10 Amazing Comic Storylines Derailed By Editorial Politics

9. Jim Starlin Quits Warlock

Jim Starlin was one of the godfathers of Marvel€™'s cosmic universe, having created comic book mainstays Thanos, Gamora, and Drax the Destroyer, and generating interest in failing characters such as Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock. During Starlin'€™s ballyhooed run on Warlock, which included a universally loved story that pitted the golden hero against his evil dark self, Magus, the writer/artist clashed with Marvel€™'s editor-in-chief Gerry Conway.

During the production of one of his post-Magus Saga issues, Starlin was made aware of some art corrections and demanded that he get the opportunity to make changes. Conway refused on the grounds that the corrections would incur late penalties. So Starlin quit, ending his run on one of the most successful cosmic comics ever.

When Archie Goodwin took over for Conway, Starlin was eventually wooed back to script and pencil a two-part Warlock/Thanos story in Avengers Annual #7 and Marvel Two-in-One Annual #2. But in the opening pages of the first story, the reader sees that Gamora had died without explanation.

Starlin told Newsarama that Gamora'€™s situation was to be explained in Warlock #16, an issue that never saw the light of day because of his rift with Conway.