Who was Jim Shooter? Former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief dies at 73

Jim Shooter, the former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, passed away on June 30th, 2025, at the age of 73.

A comic book writer and publisher, Shooter's demise was confirmed on writer Mark Waid's social media account. He disclosed that the iconic editor had been dealing with esophageal cancer for “some time.”

"I've just received word that Jim Shooter passed away of oesophageal cancer, which he's been battling for some time," his post read.

Jim Shooter was born in Pittsburgh in 1951. At the age of 12, he landed a job at DC Comics, and the following year, he was hired to write stories for Superman and Supergirl. In the years following that, he crafted several characters and storylines for Action Comics, Adventure Comics, and Legion of Super-Heroes.

"I've been in this business for 60 years. It started at 13," he once told CBS 6. He thought I was a college student," Shooter recalled. "And then something I said made him ask, 'How old are you?' I said, 'Well, I just turned 14.' He says, 'Put your mother on the phone.' But she was on board, and so I just kept going."

Jim Shooter's life and legacy explored:

Jim Shooter left an indelible mark on the comic book industry in 1967, when he and artist Curt Swan wrote of the first race between Superman and The Flash. By 1996, he graduated from high school and shifted to New York for university, where he soon began working for Marvel as an assistant editor. However, he could not sustain a life there, prompting him to quit and return to Pittsburgh.

Comic Book Club Live has reported that Jim Shooter made his way back to Marvel, where he began scaling the ranks until he became the editor-in-chief in 1978. At the time, Stan Lee was in the West Coast to helm animations and pursue his television dreams, leaving Shooter in charge of managing the comics.

His stint as editor-in-chief spanned nine years, during which time he was known for his dictatorial leadership style. Nonetheless, he championed several acclaimed runs, including John Byrne on X-Men, Walt Simonson on Thor, and Frank Miller on Daredevil. He also launched Secret Wars, the company's first-ever "line-wide crossover event," AIPT Comics reports.

Reflecting on the 40th anniversary of Secret Wars, Jim Shooter told CBS 6 News:

"We did a story called 'Secret Wars.' Mattel was doing a license for the Marvel characters, and we were just supporting it, you know, and they didn't have any control over [it]," Shooter said. "We were just making the best story we could. But it was a big hit, the biggest hit for 30 years, and it just took off."

In a 2017 interview with the outlet, Shooter reflected on the status quo of comics at the time:

“Tell a good story and tell it well… It’s all about [readers] loving Spider-Man, the character of Spider-Man, wanting to know what’s going on with Spider-Man. If they miss an issue and they don’t care, you lost.”

Jim Shooter was fired in 1987, despite the company's sales doing exceedingly well under his reign. Shortly after, he co-founded Valiant Comics, which crafted characters like Solar and Magnus, Robot Fighter, and more. He later launched Defiant and Broadway Comics.

Marvel has since issued a statement on their social media account, which reads as follows:

"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."

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