1985 - Anatomy of a cover - Uncanny X-Men #198

1983 - The Jim Shooter Theory of the Big Bang of the Marvel Universe (according to Doug Moench)

Comic Foundry writer Tim Leong transcribed a phone call between Doug Moench and Charlie Huston in which they chatted about Moon Knight. The conversation hit Jim Shooter and here’s the relevant Marvel 1980s bits (http://comicfoundry.com/?p=1461):

“He was making life miserable for everybody on Marvel, including Chris Claremont, who bit his tongue and held his peace for the sake of his beloved X-Men. You after to remember: Roy Thomas had already quit, Marv Wolfman had quit, Len Wein had quit, Gerry Conway had quit — I mean, the list went on and on and on and we haven’t even gotten to the artists.

“I think at that point, the two guys from that period who were left were me and Chris Claremont, and Chris came after me. This guy was so evil that he had all the assistant editors totally whipped. They were calling me and saying, “Doug, you gotta do something to stop this guy.” I said, “What am I going to do? I’m a freelancer. You’re the editors. Get together and go up to Stan (Lee) and say ‘Stan, you wouldn’t believe what this guy is trying to do.’” And what he was trying to do was what he called the Jim Shooter Theory of the Big Bang of the Marvel Universe. Now, what this was, he was going to kill off every major Marvel character, I swear this is true, but without killing them off.

“In other words, he was going to call off Steve Rogers, but not Captain America. And then a new guy, quote, like an investment banker, close quote, would be the new Captain America. He was going to kill off Peter Parker and someone else would be Spider-Man. I said, “This is lunacy. Stan Lee would never let this happen. This is insane.” But he was doing it! He got on the phone with me and said, “Look, this is happening and it’s starting with you.” I said, “What do you mean?” He said, “Next issue of ‘Master of Kung Fu,’ I want Shang-Chi dead, and when I mean dead, I want to see his blood. I want no way that Shang-Chi would ever be able to come back.” I said, “Now why would you do that? If you don’t like ‘Master of Kung Fu,’ kill the book, don’t kill the character, because these things have a way of changing over time and in five years you might want to revive the character of the book, etc.” “No, I don’t want to kill the book, I want to kill the character. Kill Shang-Chi and make a new master of kung-fu, like a ninja.” I said, “Mr. Shooter, perhaps you’re not aware. Ninjas are Japanese, kung-fu is Chinese.

 “But anyway, he said, “If you don’t do, I’ll get someone that will. And ‘Moon Knight’ is next.” And I was writing ‘Thor” at the time. And then Don Blake goes and a new guy finds the hammer.” And after that phone call, I thought, well, it’s time to call Dick Giordano and have that lunch you keep wanting to take me to. Let’s have a burger. So I did. I called Dick Giordano. I don’t want to lose my babies – “Moon Knight” and “Weird World,” “Master of Kung Fu” – I was even enjoying “King Conan,” you know? But this guy is insane and I can’t stop him. All I can do is refuse. “Come on in, I’ll take you out for lunch.” So I went in and he said, “What do you want? What’s your favorite character?” Batman. “You got it! Want anything else?” And as much as I hated leaving Marvel after 10 years, I had no choice, and that’s the only reason I did it.”

Wow. A similar interview with Moench is featured in Comic Book Artist Collection Volume 3 echoing the same story.

I haven't come across anything on Jim Shooter's blog that mentioned this opinion specifically, but there are mentions that there is some bad blood between Shooter and Moench. Please let me know if anyone has come across any other items on this issue.

Interestingly, the Jim Shooter Theory of the Big Bang of the Marvel Universe did come to fruition later in the 1980s, but without all the Deaths. Don Blake was erased during Simonson’s run, Eric Masterson became the new Thor and then Thunderstrike, James Rhodes wore the Iron Man armor and eventually became War Machine, and John Walker wore the Captain America uniform.

New Defenders - Volume 1 Paperback in February 2012

From the amazon.ca entry:

Elves, Gods, and Over-Minds - oh my! What else can you expect when your team's starting lineup consists of a sorcerer, a gargoyle, a Valkyrie, a pair of X-Men, a former model, the Son of Satan, and more of Marvel's wildest warriors? Far out fantasy the likes you've never seen, that's what! Guest-Starring Odin, the New Mutants and more! 256 pages.


COLLECTING: DEFENDERS (1972) 122-124; NEW DEFENDERS 125-131

I remember always wanting to like this book, but the interior art never appealed to me. I was drawn in by the amazing covers, but the interior art paled in comparison.

1985 - Brent Anderson sketch - Batman and Daredevil

1983 - Evolution of a cover - Daredevil #190

1984 - The Generic Comic Book

 GENERIC COMIC BOOK

TYPE: SUPER-HERO ACTION-ADVENTURE

THIS COMIC CONTAINS:

One neurotic Super-Hero type with a variety of personal problems; one bad-guy bent on world domination through arcane means; assorted villainous hench-people; the hero’s nefarious employer, pathetic family, and well-endowed girlfriend; a plot containing a conflict, a subplot, a resolution, a plot twist, and as many fights as it takes to fill up the rest of the pages.

And where the UPC code should be: MARVEL NO FRILLS.

While your first reaction may be to think that this odd-duck comic book was an April Fool's joke (since it was released in April 1984), it isn't. And no it wasn't a left over stunt from the Marvel Assistant Editor's Month (that was cover dated for January 1984).

Interesting that no one wanted to put their name on this book. Even the soliciations carefully navigated around this issue:

A clever idea that pokes a lot of fun at the Comic Book industry and at Marvel Comics itself. A few searches on Google reveal that Steve Skeates wrote this issue and it was drawn by "many uncredited artists (who shall respectfully remain nameless).

Happy December!