Jim Starlin, the creator of Thanos, had the lucky opportunity to have his own cameo in Avengers: Endgame. Marvel's latest superhero extravaganza is the 22nd film in its 11 year legacy. It follows Earth's Mightiest Heroes as they attempt to avenge the fallen heroes from Infinity War and stop the Mad Titan. The film has been breaking records left and right. It already set a box office record during Thursday night previews, with sales skyrocketing towards $60 million, beating out Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
It's no surprise that Endgame is doing so well. It's been one of the most hotly anticipated films of 2019 ever since Thanos snapped his fingers last year, leaving audiences - and some of our favorite heroes - in the dust. Prior to its opening night record, the Marvel epic also became Fandango's biggest preseller ever, selling five times more tickets during its first week of pre-sales than Infinity War. It's on track to be the biggest opening weekend of all time, especially with AMC adding in round-the-clock showings for moviegoers during opening weekend. But it's not just fans that have eagerly awaited this culmination of 11 years of Marvel movies. Stars of the franchise have all expressed their gratitude and anticipation for the project, and Marvel isn't forgetting about those responsible for creating their iconic characters.
The creator of the Mad Titan himself, Jim Starlin, made a cameo in Avengers: Endgame. The legendary comic book artist and writer took to Facebook to share his experience working on the film. He appears early on in the story as part of a therapy group session that's headed by Steve Rogers. The scene involves various characters, including Endgame co-director Joe Russo, sharing their stories of grief and loss after the snap and how it affects them to this day. Starlin wrote that he, "had a great time with some terrific folks," and that he's sincerely thankful, even though he, "had to keep [his] mouth shut for a year and a half afterwards."
Marvel is known for including cameos in almost all of their films. Over the years, they've become a staple in their narratives and have been fun scenes for moviegoers to discover. Stan Lee is obviously their go-to guest, but the company has cameo'd celebrities and artists alike in their franchise installments. Endgame also includes Stan Lee's final cameo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, closing out this phase of Marvel's cinematic legacy with a perfect sendoff for its fearless leader.
Jim Starlin's cameo in Endgame is the perfect way to thank him for creating the MCU's biggest and baddest villain. For 11 years, moviegoers anticipated the villain's eventual arrival through post-credit scenes. He was a lurking, ominous presence that loomed over the MCU, despite never having a major appearance until Infinity War. He only appeared every so often to remind Marvel fans that he wasn't going away anytime soon. Starlin's creation united Marvel fans the world over, and Avengers: Endgame proves that a well-developed villain in a well-developed franchise bodes well for the box office and for eagerly awaiting fans.
Source: Jim Starlin
