Editing Jim Shooter (section)

=== Marvel Comics ===
[[File:JimShooter11.15.08ByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Shooter at the 2008 [[Big Apple Con]]]]
In the mid-1970s, Marvel Comics was undergoing a series of changes in the position of editor-in-chief. After [[Roy Thomas]] stepped down from the post to focus on writing, a succession of other editors, including [[Len Wein]], Marv Wolfman, [[Gerry Conway]], and [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]], took the job during a relatively short span of time, only to find the task too daunting as Marvel continued to grow and add new titles and a larger staff to turn out material.<ref name="Priest">[[Priest, Christopher J.]] (May 2002). [http://lamerciepark.com/legacy/comics/spidey.html "Chapter Two: Oswald: Why I Never Discuss Spider-Man"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722130102/http://lamerciepark.com/legacy/comics/spidey.html |date=July 22, 2012 }}, Adventures in the Funnybook Game.</ref> On January 2, 1976, Shooter joined the Marvel staff as an assistant editor and writer.<ref name="Back34" />

With the quick turnover at the top, Shooter rapidly found himself rising in the ranks, and on the first working day of January 1978, he succeeded Archie Goodwin to become Marvel's ninth editor-in-chief.<ref>{{cite book|last = Sanderson|first = Peter|author-link = Peter Sanderson|editor-last= Gilbert|editor-first= Laura|chapter= 1970s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher = [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 184|isbn =978-0-7566-4123-8}}</ref><ref>[http://jimshooter.com/2011/06/secret-origin-of-jim-shooter-editor-in_24.html/ The Secret Origin of Jim Shooter, Editor in Chief – Part 2]</ref> During this period, publisher [[Stan Lee]] relocated to Los Angeles to better oversee Marvel's animation, television and film projects, leaving Shooter largely in charge of the creative decision-making at Marvel's New York City headquarters. Although there were complaints among some that Shooter imposed a dictatorial style on the "Bullpen", he cured many of the procedural ills at Marvel, successfully managed to keep the line of books on schedule (ending the widespread practice of missed deadlines popularly known as "the Dreaded Deadline Doom"), added new titles, and developed new talent.<ref name="Rozanski">Rozanski, Chuck. [http://www.milehighcomics.com/tales/cbg106.html "Tales From the Database: Meeting with Jim Shooter in May of 1979," ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (Feb 2004).] Accessed April 11, 2009.</ref> Shooter in his nine-year tenure as editor-in-chief oversaw [[Chris Claremont]] and [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]]'s run on the ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'',<ref>{{cite book|last = Daniels|first = Les|author-link = Les Daniels|chapter= The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)|title = Marvel: Five Fabulous Decades of the World's Greatest Comics|publisher = [[Abrams Books|Harry N. Abrams]]|year = 1991|page = 186|isbn = 978-0-8109-3821-2|quote= The controversial story ["[[The Dark Phoenix Saga]]"] created a sensation, and ''The X-Men'' became the comic book to watch.}}</ref> Byrne's work on ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'',<ref>Daniels "The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)", p. 187: "In 1981 artist John Byrne left ''The X-Men'' to take on ''The Fantastic Four'' ... Byrne's approach worked, and it was a harbinger of things to come: throughout the 1980s popular artists turned themselves into writer-artists and dedicated themselves to reaffirming the appeal of Marvel's classic characters."</ref> [[Frank Miller]]'s series of ''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]]'' stories,<ref>Daniels "The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)", p. 188: "Few people have had more of an impact on the course that current comic books have taken than Frank Miller, who began drawing ''Daredevil'' in 1979, and took on the writing as well in 1981."</ref> [[Walt Simonson]]'s crafting of Norse mythology with the Marvel Universe in ''[[Thor (comic book)|Thor]]'',<ref>Daniels "The Marvel Universe (1978–1990)", p. 196: "Walter Simonson, another major writer-artist came into his own at Marvel when he went to work on ''Thor'' in 1983 ... The stories that resulted exemplified Simonson's approach."</ref> and [[Roger Stern]]'s runs on both ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|Avengers]]'' and ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man]]''.

In 1981, Shooter brought Marvel into the lucrative comic book specialty shop market with ''[[Dazzler (Marvel Comics)|Dazzler]]'' #1.<ref>[[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]] "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 200: "''Dazzler'' No. 1 sold 428,000 copies and proved that comic book stores were here to stay."</ref> Featuring a disco-themed heroine with ties to the [[X-Men]] (based upon an unmade film set to star [[Bo Derek]]),<ref>Cronin, Brian (June 26, 2008). [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/26/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-161/ "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #161"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818054635/http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/06/26/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-161/ |date=August 18, 2010 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref> the first issue of this series was sold only through [[direct market|specialty stores]], bypassing the then-standard newsstand/[[spinner rack]] distribution route altogether, as recognition by Marvel of the growing comics shop sector. Subsequent issues of ''Dazzler'', however, were sold through newsstand <nowiki>[</nowiki>returnable<nowiki>]</nowiki> accounts as well. ''Dazzler'' was the first direct sales-only ongoing series from a major publisher; other Marvel titles, such as ''[[Marvel Fanfare]]'' and ''[[Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder)|Ka-Zar]]'', soon followed.<ref name="Rozanski" /><ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 195: "Marvel made three of its monthly titles – ''Moon Knight'', ''Micronauts'', and ''Ka-Zar'' – 'direct only' and the company was soon creating new titles (for example, ''Marvel Fanfare'' ... that were reserved exclusively for comic book stores."</ref> Later that same year, Shooter wrote ''[[Marvel Treasury Edition]]'' No. 28 which featured the second [[Superman and Spider-Man]] [[intercompany crossover]].<ref>Manning, Matthew K. "1980s" in Dolan, p. 194: "In an oversized treasury edition carrying a hefty $2.50 price tag, the Man of Steel paired for the second time with Marvel's iconic web-slinger ... The issue came together thanks to the script of writer Jim Shooter, a bit of plotting assistance by Marv Wolfman, the pencils of longtime Marvel luminary John Buscema, and a veritable fleet of inkers."</ref> Additionally in 1981, Shooter was recognized as one of six "New Yorkers of the Year" by the New York chapter of the [[JayCees]], for his "contributions toward revitalizing the comics industry and helping Marvel Comics achieve a new pinnacle of success."<ref name="Shooter, Jim 1982" /> Shooter also institutionalized creator royalties,{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} starting the [[Epic Comics|Epic]] imprint for [[creator ownership|creator-owned]] material in 1982; introduced company-wide [[Publication history of Marvel Comics crossover events|crossover events]], with ''[[Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions]]'' and ''[[Secret Wars]]'';<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 217: "The toy company Mattel produced action figures of Marvel's most popular characters ... Mattel just needed Marvel to come up with an editorial concept that would explain why all these characters had gathered together. The response of Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter was to publish the first company-wide crossover in the history of comics."</ref> and launched a new, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, line named ''[[New Universe]]'', to commemorate Marvel's 25th anniversary, in 1986.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 226: "The year 1986 was the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Marvel Universe ... [Jim Shooter] embarked on his most ambitious project: he would celebrate the birth of one universe by creating a brand new one."</ref>

Despite his success in revitalizing Marvel, Shooter angered and alienated a number of long-time Marvel creators by insisting on strong editorial control and strict adherence to deadlines.<ref name="Priest" /> Although he instituted an art-return program, and implemented a policy giving creators royalties when their books passed certain sales benchmarks or when characters they worked on were licensed as toys, Shooter occasionally found himself in well-publicized conflicts with some writers and artists. Creators such as [[Steve Gerber]], Marv Wolfman,<ref name="Wolfman">Wolfman, Marv. [http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=68998 "What Th--?: Comments about Marvel from a former EIC," SuperHeroHype.com (July 30, 2003).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070917042306/http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=68998 |date=September 17, 2007 }} Accessed April 11, 2009.</ref><ref name="radio">Barkley, Chris. [http://booksteveslibrary.blogspot.com/2006/03/rare-1982-jim-shooter-radio-interview.html "Bad Moon Rising" radio interview  (Sept. 1982).] Accessed April 11, 2009.</ref> [[Gene Colan]],<ref name="radio" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Field |first=Tom |title=Secrets in the Shadows: The Art & Life of Gene Colan |year=2005 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |pages= 127–130}}</ref> [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]],<ref>Thomas, Michael. [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=151 "John Byrne: The Hidden Answers", Comic Book Resources (August 22, 2000).] Accessed on May 17, 2008.</ref> and [[Doug Moench]] left to work for DC (encouraged by its new publisher, [[Jenette Kahn]], aggressively taking advantage of the opportunity) or other companies.<ref name="Wolfman" /><ref>{{cite news | last = Kleinfield | first= N.R. | title = Superheroes' Creators Wrangle; Creators of Superheroes Wrangle Within Marvel | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = October 13, 1979 | page= 25}}</ref>

During Shooter's tenure, he enforced a policy forbidding the portrayal of gay characters in the Marvel universe.<ref name=prismmverv2006>{{citation|last=Mangels|first=Andy|title=In and Out: A Brief History of Marvel's 2006 Gay Policies|url=http://prismcomics.org/display.php?id=1304|publisher=[[Prism Comics]]|year=2006|access-date=2009-03-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316054502/http://prismcomics.org/display.php?id=1304|archive-date=2010-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Courtney|last1=Hardwick|access-date=2022-08-15|title=The Marvel Cinematic Universe Keeps Avoiding LGBT Representation|url=https://inmagazine.ca/2019/04/the-marvel-cinematic-universe-keeps-avoiding-lgbt-representation/|date=26 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="Booker">{{cite book|first1=M. Keith|last1=Booker|title=Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels [2 volumes]: [Two Volumes]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YbkJ0QJrEZ8C|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date=11 May 2010|isbn=978-0-313-35747-3|pages=249|via=Google Books}}</ref> According to [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]], he initially had to conceal [[Northstar (character)|Northstar]]'s sexuality, since Shooter personally told him that portraying a gay character would not be allowed.<ref>{{cite book|first1=Bill|last1=Schelly|title=Sense of Wonder: My Life in Comic Fandom--The Whole Story|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eEtTDwAAQBAJ|publisher=North Atlantic Books|date=17 April 2018|isbn=978-1-62317-151-3|via=Google Books|pages=307}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Alan|last1=Kistler|access-date=2022-08-15|title=How the "Code Authority" Kept LGBT Characters Out of Comics|url=https://www.history.com/news/how-the-code-authority-kept-lgbt-characters-out-of-comics|website=HISTORY|date=June 22, 2020 }}</ref> Marvel nonetheless published the first gay-themed story by a mainstream comics publisher during this time, written by Shooter himself; in it, two gay men attempt to rape [[Hulk|Bruce Banner]].<ref name="Booker" /><ref>{{cite book|first1=Anna|last1=Peppard|title=Supersex: Sexuality, Fantasy, and the Superhero|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F94EEAAAQBAJ|publisher=University of Texas Press|date=8 December 2020|isbn=978-1-4773-2160-7|via=Google Books|pages=24, 109}}</ref> Comics historian [[Frederick Luis Aldama]] says that Marvel under Shooter's tenure "was widely considered homophobic."<ref>{{cite book|first1=Frederick Luis|last1=Aldama|title=The Oxford Handbook of Comic Book Studies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7X74DwAAQBAJ|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=1 April 2020|isbn=978-0-19-091797-5|pages=358|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Roy Thomas, who left Marvel following a contract dispute with Shooter, reflected in 2005 on Shooter's editorial policies:

{{blockquote|When Jim Shooter took over, for better or worse he decided to rein things in{{snd}}he wanted stories told the way he wanted them told. It's not a matter of whether Jim Shooter was right or wrong; it's a matter of a different approach. He was editor-in-chief and had a right to impose what he wanted to. I thought it was kind of dumb, but I don't think Jim was dumb. I think the approach was wrong, and I don't think it really helped anything.<ref>Thomas in Field, p. 130</ref>}}

[[John Romita Sr.]] said:
{{blockquote|Shooter had been great for the first two or three years. He got the creative people treated with more respect, got us sent to conventions first-class with our ways paid, and we thought the world of him. Then his Secret Wars was a big hit, and after that he decided he knew everything and he started changing everybody's stuff.<ref>Romita Sr. in {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygjPjIV02LgC&q=%22Shooter+had+been+great+for+the+first+two+or+three+years.%22&pg=PA60|title= John Romita... and All That Jazz!|page=60|publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]]|location= Raleigh, North Carolina|date=2007|first1=Roy|last1=Thomas|first2=Jim|last2=Amash|author-link1=Roy Thomas|isbn=978-1-893905-76-4}}</ref>}}

[[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]] said similarly:
{{blockquote|Shooter came along just when Marvel needed him{{snd}}but he stayed too long. Having fixed just about everything that was wrong, he could not stop "fixing". Around the time I left to do Superman, I said that I thought Shooter and Dick Giordano should trade jobs{{snd}}it was DC that needed fixing then{{snd}}and do so about every 5 years or so. Shooter had put Marvel into a place where all that was needed was a kindly father figure at the helm{{snd}}and that was not Shooter! ... ''Secret Wars'' ... was when the trouble really kicked into high gear.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10466 |publisher=Byrne Robotics|title=The John Byrne Forum|first=John|last=Byrne|date= February 8, 2006|author-link=John Byrne (comics)|archive-date=June 2, 2020|archive-url= https://archive.today/20200602001859/http://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10466|url-status=live}}</ref> We must never forget that ''SECRET WARS'' began as a toy promotion. ... Shooter turned it into a way to reshape the Marvel Universe in his image.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.byrnerobotics.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56254&PN=10&totPosts=44|publisher=Byrne Robotics|title=The John Byrne Forum|first=John|last=Byrne|date= May 31, 2020|author-link=John Byrne (comics)}}</ref>}}

Shooter was fired from Marvel on April 15, 1987.<ref>{{cite journal|last = Fryer|first = Kim|title = Jim Shooter Fired|journal = [[The Comics Journal]]|issue = 116|pages = 13–14|publisher = [[Fantagraphics Books]]|date = July 1987|location= Seattle, Washington}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5VMmDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22April+15%2C+1987%2C+Jim+Shooter+was+fired+from+his+position+as+editor-in-chief+at+Marvel%22&pg=PT19|title=Jim Shooter: Conversations|publisher=[[University Press of Mississippi]]|author1=Grace, Dominick|author2=Hoffman, Eric|author3=Sacks, Jason (Ed.)|isbn=9781496811806|via=[[Google Books]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=June 9, 2017|access-date=August 15, 2022|archive-date=August 15, 2022|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220815130816/https://books.google.no/books?id=5VMmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT19&dq=%22April+15,+1987,+Jim+Shooter+was+fired+from+his+position+as+editor-in-chief+at+Marvel%22&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj17YaX1czpAhVIfZoKHfAfAlYQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=%22April%2015%2C%201987%2C%20Jim%20Shooter%20was%20fired%20from%20his%20position%20as%20editor-in-chief%20at%20Marvel%22&f=false}}</ref>