We’re sorry to report the passing of former Marvel Comics Editor in Chief Jim Shooter, whose death has just been announced, victim to oesophageal cancer.
“Tell the story, tell it well and tell it true to the characters.” – Jim Shooter
A controversial figure in American comics publishing, his management style often causing friction, Jim Shooter’s career began aged just 13 after a hospital stay.
“He’d been given some Marvel and DC comics,” comic creator Mark Waid notes in his Facebook tribute, “and could clearly see how much more exciting the Marvel books were and couldn’t understand why DC’s books couldn’t have that same vitality. Having no idea how comics scripts were done, he literally wrote and drew a Legion of Super-Heroes story on notebook paper and sent it in to editor Mort Weisinger, who put him to work immediately – having no idea how young he was until later.”
Initially writing DC’s Adventure Comics, Shooter would go on to shape the industry with iconic contributions, writing the first Superman/Flash race and, later, launching Marvel’s Secret Wars, one of the bestselling comics of the 1980s. He would go on to launch a number of long- and short-lived comics companies, among them Valiant and Defiant.
Along the way, he created characters such as the Fatal Five, Superman villain Parasite and Legion Of Superheroes members Karate Kid, Ferro Lad and Princess Projectra for DC Comics, masterminded Marvel’s Secret Wars and introduced that company’s “New Universe”.
He also found time to travel across the pond to visit Marvel UK, his visit documented by then MUK designer Steve Cook, his imposing height putting him head and shoulders above staff and freelancers in his photograph.
During one UK visit, he found time to write a three-page Marvel UK Secret Wars exclusive strip, drawn by Barry Kitson, created on TV-am’s (ITV’s national breakfast broadcaster) Wide Awake Club (or WAC for short).
Jim was instrumental in the creation of the Transformers comics, a key title at Marvel UK, as well as the United States.
“Jim Shooter’s importance to Transformers in the 1980s was highly significant, arguably foundational, for the franchise as we know it,” notes Scott Rienbeck of Read More Comics. “He wrote the original Transformers pitch document: As Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, Hasbro approached Marvel to develop a backstory for their new transforming robot toy line. It was Jim Shooter who personally wrote the initial pitch document, outlining the core premise of alien Autobots and Decepticons coming to Earth to fight for resources. This established the fundamental narrative that would launch the entire franchise.”
Longtime Transformers writer Simon Furman has described Jim as “a towering presence in the comic book industry in general and someone who made a big impact on me when he visited the Marvel UK offices back in 1985.
“I met Jim a few times after this and was quick to tell him how much his feedback and advice on what we were doing (on Transformers and other titles) had sunk in, and shaped my work thereafter. He may have been blunt but he knew comic books.”
“I realise that for many he’s been a controversial figure in the past (game knows game),” commented Mark Waid, mostly with regards to his managerial style, but my experiences with him lay outside that realm and began with my lifelong love for his writing beginning with the first time I ever picked up a copy of Adventure Comics in 1967.
“My meals and conversations with Jim were always genial, and I never failed to remind him just how inspirational his work was to me; there are storytelling choices and stylistic influences I got from him in nearly all my work. I regret that I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye, but I’m glad he’s finally at peace after years of suffering. Godspeed, Jim.”
Artist and Image Comics cofounder Jim Lee describes Shooter as “A towering figure in comics – literally and creatively – who helped shape the modern Marvel Universe. As Editor-in-Chief in the late ’70s and ’80s, he raised storytelling standards, instituted fill in issues to keep the books out on time, and oversaw iconic runs like Claremont & Byrne’s X-Men, Simonson’s Thor, Miller’s Daredevil, and events like Secret Wars (my understanding was that he was, in fact, the Beyonder). A pretty damn magical time if you were a fan like me.”
“[Jim] was a complicated man, though many felt he was divisive,” notes writer Larry Hama. “I believe he felt like he was doing the right thing at least. Back in the ‘eighties, I had a young protege of Frank Miller writing and drawing for one of my black and white anthology books. I thought he was brilliant. One Monday he came into the Marvel office with a sheaf of paperwork. He had been on the books for a full year, and thereby qualified to be on the health and insurance plan, so I walked him upstairs where he was informed that yes, he was fully qualified, but they only did the paperwork for the plan on Wednesdays. Tuesday morning, his wife called and informed me that he had a massive heart attack and died. I walked into Jim’s office with the paperwork and explained the situation. Without hesitation, Jim took the paperwork from me and went upstairs to push it through. He said, ‘They owe it to him, we just won’t mention that he already passed.’
“I witnessed him doing stuff like that several times. None of it was made public for obvious reasons. It could have cost him his job, but he did the right thing.”
“Was Jim controversial in the comics industry? Of course he was, anyone doing anything significant usually causes controversy,” notes Michael Watkins, CEO of Highburn Studios, but, the Jim Shooter I knew was a kind, generous, and sometimes to a fault a gentleman.
“… So many creators found steady work and created life long fandoms thanks to his efforts, and even after he left Marvel he did it all again with Valiant and Defiant. Comics were Jim Shooters life and they are his legacy.
“I was fortunate enough to befriend Jim almost 15 years ago, and after a few conversations we became fast friends and collaborators. Jim was incredibly intelligent, and probably one of the smartest guys I’ve met. He always went the extra mile with fans and would spend all the time with them. He was grateful for all of you. Personally, I’m so thankful for all the stories he’s shared with me, and I have so, so many and I look forward to carrying his legacy and sharing those stories.”
“People ask me my favorite person i ever interviewed or best panel. I know the answer to my favorite person.” notes podcaster and regular US convention panel host Joe Lewis. “Jim Shooter never got tired of telling stories to fans who asked. Got flustered with me every time I introduced him as ‘the man who saved Marvel.’ I still didn’t stop. He never got the credit he deserved. The man was a father, a fantastic writer and a raconteur. He gave so much good advice… I’ll miss him so much.”
“Jim Shooter is, was and always will be a giant in our industry — creatively and physically!” noted writer Tom de Falco. “Others will talk about his many successes and failures. I know he truly loved comic books and the craft of making them as good as possible. He was a great teacher and one of the best plot doctors I’ve ever encountered. The Shooter I choose to remember could be kind, generous, loyal and supportive. I offer his family, his true friends and his many, many fans my deepest sympathy.”
“Jim was a complex man, and our relationship just one of the minor complexities,” notes former DC Comics president, Paul Levitz, in his tribute.
“As an adolescent, he decided to learn to write comics and draw them, and tactically studied what he thought were the best written comics of the mid-1960s (Marvels, as written mostly by Stan), and targeted his pitch to what he thought was one of the most old-fashioned/weakest comics (DC’s Legion of Super-heroes). Ridiculously, impossibly, the first story he submitted was bought by editor Mort Weisinger, not an editor particularly focused on new talent. And even more incredibly, it was one of the best written comics on the stands that month. And he was 13 when he started this project, 14 when it was published.
“I was nine when I read about that in the Legion’s letters page, and sitting on my porch in Brooklyn, for the first time thought that I might do something writing comics…after all, 14 wasn’t that far away. (For the record, I didn’t sell a comics story until I was 17, and that was with the geographic advantage of being a New York kid, not working from Pittsburgh. And if I eventually measured up, it wasn’t until my 20s.)
Jim’s writing progressed, and his Legion was often the best written comic in the DC line, if not mainstream comics. He stopped trying to sketch out his stories, and that sometimes improved the art and sometimes didn’t, depending on who he was teamed with. But like a number of the best writers of my generation, his art skills made him a far better comics writer.”
Noting how they rose to very different but significant positions in comics, Paul continued, “We competed sometimes… We watched each other, learned from each other (I learned a lot that led me never to take an editor-in-chief role from the damage it did to Jim and his approach did to Marvel), occasionally conspired (the rescue of Jack Abel in a time of need), each championed the comic shop market within our companies in very different ways, and our paths crossed and paralelled in strange ways (we each had three distinct runs on Legion). I like to think our respect for each other continued throughout. And many of my best works as a writer were firmly based on characters he created or defined.
“Jim was an excellent super hero writer, a character creator, an editor with an eagle eye, and a man who gave his all to what he did. From my perspective, he was far weaker as an enterprise leader, and unfortunately that was what he most wanted to be.
“His sense of history was not, in my view, as good as his sense of fiction. But what he did well, he did gloriously… and my inner child will always be grateful for his inspiration.”
Our condolences to family and friends at this time.
Jim Shooter, 27th September 1951 – 30th June 2025
Tributes
• CBR: Jim Shooter, Comic Book Icon, Passes Away at Age 73
• Forbes: Jim Shooter, Marvel Editor-In-Chief Through Crucial 80s Era, Dies At 73
• Overstreet Access: In Memoriam – Jim Shooter
• Tales of Syzpense #85 – Goodbye, Jim Shooter
Chris Ryall pays tribute
“For me, as an early comic reader and primarily a Marvel reader, Shooter’s time at Marvel led to the company’s flagging fortunes turning around, and leading to some of the most beloved creative partnerships in the company’s history.”
Features
Includes a separate web page section of the blog just for Jim’s storytelling lecture. It’s all of the information and images, without the fluff or announcements, in one easy-to-find spot.
• Classic Marvel: The Jim Shooter Era
DC Comics: Famed comic book writer, penciler, publisher and editor Jim Shooter, known for creating DC Comics characters such as the Fatal Five, Superman villain Parasite and Legion Of Superheroes members Karate Kid, Ferro Lad and Princess Projectra, has passed away following a battle with esophageal cancer. He was 73. Thank you for your numerous contributions to the comic industry Mr. Shooter. Your work is truly valued and you will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your loved ones.
Marvel Comics: We are deeply saddened to hear Jim Shooter, former Editor-in-Chief, has passed away. Jim redefined the comic industry, and we will reflect on his undeniable legacy in the coming days. Our hearts are with his loved ones, and the many creators and fans who were touched by his work.
Valiant and Alien Books: Alien Books and Valiant Comics mourn the loss of legendary comics creator and Valiant founding father Jim Shooter, who passed away at the age of 73.
Jim’s contributions to the comic book industry and to Valiant in particular can not be overstated.
His creativity, business acumen, and relentless passion for the medium led to the creation of a critically acclaimed universe featuring incredible runs on titles like Solar, X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Shadowman and many others as he helped to forever change the world of superhero storytelling.
Our thoughts are with Jim’s family, friends, and fans.
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Obituaries, US Comics
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Jim Shooter’s run as Marvel E-I-C defined Marvel Comics for many readers. He somehow found that middle ground between risky and safe, and Marvel always felt both exciting and consistent under his rule.
I was astounded at how detailed and meticulous his own plots were, and can highly recommend his outlines for his truncated 2007 Legion of Superheroes run (top three blog entries here)
Sorry to learn of this. While I missed out on the chance to interview Shooter during one of his visits to Marvel in London (work wouldn’t allow me the day off for this), my fellow editor on Amalgam – the fanzine we published through 1983 to the end of the decade – certainly enjoyed a long and punchy conversation with him that subsequently appeared in the magazine. I should still have that recording in the archives. Whatever your feelings about his career, he undoubtedly left a significant legacy that, in some aspects, is still being felt today.