Jim Shooter has died at age 73. Marvel Comics is heading back to newsstands. The Invincible Universe compendium line is expanding.
SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, APPLE, SPOTIFY, OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON BLUESKY, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON.
Powered by RedCircle
Episode Transcript:
Jim Shooter has died at age 73.
Marvel returns to newsstands.
Invincible compendium line expands.
This is Comic Book Club News for July 2, 2025.
Jim Shooter, Former Marvel EIC, Dies At Age 73:
Jim Shooter, a comic book writer, editor and publisher known for — among other things — a stint as Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, has died at age 73.
The news was revealed via writer Mark Waid’s Facebook page, where he noted that Shooter has been battling esophageal cancer for “some time.”
Born in Pittsburgh in 1951, Shooter became enamored of comics while in the hospital, and decided at age 12 to get a job at DC Comics. Shockingly, after submitting stories he wrote and drew at age 13, a year later DC hired him to write Superman and Supergirl. The then 14-year-old wrote for both Action Comics and Adventure Comics, and went on to create numerous characters for the future-set Legion of Super-Heroes. In 1967, Shooter left his mark on history with artist Curt Swan when they introduced the first foot race between Superman and The Flash.
In 1969, after getting accepted into NYU, Shooter was also offered a job at Marvel. He quit NYU — and DC Comics, and began to work for Marvel, rising up the ranks until in 1978 he was promoted to Editor-in-Chief. With Stan Lee headed to the West Coast to supervise animation and follow his TV dreams, Shooter was mostly left alone to manage the comics. During his nine-year run as EIC, while he was knocked for having a dictatorial managerial style, he also oversaw multiple lauded runs: Chris Claremont and John Byrne on X-Men, Walt Simonson on Thor, and Frank Miller on Daredevil, among others.
In addition, his contribution to comic book marketing can’t be understated. During his tenure as EIC, he launched Dazzler #1, a book that was direct to comic book stores, changing the way the market worked. And in launching Secret Wars in 1984, he helped create the modern comic crossover, something that continues to dominate mainstream comics today. Also while at Marvel he launched the creator-owned line Epic, as well as the less successful New Universe line of books.
On the other hand, he reportedly alienated multiple creators, and famously forbade John Byrne from allowing the character of Northstar to be revealed as gay. Even worse, he did introduce two gay characters to Marvel Comics in The Rampaging Hulk #23 in 1980… Who attempted to rape Bruce Banner, aka The Hulk, in a YMCA. The story has been widely criticized as homophobic.
In 1987, Shooter was fired from Marvel, only to return as an investor in early Valiant Comics. He was also kicked out of Valiant in 1992, going on to found the appropriately named Defiant Comics, and then in 1995 Broadway Comics, an arm of Broadway Video (the producers of Saturday Night Live, among others). Over the years, Shooter has returned to his old publishers, including a run on Legion of Super-Heroes in 2007, and returning to the Valiant characters in 2010.
While his career was often mired in controversy and very public spats, he also won an Eagle Award in 1979, an Inkpot Award in 1980, and in 2012 was named an ambassador for the Inkwell Awards, which lasted until his passing.
Marvel Returns To Newsstands:
Marvel Comics is heading back to newsstands with what they’re calling a Fantastic Four bookazine.
Available starting on Friday, July 4, the collection will be available wherever magazines are sold — and of course helps tee up the new movie in theaters later this month.
Included in the floppy will be three introductory issues: Fantastic Four #60 from 2002 by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo; Fantastic Four #570 from 2009 by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham; and Fantastic Four #1 from 2022 by Ryan North and Iban Coello.
In addition, the bookazine will include an Alex Ross-illustrated origin for the team, behind-the-scenes peeks at the movie, and a code to unlock over $30 in free digital comics continuing the storylines on the Marvel Unlimited app.
Now the only challenge? Figure out where they’re still selling magazines.
Invincible Universe Compendium Line Expands:
As we’ve covered here on the site before, Skybound’s line of Invincible Compendiums have been perennial best-sellers, years after the series itself wrapped up from Image Comics. So it’s a no-brainer that the line would expand with two Invincible Universe titles: Tech Jacket, and The Astounding Wolf-Man.
Tech Jacket is created by Kirkman and E.J. Su, and after debuting in his own miniseries headed to the pages of Invincible. That was followed by a new series by Joe Keatinge and Khary Randolph. The Tech Jacket Compendium will collect Tech Jacket #1-8, Tech Jacket Digital #1-3, and Tech Jacket (2013) #1-12, and focus on “the origins of high school student Zack Thompson as the galaxy’s most unexpected hero.” It will also include a new cover by Su and Dave McCaig.
As for The Astounding Wolf-Man Compendium, it collects The Astounding Wolf-Man #1-25 and Invincible #57 from Kirkman and Jason Howard. Per the title, it focuses on a man named Gary Hampton who is mauled by a werewolf and then becomes a werewolf. That’s pretty much the whole thing! Except he’s also a superhero.
Tech Jacket Compendium and The Astounding Wolf-Man Compendium both hits stores on November 19.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. Also you’re going to have to find a magazine store open on July 4th, so that should be fun.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
For more comic book news, reviews, and interviews, check out comicbookclublive.com.
Listen early and ad-free on Patreon.com/comicbookclub.
Discover more from Comic Book Club
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.