Overview

• Jim Shooter died on June 30 at age 73 after a long battle with esophageal cancer, a fact confirmed by fellow writer Mark Waid’s Facebook announcement.
• He led Marvel Comics as editor-in-chief from 1978 to 1987, overseeing landmark runs on Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Daredevil and Thor.
• Shooter conceived and wrote the 1984 Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, the first company-wide crossover that established event-driven storytelling in comics.
• He introduced creator incentive measures at Marvel—including continuity bonuses, standardized contracts, life insurance for freelancers and a royalty system—to improve compensation and protections.
• After departing Marvel, Shooter co-founded Valiant Comics in 1989 and later launched Defiant and Broadway Comics, leaving a complex legacy of innovation and controversy.