As a child, Shirrel Rhoades received a comic book every day from his father.
As an adult, he became the executive vice president and publisher of Marvel Comics, allowing him to work with those responsible for creating the comics he read.
"It was like a convergence of a passion and a skill set," he said.
Rhoades will be at Ball State University at 7:30 p.m. in the Art and Journalism Building, Room 175, to talk about his experiences in the publishing industry.
He will be introduced by David Sumner, a Ball State journalism professor who recently co-wrote a book about the magazine industry with Rhoades.
Rhoades has had a hand in the publishing industry for many years, working for various publications such as Reader's Digest, Crickett, Harper's, MAD Magazine, DC Comics, Scholastic and Charter Publishing Company. From 1996 to 1999, though, Rhoades took on a job that he said he could only describe as the best and worst job he has ever had. Marvel Comics needed someone to take on the business side of the industry, and Rhoades said he was just the man they were looking for. He came in during one of the worst periods of Marvel Comics history, with jobs on the line and a business that was falling apart, he said.
"It fell on me to hold things together," Rhoades said. "I had to keep everyone thinking of good stories to keep fans alive, well and reading."
During this time, two billionaires were battling for control of Marvel, the company was losing ample amounts of money and the end looked to be in sight. Rhoades, however, kept everyone writing comics, and he said that was one of the proudest accomplishments of his career.
"I came in during the middle of an all-out battle, but I kept Marvel Comics Publishing together," he said. "I was like the human shield between the comic book makers and upper management."
During his time at Marvel, the company had five presidents, four chairmen and four different ownerships because of what Rhoades described as a nasty, costly battle.
Although Rhoades was constantly under pressure to keep Marvel Publishing alive, he said he had some fond memories of his days as a comic man. One of his good friends is comic book hero Stan Lee, the creator of many superheroes that are known and loved, including Spider-Man and the X-Men. Rhoades described Lee as a god but also as a character.
"He is like a god who created a universe," he said. "He goes in and out of character like a light bulb."
Rhoades said he spoke to Lee last week, and Lee talked about how he didn't think he was writing great literature, but then instantly changed his mind-set to saying, "Well, I guess I really was a genius."
Rhoades said he and Lee would go out with the Marvel presidents on a regular basis, and every time they went out with a new president, Lee would raise his glass and say, "Well, I think we finally got the right team."
Rhoades, who graduated from Stetson University with a degree in art and a minor in advertising, said he always had a passion for comic books and to make a job out of it was ideal for him.
Although Rhoades did not write comics, he would always wear an eccentric tie to make it clear that he truly was a comic fan, not just a businessman. He said he had a passion for the heroes Marvel created, describing them as powerful but with human qualities as well.
After three years at Marvel, employee cutbacks were being made, and so Rhoades left the company and instantly took a job as the vice president at Reader's Digest. He said he doesn't miss his time at Marvel, though he certainly won't forget it.
"I had great adventures at Marvel," he said. "People in this industry are eccentric."
Rhoades said he has never looked back, though, describing himself as a shark who just keeps swimming.
His book with Sumner, "Magazine: A Complete Guide to the Industry," is just one example of how Rhoades has stayed busy.
Sumner has known Rhoades for two years, and he said that was long enough to know what an electric person he is.
"He's a dynamo, full of energy and enthusiasm," Sumner said. "He's brilliant."
Sumner asked Rhoades to co-author the book with him after Rhoades spoke to one of his classes at Ball State two years ago.
"I realized what great experience he had, and I know he's been successful," he said.
Rhoades said superheroes never die, and the same goes for him. He only considers himself to be semi-retired as he lives in Key West, Fla., with his wife, Dianne. He is currently working on a book about the comic book industry, along with doing consulting at the Key West Art and Historical Society. He also is the Senior Adviser for DRG Publishing in Berne.
Rhoades, looking back on his time at Marvel, said he wasn't curing cancer, but he wasn't selling pornography either.
Come watchSpeaker: Shirrel RhoadesWhen: 7:30 p.m.Where: Art and Journalism Building Room 175
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