Jim Shooter, Influential Marvel Editor, Dies at 73

Jim Shooter, a highly influential comic book writer, editor, and publisher, has died at 73 after battling esophageal cancer. Breaking into the industry at 14 with DC Comics, Shooter later became Marvel's editor-in-chief in the late 1970s, overseeing a creative and commercial boom and steering the company through the transition to direct-market comic shop sales. Under his leadership, Marvel captured over 80% of the US comic book market, introduced new formats and major crossover events like 'Secret Wars,' and nurtured talents such as Chris Claremont, Frank Miller, and Bill Sienkiewicz. Shooter was known for a passionate and sometimes controversial management style, including disputes over creative directions like the X-Men's Phoenix storyline. After leaving Marvel in the late 1980s, he founded Valiant, Defiant, and Broadway Comics. His passing has prompted reflection on his complex legacy and his role in shaping modern comics.