JIM SHOOTER

 

My bloggy thing readership doesn’t overlap all that much with my Facebook friends. From time to time, especially when I do a long post on Facebook, I’ll also run it here. The following post was written a day after I learned of Jim Shooter’s death.

"He was a complicated man" was posted by many people when they expressed their condolences on the passing of a true comics legend. That "comics legend" thing gets used far more often than it should, but, in this case, it's accurate.

Yes, I had my issues with the man. I wasn't alone in that. But I have long since said my piece, addressed falsehoods and am content to have done that. If Shooter did not always do right by some people, he did right by others. It's the balance of a life lived large.

It was in July of 1963 when, at the age of 11, I read Fantastic Four Annual #1 and realized two things. Making comic books was an actual job. I wanted that job. When, a few years later, a 13-year-old Jim Shooter started writing stories for DC Comics, I was jealous. But I also felt empowered. He was no older than me. I could do it too, Which I did. He inspired me.

In later years, when I would run into Jim at comics conventions, it was always cordial. We had pleasant conversations. But the one that sticks in my mind happened at a convention - and don't ask me which one - when we found ourselves sitting at a dinner table together. I don't remember much of the conversations, but I do remember the best part of it.

We talked about the late George Roussos, a man we both loved and admired. I talked about how, when I started at Marvel, I sort of shared an office with George. Sort of because George had arranged towering file cabinets all around his desk, creating a George-cave. And, from time to time, I would hear George summon me to the cave. Sometimes for work reasons. Sometimes because he wanted to share some knowledge with me.

Jim smiled at my story. Because, when Marvel was arranging new offices or something, George wasn't comfortable working in a large bullpen. Jim basically found him a large closet, a new George-cave as it were. So, for a moment, we just sat around talking about and missing our friend George.

People will certainly be doing the same with Jim. They will share memories of him, some bad, but, hopefully, mostly good. I think he deserves that.

My condolences to his family, his friends and his fans. I regret he and I will have no more conversations...and also that we never got the chance to star in that big-budget Mutt and Jeff movie I used to make jokes about.

© 2025 Tony Isabella