claremont would write his beloved run of The Uncanny X-Men, adding psychological layers and dark undertones to the popular group of mutants.

Other important advancements in Marvel lore included Frank Miller’s Daredevil run, the Punisher series, the spinoff of Wolverine, and the Death of Captain Marvel.

The crowning achievement of the era was Secret Wars, which brought the Marvel multiverse together and launched the “event comic” format.

Marvel Comics

These new stories appealed to a new generation of fans, who turned out to comic book stores in droves. At one point during Shooter’s tenure, it was estimated that Marvel had an 80% share of the United States comic book market.

Outster and Later Career

While Shooter would lead Marvel to unprecedented levels of success, his management style often rubbed many the wrong way.

“He really polarized people, but it was because he had a passion for what he was doing,” said Bill Sienkiewicz, who drew Moon Knight and New Mutants during the 1980s told Forbes. “He went to bat for freelancers in a way you don’t see many people in editorial roles do today.”

Photo: Classic Marvel Era

When Marvel was acquired by New World Pictures in 1987, Shooter was quickly let go.

Subsequently, he would continue his career in the comic book industry. He was quickly hired by Boyager Communications, which launched the Valiant Comics imprint.

Shooter was fired by the company in 1992. Later, he would have stints at Defiant, Broadway, and Acclaim Comics. All three would fold by the end of the 1990s.

Photo: Variety

In later life, Shooter was a frequent guest at comic book conventions where he could revel in the adulation of a generation of fans.

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