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Brian Miller
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Posted: 03 July 2025 at 9:44pm | IP Logged | 1 post reply

That’s been his story for years. His logic was that the writers at the time
would get pissed at the other writers writing their characters. Claremont
mad that Mantlo would write the X-Men. JB pissed Claremont writing the FF.
Stern angry that DeMatteis writing Spider-Man. That type thing. So, to keep
the peace, Shooter decided only he could write it.
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Andrew Bitner
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Posted: 03 July 2025 at 10:48pm | IP Logged | 2 post reply

It was gracious of you to post on this subject, JB. Thank you for allowing members of this Forum to comment with their anecdotes. 

For myself, I had very few interactions with Mr. Shooter, for all that I did three or four interviews with Valiant comics creators, two of them in their office space in NYC. He struck me then as a genial figure eager to talk comics and stories--but I never worked for him and never saw that side of him.

RIP.


Edited by Andrew Bitner on 03 July 2025 at 10:48pm
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Peter Martin
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 12:07am | IP Logged | 3 post reply

That Sienkiewicz sure knows his way around a paint brush!
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Peter Martin
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 12:09am | IP Logged | 4 post reply

And, I would add, one great legacy of Shooter was fighting for creators to get paid their dues by the publisher.
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Peter Hicks
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 12:26am | IP Logged | 5 post reply

 From the obit in FORBES:

“Thanks to the breakout success of the X-Men by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, the signature title of Shooter’s reign…”

For “breakout success” read “in constant danger of cancellation.” “

**********************

JB - I’m puzzled.  I just purchased and read the back issue drawn by you where the cover proudly stated “NOW MONTHLY!”   How could X-Men be upgraded from bimonthly to monthly, but still be in constant danger of cancellation?

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Peter Hicks
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 12:28am | IP Logged | 6 post reply

 And, I would add, one great legacy of Shooter was fighting for creators to get paid their dues by the publisher.”
*********************
Since Shooter was Marvel’s head guy, who was resisting giving creators better compensation?  Just bean counters in accounting?
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Peter Martin
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 1:53am | IP Logged | 7 post reply


 QUOTE:
Since Shooter was Marvel’s head guy, who was resisting giving creators better compensation?  Just bean counters in accounting?

Why would accountants call the shots on remuneration? Shooter did not own the company, nor did the accountants. The owners were Cadence at the time and the history of the industry was not about paying royalties to creators. Shooter made that happen. If it was a trivial thing, why didn't it happen before?


Edited by Peter Martin on 04 July 2025 at 1:53am
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Peter Martin
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 1:59am | IP Logged | 8 post reply

This story from Uncle Walt on Facebook:

"When old Marvel was at 387 Park Ave. S., Jim’s office was adjacent to Anne Nocenti’s. Baseboard heating ran through Jim’s office into Anne’s. Consequently, some of the conversations in Jim’s office could be heard in Anne’s. I don’t remember who told me but it was reported that once my name came up and Jim was overheard to say, “Simonson. Another big gun that can’t be aimed.” I loved it. I’ll be using that as my epitaph."
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Andrew Bitner
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 2:55am | IP Logged | 9 post reply

Shooter was editor-in-chief. That's a powerful position but there's one above that: publisher. He was not the publisher at Marvel and did not have final say on matters like paying royalties, etc. AFAIK. If I'm wrong...
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James Woodcock
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Posted: 04 July 2025 at 4:46am | IP Logged | 10 post reply

Walt also posted a good story about Weezie and their wedding rehearsal.
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