Jim Shooter’s Defunct Classic, ‘Schism,’ Has Finally Been Published After 30 Years
Jim Shooter’s long-forgotten comic book Schism: Be Careful What You Dream is finally being revived after more than three decades. Originally planned for release in 1994 by Shooter’s now-defunct Defiant Comics, the project never came to fruition—until now.
Thanks to a Kickstarter campaign, this long-lost story is being restored and brought back to life.
The Kickstarter campaign is running until March 2 and has already raised over $11,600 toward its $61,200 goal. The comic will feature Shooter’s original plot, paired with newly restored and remastered artwork. Over 160 pages from 1994 will be included, alongside previously unseen work by artists like Charlie Adlard, David Lapham, JG Jones, and Dave Taylor.
Schism was initially intended as a four-issue miniseries, tying together all of Defiant Comics’ characters in one shared storyline. This concept echoed Shooter’s earlier success with Marvel’s Secret Wars and Valiant’s Unity crossovers.
However, only two related issues (Dogs of War #5 and Warriors of Plasm #13) were published before Defiant Comics went under.
The rediscovery of Schism was spearheaded by Jay Weaver, host of the Midnight, On Earth podcast, alongside several notable figures in the comic world.
Contributors include Jim Hollister, curator of the Arizona Defiant Comics Museum, and Scott Braden, a veteran comics journalist. Others, like J.C. Vaughn of Diamond Comics and Defiant co-creator J.J. Jackson, also played key roles.
Shooter launched Defiant Comics in 1993 with backing from The River Group after leaving Valiant. Defiant’s flagship title, Plasm, started as trading cards that formed a comic when collected.
However, a legal battle with Marvel Comics over the name (later changed to Warriors of Plasm) drained Defiant’s finances. Despite winning in court, the company closed in 1995 due to mounting legal costs.
Schism: Be Careful What You Dream is currently live on Kickstarter, offering fans a rare chance to experience this long-lost chapter of comic history.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!
