A Study in Jim Starlin

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.