Jim Shooter
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- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- This is a big one, Banditos! One of our white whales, the elusive but influential Jim Shooter, finds himself in an Oren Only interview of epic proportions! Though he needs no introduction, we'll give him one anyway. Jim is known primarily as the former Editor in Chief of Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, and Defiant Comics. He started his comics career at the ripe old age of 14, selling stories that appeared in Action Comics, Adventure Comics, and Legion of Super-Heroes for DC. Eventually, he made his way to Marvel and rose through the ranks to top banana, overseeing amazing new content and the expansion of the specialty market. Then, he co-founded Valiant Comics, relaunching Gold Key characters like Magnus and Solar. His mark was made, and now he's here in the DBB hotseat to tell us all about it!
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Please bring Jim Shooter back!!!
This interview answers SO many questions that I am asked frequently. I highly recommend it.
One little recollection...when I first met Jim Shooter in 1983 at a convention in Houston we were chatting in the hotel hallway outside the Saturday night party for the guests and VIPs. A little kid approached him and asked how Spider-Man could stick to walls. Jim was "off duty" and on his own time (at a party) but he was so kind. He explained to the kid at length how Spider-Man's powers worked, how Dr Octopus's arms worked, and answered all his questions with obvious pleasure, not a hint of annoyance. Plus, he KNEW all that stuff. In detail! And could explain it on a level a 7 or 8 year old could understand. It was endearing and impressive. That's the Jim Shooter I've known for 40 years.
great story
That's a terrific anecdote. As someone who doesn't miss a single Jim Shooter RUclips interview, I especially enjoyed the emphasis on licensed toys in this video. I’m a diehard fan of Coleco’s telebonded citizens of the Shining Realm and Hasbro’s band of brave Airlandia rebels.
Of course, you colored Sectaurs #3 ("Treason"), #4 ("Stellara's Choice"), #6 ("Family Reunion"), and #7 ("The Hive") before Air Raiders #1 ("Sins of the Father") - 4 ("Orchids for the Baron"). At first, Warriors of Symbion was colored by Bob Sharen. Ken Feduniewicz also contributed colors for the last issue.
I notice there was a 7 month gap in between Sectaurs #7 being published on April 15th, 1986 and your next Marvel work in the pages of Star Brand #5 (“Crossing the Line”) which went on sale November 18th, 1986. Likewise, the final Air Raiders comic book was colored by Evelyn Stein. Do you recall any reason you weren’t involved in Sectaurs #8 or Air Raiders #5?
@@KintounKal I believe that was around the time I was promoted from staff designer to art director of advertising at Marvel. I was still doing coloring at night but I was probably offered other projects. We had a lot going on at that time at Marvel and I was also trying to push for better ways to color comics so that there would be more options. Jim Shooter had met with Mercer Meyer of children’s book fame who also owned a software company that developed a separation system. Computers were starting to become an option and I was very involved in the possibilities. I was especially working on techniques that eventually became the way we painted the comics at Valiant. Right now I’m working on a book about the history of comics coloring. There’s so much misunderstanding about it, I’m trying to set the record straight. 😄
@@JayJayJackson That's fascinating. Sectaurs was first edited by Bob Budiansky, then Denny O'Neil, and lastly Bob Harras. I wondered if perhaps Denny preferred your coloring compared to Bob for instance. Marvel Graphic Novel: The Pitt #1 was released one week prior to Air Raiders #4 so that must have been a big project to complete in between Solo Avengers & Justice. In an ideal world, I'd love to see new Sectaurs and Air Raiders limited series painted as beautifully as Knights on Broadway.
Great comment. I don't know that I've ever heard an interview with Jim Shooter where he doesn't sing the praises of Jay Jay Jackson. Love the Spider-Man story. Admire both of you guys.
No question in my mind that Shooter ushered in the best era of Marvel comics ever, and that led to DC becoming better as well.
IF HE'D STUCK AROUND WE'D NEVER HAVE GIMMICK COVERS AND ENDLESS "DEATHS" IN THE NINETIES!!!!
Absolutely correct. With Jim Shooter are Marvel and Janette Kahn at DC comics have never been better.
Such a great interview! For me Shooter has been the best EiC in Marvel's history. It's no coincidence that there are more classic runs during his time than any other
The industry needs a Jim shooter right now more than ever.
ya, because creators havent been effed over enough
Fantastic interview with the legend! Thanks for sharing all your insights, Jim!
Thanks for checking it out!
I LOVE Jim Shooter. I met him in person for the first time a few years back at a convention in TX Elpaso. I was one of the artists showing at the show. I was soooo nervous to meet him. I kept getting to his table and turning around and walking away. His assistant was a very sweet gal who saw me do this about four times. And finally said..."It's ok. He's very nice!"
I finally got up there and he spent so soooo much time talking with me. About the past, his Marvel time. Etc.
I thanked him for all his work and all his contributions and told him that I credit all those wonderful creators from the 70s and 80s , which I included him, with igniting a creative fire in me when I was a kid. Of which enabled me to have my own artsitic career.
He asked me what I did. I told him that was an animator and illustrator now. That I worked on things like "Iron Giant" , "Simpsons" etc etc.
My heart almost exploded to see HIM...get excited about what I HAD done!
So cool.
I ended telling him that "If marvel had him back there at this very moment....that they would STILL actually be..."MARVEL".
Of which tickled him.
He's a very sweet dude. And I salute you Jim Shooter! Look forward to seeing you at the shows in 2024!
:)
I love Jim Shooter Interviews - Don't Skip/Miss Them!!!!
He did great on valiant.. chaos comics
I remember as a kid, Spider-man and His Amazing Friends narrated by Stan got me to try comics under Jim Shooter as EIC.
Oren is mostly correct at 59:10 suggesting that new 1991 titles such as Sleepwalker, Legend of the Shield, The Comet, Jaguar, The Fly, Wonder Man, The Web, NFL Superpro, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Comic Book, Black Hood, and James Bond Jr. initially had a $1.00 US cover price. 1991 Valiant titles were more expensive with either a $1.75 or a $1.95 US cover price.
However, you need to remember Valiant frequently provided more story pages than either DC or Marvel. For example, Solar, Man of the Atom #1 (“No Place Like Home” + “Alpha & Omega”) was a tremendous bargain containing 34 pages. Likewise, Harbinger #1 (“Children of the Eighth Day”) had 30 pages. Magnus, Robot Fighter #1 (“Protector”) and X-O Manowar #1 (“Into the Fire”) each included 29 pages.
Even Rai #1 ("New Moon Asunder") featured an impressive 26 pages. To be 100% fair, I will mention I omitted Darkhawk #1 ("Dawn of the Darkhawk") from the list above because it contained 24 pages for only a dollar. On the other hand, Shadowman #1 (“Jazz”) had a mere 21 pages which was one less than the competition. This issue had a $2.50 US cover price making this discrepancy a bit more significant as well.
In those days, a higher price really mattered--2 for $3 or 3 for $3? Easy choice. Indy prices kept me away for a long time...until I tired of Marvel and DC around 1994.
I'm glad Mr. Shooter mentioned decompression. It's the most important problem comics have right now but everyone acts like everything's fine. It's not. Thanks for the interview.
Yeah, decompression has been killing comics for over two decades.
Great show, and I always appreciate hearing from Mr Shooter!
Enjoy hearing Jim. Thanks for the interview!
Come back to comics, Jim! The industry needs your wisdom and vision. Here's one willing artist (and fellow Ditko fan / student) ready and waiting to work with you.
The comic book Jim is talking about at 47:35 is Marvel Team-Up #28 ("The City Stealers"). It is indeed written by Gerry Conway with interior pencils by Jim Mooney and inks by Vince Colletta. This issue went on sale September 24th, 1974. The story was officially labelled one of Marvel's silliest moments in the late nineties fan magazine called Marvel Vision.
If you remember The Official Marvel No-Prize Book, it was a one-shot that Marvel put out in 1983 addressing stories published in Marvel Comics over the years that were just braindead, and made no logical sense. It's absolutely amazing how many of those stories were written by Gerry Conway.
Of course, Jim is absolutely right referring to Mark Texeira & Whilce Portacio as brand new in 1986 at 50:55. Mark's first story was a 5 page story titled "The Face of Truth" in Ghosts #108 which went on sale October 8th, 1981. I believe Psi-Force #1 ("Hour of the Wolf") is technically Mr. Texeira's 40th comic book.
However, that number is quite misleading. For example, he never pencilled extra pages or covers for his run on The Warlord and he was only one of eleven artists involved in World's Finest Comics #300 ("A Tale of Two Worlds"). Some fans would argue Texeira's work on thin giveaway comics like Masters of the Universe and Lost World of the Warlord barely counts at all.
Whilce Portacio began his career inking Alien Legion #6 ("Operation Nerve Center" + "Bottoms Up, Folks"). This issue hit the stands on January 2nd, 1985. I'm unaware of Mr. Portacio pitching in on a New Universe comic. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Is Mr. Shooter perhaps recalling Whilce working on Strikeforce: Morituri #1 ("Though Some Have Named Thee So --")? They first appeared on August 26th, 1986 just three weeks after D.P. 7 & Justice. So it would be easy to associate Whilce with a different Marvel concept introduced the same month.
Im in the minority but i LOVE the New Universe stuff. I think the comics press at the time and Marvel's own passive aggressive feelings toward Jim are what sunk it
At 51:30, Jim wonders whether John Romita, Jr. was working on Iron Man or X-Men when he expressed interest in drawing Star Brand. I can confirm Uncanny X-Men #210 ("The Morning After") pencilled by Romita, Jr. went on sale July 8th, 1986 one week before Star Brand #1. Uncanny X-Men #211 ("Massacre") was next released on August 5th ending John's run until he returned for #287 ("Bishop to King's Five") six years later.
In November 2011, The Marvel Art of John Romita Jr. hardcover was published and one interview inside suggests he resented Jim because he couldn't return to Uncanny X-Men after leaving Star Brand. I do want to make it clear Jim's name isn't mentioned anywhere in that volume. I'm aware they're friendly and respectful to each other nowadays. Nevertheless, it seems John was convinced for a long time that Jim was at fault for his inability to replace Jackson Guice, Marc Silvestri, and/or Bret Blevins.
Jim could turn Marvel around in less than six months…if ONLY they would rehire him.
Very nice interview. Thanks for sharing. (BTW, Columbus, OH is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S. and the second-most populous city in the Midwest after Chicago. Just sayin' Mr. Shooter. 😊 )
That was really interesting. Thank you.
Thanks for watching!
@@orenphillips8344 I hope more people see this. I learned more about the goings on behind the scenes from this one hour video than I did by working for Marvel all those years.
Wow .. I think he is the first that said you the fan made me
I agree about not telling the story
Thanks so very much! He’s got so many wonderful stories to tell.
Great interview. 😊
Excellent episode. Few are prepared to admit it, but Marvel under Shooter were probably at their peak - yes even equalling the Stan and Jack era - and too many "industry types" have made a good living from denying that in recent decades. Jim may be an acquired taste......but he was damned good at the job.
Fyi more Marvel comics were distributed to (far away) New Zealand under Jim's editorship
How can you take a grown man seriously as an interviewer when hes that religious about Marvel?
I appreciate the effort into this but I am still (and I possibly shouldn't be) thrown off by how.... fannish the interviewer is, from a Doctor Doom t-shirt to an overwhelming amount of Marvel memorabilia around him... not a judgment, an observation... it just doesn't seem like an adult/serious interview
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion and we always encourage feedback. But if you don’t mind me asking, what would be an appropriate background for an interview with comic book creators if not comic book imagery? The interviews are about the content, the questions asked and answered and appreciation for their careers. The podcast version of the show might be more your speed, no video just audio.
way to normalize a pretty evil guy who helped marvel steal the rights to many creator's works