Shirrel Rhoades
A versatile storyteller who helped steer Marvel from comic book publisher to entertainment powerhouse during a critical era.
Born 1943 (age 83)·American writer·Birthday: May 19·The Silent Generation
Biography
Shirrel Rhoades has navigated his career like a man with several parallel lives, each intersecting with the world of stories. With a background in journalism and publishing, he brought a sharp editorial eye to the comic book industry. His tenure as Executive Vice President of Marvel Entertainment in the 1990s placed him at the helm during a period of expansion and corporate evolution, helping to guide the brand beyond the printed page. Beyond the boardroom, Rhoades is a professor, sharing his knowledge of media and publishing, and a filmmaker with documentaries to his name. He is also a prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction, exploring topics from Florida history to the business of comics. His impact lies in being a bridge-builder between the creative heart of storytelling and the strategic mind of business.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Shirrel was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Shirrel Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Shirrel's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 80
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 83 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as Executive Vice President of Marvel Entertainment, contributing to the company's strategic direction in the 1990s.
- Authored numerous books, including 'A Complete History of American Comic Books' and novels like 'The Man Who Wrote the Book.'
- Produced and directed documentary films, such as 'The Joy of Lex' about lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower.
- Has taught as a professor at institutions including the University of Mississippi and Full Sail University.
Did You Know?
He once worked as a newspaper reporter and editor before entering the world of book and comic publishing.
He is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and has written crime fiction.
Rhoades has been a columnist for publications like Comics Buyer's Guide.
He founded his own publishing company, Applewood Books, which specializes in American historical works.
“A comic book is a modern folktale, printed on cheap paper.”
