One year later lee and artist steve ditko created spiderman. Stan is born as stanley martin leiber on december 22, 1922 to romanian immigrants jack and celia leiber in new york, new york. Stan lee i used to be embarrassed because i was just a comic book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. Tales to astonish relates the spectacular life and times of jack kirby, the legendary forefather of american comic books. By some accounts, he came up with a new comic book every day for 10 years. Stan the man lee, marvel comicss legendary founder, is the writer and cocreator of such timeless characters as the avengers, the xmen, spiderman, iron man, the fantastic four, and the hulk. After some unsuccessful pitches, stan felt disappointment and seemed he finally ran out. Stan lee was a legitimately great writer stan lee is probably the most important single creator in comic book history. The world we live in is a world shaped, for the better, by stan lee. Over a period of many years, stan loved to read storys like the hardy boys and seeing movies with his family. Stan lee wanted to quit instead, he changed the world. Stanley martin lieber, popularly known as stan lee, was an american comic book writer, editor, publisher, media producer, television host, actor, and voice actor. Moreover, this book would be a blessing for anyone seeking a secondary academic source on comics or the history of stan lee. Lee was the one who was behind spiderman, one of marvels most successful characters of all time and the most profitable comic book character ever since his debut in 1962.
He was the primaryat times, solewriter for marvel in the 1960s when the company was becoming marvel. Stan lee was the most famous individual comic book history. Spiderman to the rescue stan lee has often told the tale of how marvel comics defied the comics code authority, publishing the spiderman story arc. Stan lee was a revered comicbook creator who colaunched superheroes like the fantastic four, spiderman, doctor strange and the xmen for marvel comics.
The man behind marvel is chockfull of a thrilling narrative, stories, and littleknown trivia in the life of stan lee. The comics code authority cca was formed in 1954 by the comics magazine association of america as an alternative to government regulation. These stories were small stories inside of comic books that werent even related to the comic itself. Its parent company, marvel entertainment, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the disney company. Jun 10, 2016 stan lee is responsible for creating some of the most iconic characters in comic book history, like spiderman, the xmen and the fantastic four, all of which have been regular fixtures on the big.
They both forged personal connections with their fans. Stan lee is responsible for creating some of the most iconic characters in comic book history, like spiderman, the xmen and the fantastic four, all of which have been regular fixtures on. Stan lees legacy of controversy, lawsuits and sexual. Jun 16, 2011 there the two young men machinate to appear on a game show being staged and also manage to meet comic book magnate stan lee. In the 1960s, kirby joined with stan lee to develop many of our bestknown and most beloved superheroes, including the fantastic four, the incredible hulk, the xmen, thor, iron man, the avengers, and the silver surfer. In order to capitalize on the growing popularity of comic booksespecially those. He helped launch the comic book industry at the very early stages and continued to make numerous meaningful contributions. Lee, kirby, and ditko adopted a collaborative workflow that came to be known as the marvel method.
Stan lee, who died monday at the age of 95, was a popculture icon, the force behind classic superheroes like spiderman, the xmen, and the incredible hulk among many, many others. Take journey into his history and discover moments of love, pain, highs, lows and success culminating into a rich tapestry of comic book, television and cinematic history. Stan lees impact on the comic book universe is undeniable. Marvel comics elder statesman stan lee didnt just dream up some of fictions greatest heroes, he rewrote popular notions about what a hero can be, and in doing so, etched the pulp medium. His editorial approach to the superhero genre helped make marvel comics a publishing powerhouse. Stan lee talking about the future of marvel in 1984 comic book. Nov 15, 2018 when stan lee died on monday at the age of 95, the world began to reflect on the legacy he left behind. Comic book legend stan lees life was always an open book. Since then, the man now known as stan lee has launched a comic book empire, made marvel comics a household name, and. Malcolm wheelernicholson january 7, 1890 september 21, 1965 was an american pulp magazine writer and entrepreneur who pioneered the american comic book, publishing the first such periodical. What distinguished lee s superheroes from earlier ones.
December 28, 1922 november 12, 2018 was an american comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. Nov 12, 2018 in an interview filmed in 1984, stan lee pondered the future of marvel comics, seeming to have some inkling of the potential for his stories future. The series made him and atlasnow known as marvelmajor forces in the comics world. The marvel characters and comics that stan lee created. Stan lee, american comic book writer best known for his work with marvel comics. Stan lee owns his own comic book convention, sort of. Stan lee simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Lee was known for being marvel comics lead creative leader for almost 21 years.
Whether a reader is a comic historian or just a big fan, stan lee. Face front, true believers, and recognize this marvelous multitude of characters, the most bombastic cocreations of the late, great stan the man lee spiderman the wisecracking everyman with the. Stan lee biography stan lee december 28, 1922 is a comicbook writer, editor, film executive producer, and publisher. Sep, 2016 the comic book history of the fictional stan lee. At only age 17, stan is hired as, he liked to joke, a gopher for timely comics inc. Jules verne was a science fiction writer whose repertoire includes 20,000 leagues under the sea and journey to the center of the earth. Born stanley martin lieber in new york city on december 28, 1922, lee got his start at marvel thanks to his uncle robbie solomon in. Stan lee was an american comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. Stanley martin lieber, popularly known as stan lee, was. Dec 04, 2019 stan lee biography affair, married, wife, ethnicity, nationality, net worth, height married biography who was stan lee. He cocreated the fantastic four 1961, with jack kirby. However, complications arise when the girls show up. Stan the man lee born stanley martin lieber, december 28, 1922 november 12, 2018 was a comic book writer, editor, chairman emeritus of marvel comics, and creator or cocreator of just about all of marvels most recognizable characters, with the major. Although stan lees stories didnt really relate to the main comic, he was happy to write them.
Stan lee is the former head writer, editorial and art director, publisher, and chairman of marvel comics, where he now holds the title of chairman emeritus. Over a period of many years, stan loved to read storys like the hardy. Few comics writers have created so many popular and enduring franchises. Stan lee was an american comic book writer, editor, publisher, media producer, television host, actor, and former president and chairman of marvel comics who received a national medal of arts in 2008. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, works, achievements and timeline. Lee, who made cameos in a number of the marvel cinematic universe movies, is credited with creating some of the most popular comic book superheroes and villains of all time, including. In an interview filmed in 1984, stan lee pondered the future of marvel comics, seeming to have some inkling of the potential for his stories future. Perhaps the most important person to ever work in comic books and certainly the most famous lee changed the. In this excerpt from the stan lee story, learn how his career in comics began. He started out by doing menial jobs but soon made his comicbook debut with the text filler captain america foils the traitors revenge. While stan lee had a hand in creating virtually every character that was featured at the dawn of the marvel age of comics with the notable exception of captain america, who was punching out hitler in 1940 courtesy of creators jack kirby and joe simon there are a handful that he clearly cared about more than others. Learn about marvel comicss characters and prominent writers and artists. Stan lee was a former president and chairman of marvel comics.
Nov 12, 2018 stan lee, who died monday at the age of 95, was a popculture icon, the force behind classic superheroes like spiderman, the xmen, and the incredible hulk among many, many others. Since the mid50s, the major comic book publishers had entered. How stan lee changed the industry by gambit1024 march 30, 2012 1 comments excelsior. Marvel legend stan lee reflects on the science behind comic book heroes. Since the mid50s, the major comic book publishers had entered into selfcensorship agreement under the comics code authority, in which they agreed to keep the content of their stories free of sex, violence and other lurid details, including the words horror. His characters frequently performed acts of daring and bravery, values that are reflected in the comic book creations of stan lee. Lee considered the comicbook medium an art form and he was prolific.
And its a world he created in 1961 after he, as legend has it, was just done with it. Among the hundreds of characters and teams that he helped to create were the fantastic four, spiderman, the hulk, the. Since the american superhero comic book made its debut on. His 1960s superhero creations for marvel comics were instrumental in the socalled silver age of comic books, a period of artistic advancement and commercial success in mainstream comic books.
He rose through the ranks of a familyrun business to become marvel comics primary creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the. Nov 12, 2018 comic book writer, editor, and publisher stan lee died today at the age of 95. Sync your viewing history and pick up where you left off on any device. Then by 2012, stan is hired by archie comics to create a new comic book series. In 2012, stan lee and regina carpinelli, founder and ceo of comikaze expo, announced that stan lee would become a partner in the company and soon after comikaze was rebranded as stan lee s comikaze. Stan lee biography affair, married, wife, ethnicity. In 1940, timely creates the star spangled hero, captain america because of the opposing threat of the nazis. He created comics books that continue to have a major influence on our current culture and gave me an escape as a young kid born into unfortunate circumstances. Stan lee was a revered comic book creator who colaunched superheroes like the fantastic four, spiderman, doctor strange and the xmen for marvel comics.
Among the hundreds of characters and teams that he helped to create were the fantastic four, spiderman, the hulk, the avengers, daredevil, and the xmen. Learn more about lees life and career in this article. The cca allowed the comic publishers to selfregulate the content of comic books in the united states. The precursor to marvel comics was founded in 1939 by pulp magazine publisher martin goodman.
The comic book writer stan lee, who has died aged 95, revolutionised his industry in the 1960s, when he created the mythic figures that are still inspiring new generations to flock to the. December 28, 1922 november 12, 2018 was an american comic book writer, editor, and publisher. The man behind marvel focuses on where lee came from, what influenced him, and how he became the immortal face of the comic book industry. Nothing inherent in the form of comics prevents comic books from telling stories for different audiences, but the perception of comic books as juvenile literature was reinforced by the comics code. The great depression hits and stan s parents lose their jobs and are forced to move into a much smaller home. Lees entry into the timely comics in 1939 proved to be a big step in his career. When jack kirby and joe simon were fired, stan lee was ordered to take their place. Born in new york city on december 28, 1922, stan lee went on to work for the company that would eventually become marvel comics.
Stans job was to bring paint for empty containers, fetch the ceos lunch and to wait for the next complaint from the artists. To try and summarize the comic book career of stan lee is almost impossible. He rose through the ranks of a familyrun business to become marvel comics primary creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comics industry. The cocreator of some of the greatest superheroes and most beloved stories of all time, leewho passed away on november 12 at the age of 95became just as mythical and largerthanlife as the characters in the panels. In collaboration with others at marvelparticularly cowriterartists jack kirby and steve ditkohe cocreated numerous popular fictional characters, including. Stan lee is a cultural icon, this comic book autobiography has all the wit and humour that has made stan lee one of the most recognised and adored international treasures. Marvel comics, american media and entertainment company that was widely regarded as one of the big two publishers in the comic industry. Will eisner one of americas greatest comic book cartoonists, who was also jewish wrote that the golem was perceived in the 1930s as a mythological character, an early superhero.