Anyone who is alive today knows who Thanos is. Or should. The fellow who created that character is Jim Starlin. That’s now, of course. Anyone who saw Avengers: Endgame got a nice high-def look at a somewhat older Jim. But back in 1983-ish, Jim was busy with Dreadstar and working out of the EPIC Magazine office. This copy-machine wall indentation is just outside those offices. Jim rarely came to the office—but one day, there he was. Grimly mulling over a tiny scrap of paper in a typewriter.
Well, I couldn’t resist. He is the very picture of trying to focus. So I did my best to help him concentrate by bringing my gigantic camera with attendant equipment back. Then firing off my super powerful strobe light.
In my chummy manner, I asked what he was doing with the memo-pad? I no longer remember the answer, but I replied, “Oh sure! Doing that’ll be a snap!” And took the second picture.
When I launched EPIC, I wanted Jim, and specifically a multi-part serial he pitched, in it. It was, from Issue One. I always thought he was a little distant; but, no, just reserved, a bit shy, and contemplative… as geniuses often are.
I seemed as though Heavy Metal was really starting to make inroads to US audiences, along with a different caliber of storytelling. Was Epic Marvel’s answer to HM?
Strongly influenced…