RIP Veteran Comics Writer And Editor Jim Shooter

Farewell To A Unique US Comics Figure

In the early hours of this morning, the sad news reached us that Marvel’s former editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, who ran the company from 1978 to 1987, has just died at the age of 73…

Shooter began his career at the very young age of 14, writing Legion Of Superheroes at DC in Adventure Comics. He went on to write Superman also at DC and then became an editor at Marvel in the mid-1970s. His period as editor-in-chief at Marvel presided over hugely successful runs like Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s hit Uncanny X-Men, John Byrne’s Fantastic Four and Walt Simonson’s acclaimed work as writer-artist on Thor.He brought Marvel to the direct market with the debut of X-Men spin-off Dazzler, launched Marvel direct market anthology Marvel Fanfare with editor Archie Goodwin and also presided over Marvel’s New Universe imprint. He also wrote the second Superman Spiderman crossover with DC as well as a well-regarded run on Avengers with artist George Perez. After Marvel, he set up Valiant Comics, which brought some of the Gold Key titles back like Turok and Solar Man Of The Atom. After leaving Valiant in 1992, he started up Defiant and Broadway Comics. These were less successful than Valiant. He returned to DC to write a year on their Legion Of Superheroes title in 2007. In recent years, Shooter has been less prolific. Everyone here at Tripwire offers our condolences to his family and friends. He was a huge figure in the world of comics and he will cast a huge shadow over the industry. Here’s a few tributes from prominent figures in the world of comics.

Here’s a few covers from comics he has been involved with over the years

Here’s industry legend Walt Simonson’s tribute to him

Here’s Hellboy creator Mike Mignola’s tribute to him

DC’s former executive editor Paul Levitz had this to say about Shooter’s passing

Veteran Marvel and DC writer Mark Waid had this to say about Shooter’s loss

Veteran US comics artist Jamal Igle offered his own tribute

Writer and editor Joseph Illidge put this up on his Facebook wall this morning

Previews editor Marty Grosser gave his tribute on here too

Here’s veteran DC and Marvel artist Kelley Jones’ tribute

Veteran US artist Steve Leilaloha had this to say

Dynamite’s Nick Barrucci had this to say about his passing