Jim Starlin: Difference between revisions

{{Use American English|date=August 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}

{{Infobox comics creator

| image = Jim Starlin by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| caption = Starlin at the 2021 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]

| birth_name = James P. Starlin

| death_date =

| death_place =

| cartoonist =

| write = y

| awards = [[#Awards|Full list]]

}}

 

==Early life==

 

===Early career===

 

After writing and drawing stories for a number of fan publications, Jim Starlin entered the comics industry in 1972, working for [[Roy Thomas]] and [[John Romita Sr.|John Romita]] at [[Marvel Comics]].<ref>"Gangway, World! Madcap Marvel Marches Merrily On!" ("[[Bullpen Bulletins]]" page in ''Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos'' #104 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated November 1972)</ref> Starlin was part of the generation of artists and writers who grew up as fans of [[Silver Age of comic books|Silver Age]] Marvel Comics. At a [[Steve Ditko]]-focused panel at the 2008 [[Comic-Con International]], Starlin said, "Everything I learned about storytelling was [due to] him or Kirby. [Ditko] did the best layouts."<ref>Starlin, in {{cite web | url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17603 | title = CCI: The World of Steve Ditko | publisher = [[Comic Book Resources]] | date = August 5, 2008 | first= Seth | last= Jones | access-date = October 10, 2012 | archive-date= May 14, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110514101525/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17603|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

 

 

Concurrently in the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published [[science-fiction]] anthology ''[[Star Reach]]''. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the [[Comics Code Authority]]. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator [[Al Milgrom]], for ''[[Savage Tales]]'' #5 (July 1974).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Thompson |first=Steven |date=September 2020 |title=Conan Goes to Adventure Town |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aC_6DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA6 |journal=[[Back Issue!]] |location=Raleigh, North Carolina |publisher=[[TwoMorrows Publishing]] |issue=121 |page=6}}</ref>

Death and suicide are recurring themes in Starlin's work: Personifications of Death appeared in his Captain Marvel series and in a fill-in story for ''[[Ghost Rider]]''; Warlock commits suicide by killing his future self; and suicide is a theme in a story he plotted and drew for ''The Rampaging Hulk'' magazine.

 

 

===1980s===

The new decade found Starlin creating an expansive story titled "the [[Metamorphosis Odyssey]]", which introduced the character of Vanth Dreadstar in ''[[Epic Illustrated]]'' #3. From its beginning in ''Epic Illustrated'', the initial story was painted in monochromatic grays, eventually added to with other tones, and finally becoming full color.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/before-dreadstar-december-the-metamorphosis-odyssey-the-price-and-dreadstar-the-graphic-novel/ |title=Before Dreadstar December: The Metamorphosis Odyssey, The Price, and Dreadstar the Graphic Novel |last=Nevett |first=Chad |date=July 8, 2015 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref> The storyline was further developed in ''The Price''<ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/29264/ ''The Price''] October 1981 [[Eclipse Comics]] at the [[Grand Comics Database]]</ref> and ''[[Marvel Graphic Novel]]'' #3<ref name="BA115">{{cite journal|last= Buttery|first= Jarrod|title= ''Dreadstar'': Jim Starlin's Odyssey|journal= [[Back Issue!]]|issue= 115|pages= 35–54|publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing|date= September 2019|location= Raleigh, North Carolina}}</ref><ref>[http://www.comics.org/issue/35950/''Marvel Graphic Novel'' #3 (''Dreadstar'')] 1982 Marvel Comics at the Grand Comics Database</ref> and eventually the long-running ''[[Dreadstar]]'' comic book, published first by [[Epic Comics]],<ref>[[Tom DeFalco|DeFalco, Tom]] "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 208: "The first title produced for [the Epic Comics] line was ''Dreadstar'', a space opera by writer/artist Jim Starlin."</ref><ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/2650/''Dreadstar''] Epic Comics series at the Comics Database</ref> and then by [[First Comics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/sdcc-jim-starlin-to-revive-dreadstar-in-comic-miniseries/ |title=SDCC: Jim Starlin to Revive "Dreadstar" In Comic Miniseries |last=Melrose |first=Kevin |date=July 8, 2015 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=July 8, 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.comics.org/series/3262/''Dreadstar''] First Comics series at the Grand Comics Database</ref>

 

 

Starlin and [[Bernie Wrightson]] produced ''[[Heroes for Hope]]'', a 1985 one-shot designed to raise money for African famine relief and recovery.<ref>DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 223: "Horrified by the plight of starving children in Africa, writer/artist Jim Starlin and illustrator Bernie Wrightson convinced Marvel to publish ''Heroes For Hope''. It was a 'jam' book...and all of Marvel's profits were donated to famine relief in Africa."</ref> Published in the form of a "[[comic jam]]," the book featured an all-star lineup of comics creators as well as a few notable authors from outside the comic book industry, such as [[Stephen King]], [[George R. R. Martin]], [[Harlan Ellison]], and [[Edward Bryant]].<ref name="GCD" /> In 1986, he and Wrightson produced a second benefit comic for famine relief. ''[[Heroes Against Hunger]]'', featuring Superman and Batman, was published by DC and like the earlier Marvel benefit project featured many top comics creators.<ref name="GCD" /><ref>Manning "1980s" in Dolan, p. 219: "Plotted by Jim Starlin, with dramatic designs by Bernie Wrightson...''Heroes Against Hunger'' featured nearly every popular DC creator of the time."</ref>

 

==Other work==

*Starlin makes a cameo appearance in the film ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]'' as a member of [[Steve Rogers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Steve Rogers]]'s support group.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/27/avengers-endgame-cameos/|title=Avengers: Endgame explained: Cameos from Thanos creator, 'Community' stars, and more|last=Breznican|first=Anthony|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=April 27, 2019|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427210124/https://ew.com/movies/2019/04/27/avengers-endgame-cameos/|archive-date=April 27, 2019|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

 

*''[[Marvel Fanfare]]'' #20–21 (writer/artist, 1985)

*''[[Marvel Feature]]'' #11–12 (artist, 1973)

*''[[Marvel Premiere]]'' ([[Doctor Strange]]) #8 (artist, 1973)

*''[[Marvel Preview]]'' ([[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]) #10 (artist, 1977)

*''[[Dreadstar]]'' #27–32 (writer/artist); #33–40 main story, 42–54, "Pawns" back-up story (writer) (First Comics, 1986–1989)

*''[[Eclipse Magazine]]'' #1 (writer/artist) (Eclipse Enterprises, 1981)

*''Fighting American: Dogs of War'' #1–3 (writer) (Awesome, 1998–1999)

*''[[Heavy Metal (magazine)|Heavy Metal]]'' (vol 3) #4 (writer/artist) (HM Communications, 1979)

 

===Collections===

*''[[DC Comics Classics Library]]: A Death In The Family'', 272 pages, September 2009, DC Comics, {{ISBN|9781401225162}}

*''Death of the New Gods'', 256 pages, September 2008, DC Comics, {{ISBN|978-1401218393}}

*''Infinity Gauntlet Omnibus'', 1248 pages, July 2014, Marvel Comics, {{ISBN|978-0785154686}}

 

*''Batman: A Death in the Family'', 144 pages, March 1988, Re-released in November 2011 with "A Lonely Place of Dying" story added, 272 pages, {{ISBN|1401232744}}

*''Batman: Ten Nights of the Beast'', 96 pages, October 1994, {{ISBN|1563891557}}

[[Category:20th-century American writers]]

[[Category:21st-century American writers]]

[[Category:American comics artists]]

[[Category:American comics writers]]

[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War]]

[[Category:Artists from Detroit]]

[[Category:Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award winners]]

[[Category:Inkpot Award winners]]