Jim Starlin

Jim Starlin was heavily influenced by Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. His acclaimed work has made him just as influential to many writers.

He worked as an artist on Iron Man, where he introduced Thanos. The character is at times considered an homage or competition to Jack Kirby's Darkseid, yet the character's passion are unique unto itself. They are often confused. Starlin is often confused with owning Captain Marvel and with Thanos being a copy of Darkseid, nothing could be further from the truth. Starlin has been called the "grim reaper" by his own colleagues in the comic industry, having done such work as the groundbreaking first Marvel Graphic Novel "The Death of Captain Marvel" in 1982, and even Batman: "A Death in the Family" with Jim Aparo on art in DC. Death being the consistent motif', excluding his early work on Captain Marvel, revolutionizing the "Marvel Cosmic" Genre.

He was given the job to plot Captain Marvel, at the time a marginally selling Marvel "space" hero. "Space" heroes did marginal at best in this time.(in retrospect, a groundbreaking period for the "Marvel Cosmic Genre" in which Silver Surfer would eventually be canceled, the Captain Marvel and Silver Surfer publications were the first of Marvel's solo cosmic titles, through fan support, and the fact that the Captain Marvel series was more of a 'gateway' comic book to the budding genre, it sustained a bit more, even when going bi-monthly.

As of Captain Marvel #17, Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, re-invented the character with a new look and plot based on the often called long-winded but poignant . One that would have potential.

Potential that the legendary Jim Starlin saw by taking over Captain Marvel in issue #25. The fact that he took the opportunity after his brief work on Iron Man, Issue #55 is of note, showcasing the first appearance of Drax the Destroyer and of course, Stralin's true masterpiece along with his Captain Marvel #25-33, has always been his take on Captain Mar-Vell and Thanos.

A hungry Jim Starlin, the talented writer and artist that he is, took over the Captain Marvel book (after an interesting run on Iron Man #55) in  issue Captain Marvel #25, with the alterations to the character and costume coming in Captain Marvel #29, the now legendary  "Metamorphisis"  issue. This is the issue that would introduce "Cosmic Awareness" to the comic book medium and change the Mar-Vell character even more than the Roy Thomas/ Gil Kane version.

His run on Captain Marvel #25-34 (technically part of #36 as well), would be arguably the best and finest work not only with Captain Marvel, but with the struggling cosmic genre itself during the time period. His boost would take Captain Marvel creatively, critically and sales wise to a new level, as it should have been.

Starlin would leave Captain Marvel afterwards and due to the complexity and/or simplicity of the character, many of the issues afterwards, though the character would eventually be figured out by writer Doug Moench and Pat Broderick at a point when Marvel wanted to kill a major superhero to launch their new prestige format called The Graphic Novel. Issues #50-62 would win an eagle award, however the decision had been made.

Starlin was given the opportunity to kill "Captain Marvel", Mar-Vell, after unbeknown to fans, the seeds were planted in Captain Marvel #34, and during his absence, the book was struggling in sales, until the end run, no one had grasped the character as well as Starlin.

The death story has been said to be influence by his father, a military veteran, God rest his soul.

He created an elaborate history and characters for the universe outside of Marvel earth, with characters, themes and ideas still used today by any writer that goes off-planet.

Later on he went to do the Adam Warlock series, exploring complex themes such as religion, destiny, death and the meaning of life.  Adam Warlock has become so tied to Jim Starlin that it is widely speculated that Starlin's falling out with Marvel comics in recent years was the main reason that Adam Warlock was strangely absent during the first "Annihilation" crossover, and the same has been said concerning the lack of Captain Mar-Vell in Infinity Gauntlet.

He was given the opportunity to "kill" Captain Marvel after the characters sales declined after he left the book. Crafting an intricate plot that ended with the mighty space hero falling to cancer, The Death of Captain Marvel is an enthralling and endearing saga that still holds up today.

He then worked on Thanos, expanding on his origin and motivations. His work made Thanos a cosmic powerhouse. He wrote The Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War, and The End of the Marvel Universe starring primarily Thanos.

In 2006 he revamped DC's Captain Comet alongside artist Shane Davis in the Mystery in Space miniseries.