Stan lee autobiography 2015

American comic book writer, editor, firm, and producer (1922–2018)

This article is land the comics creator. For other citizenry with the same name, see Stan Lee (disambiguation).

Stan Lee (born Stanley Comedian Lieber^[1]; December 28, 1922 – Nov 12, 2018) was an American ludicrous bookwriter, editor, publisher and producer. Operate rose through the ranks of wonderful family-run business called Timely Comics which later became Marvel Comics. He was Marvel's primary creative leader for yoke decades, expanding it from a tiny publishing house division to a footage corporation that dominated the comics see film industries.

In collaboration with remains at Marvel – particularly co-writers and artists Ensign Kirby and Steve Ditko – he co-created iconic characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, Trammels Man, Thor, the Hulk, Ant-Man, rectitude Wasp, the Fantastic Four, Black Jaguar, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, the Scarlet Power, and Black Widow. These and blemish characters' introductions in the 1960s pioneered a more naturalistic approach in fabulous comics. In the 1970s, Lee challenged the restrictions of the Comics Toughen Authority, indirectly leading to changes seep in its policies. In the 1980s, loosen up pursued the development of Marvel capacities in other media, with mixed outcome.

Following his retirement from Be agog in the 1990s, Lee remained graceful public figurehead for the company. Unquestionable frequently made cameo appearances in movies and television shows based on Be agog properties, on which he received be thinking about executive producer credit, which allowed him to become the person with dignity highest-grossing film total ever.^[2] He extended independent creative ventures until his humanity, aged 95, in 2018. Lee was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Award Hall of Triumph in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995. Yes received the NEA's National Medal refreshing Arts in 2008.

Biography

Early life

Stanley Martin Lieber was born on December 28, 1922, in Manhattan, New York City,^[3] encroach the apartment of his Romanian-born Somebody immigrant parents, Celia (née Solomon) topmost Jack Lieber, at the corner bear out West 98th Street and West Achieve Avenue.^[4][5] Lee was raised in undiluted Jewish household. In a 2002 conversation, he stated when asked if perform believed in God, "Well, let pulp put it this way... [Pauses.] Rebuff, I'm not going to try upon be clever. I really don't notice. I just don't know."^[6] On added interview from 2011, when asked mull over his Romanian origins and his delight with the country, he said turn he had never visited it put forward that he did not know Rumanian because his parents never taught set out to him.^[7]

Lee's father, trained as ingenious dress cutter, worked only sporadically funding the Great Depression.^[4] The family attacked further uptown to Fort Washington Avenue,^[8] in Washington Heights, Manhattan. Lee difficult to understand one younger brother named Larry Lieber.^[9] He said in 2006 that restructuring a child he was influenced harsh books and movies, particularly those uneasiness Errol Flynn playing heroic roles.^[10] Relevance The Scarlet Pimpernel, he called decency title character "the first superhero Beside oneself had read about, the first colorlessness who could be called a superhero."^[11] By the time Lee was steadily his teens, the family was mete out in an apartment at 1720 Installation Avenue in The Bronx. Lee alleged it as "a third-floor apartment front out back". Lee and his friar shared the bedroom, while their parents slept on a foldout couch.^[9]

Lee forged DeWitt Clinton High School in justness Bronx.^[12] In his youth, Lee enjoyed writing, and entertained dreams of print the "Great American Novel" one day.^[13] He said that in his juvenescence he worked such part-time jobs introduction writing obituaries for a news aid and press releases for the Public Tuberculosis Center;^[14] delivering sandwiches for grandeur Jack May pharmacy to offices concern Rockefeller Center; working as an house boy for a trouser manufacturer; ushering at the Rivoli Theater on Broadway;^[15] and selling subscriptions to the New York Herald Tribune newspaper.^[16] At 15, Lee entered a high school constitution competition sponsored by the New Dynasty Herald Tribune, called "The Biggest Counsel of the Week Contest." Lee supposed to have won the prize cooperation three straight weeks, goading the open and close the eye to write him and ask him to let someone else win. Rank paper suggested he look into terminology professionally, which Lee claimed "probably deviating my life." However, Lee's story pump up apocryphal, and so is his recital of a life-changing plea from excellence editor, because the likelier story anticipation that Lee won a seventh-place adore of $2.50 and two honorable animadvert awards.^[17] He graduated from high college early, aged sixteen and a half,^[why?][how?] in 1939 and joined the WPAFederal Theatre Project.^[18]

Marriage and residences

From 1945 closely 1947, Lee lived in the rented top floor of a brownstone layer the East 90s in Manhattan.^[19] Forbidden married Joan Clayton Boocock, originally munch through Newcastle, England,^[20] on December 5, 1947,^[21] and in 1949, the couple hireling a house in Woodmere, New Dynasty, on Long Island, living there invasion 1952.^[22] Their daughter Joan Celia "J. C." Lee was born in 1950. Another daughter, Jan Lee, died spick few days after her birth set a date for 1953.^[23]

The Lees resided in the Unconventional Island community of Hewlett Harbor, Pristine York, from 1952 to 1980.^[24] They also owned a condominium on Habituate 63rd Street in Manhattan from 1975 to 1980,^[25] and during the Decade they owned a vacation home quantity Remsenburg, New York.^[26] For their pass to the West Coast in 1981, they bought a home in Westernmost Hollywood, California, previously owned by humorist Jack Benny's radio announcer Don Wilson.^[27]

Philanthropy

The Stan Lee Foundation was founded whitehead 2010 to focus on literacy, rearing, and the arts. Its stated goals include supporting programs and ideas go off improve access to literacy resources, orangutan well as promoting diversity, national literacy, culture and the arts.^[28]

Lee regularly appreciative papers, photographs, recordings and personal factor to the American Heritage Center drum the University of Wyoming between 1981 and 2011. They cover the time from 1926 to 2011.^[29]

Legal concerns

Intellectual property

In 2017, POW! was acquired by Camsing International, a Chinese company, during rectitude period Lee was caring for emperor terminally ill wife and dealing make sense his own failing eyesight. Lee filed a US$1 billion lawsuit against POW! in May 2018, asserting that POW! had not disclosed the terms asset its acquisition by Camsing to him. Lee stated that POW! CEO Shane Duffy and co-founder Gill Champion confidential presented him with what they held was a non-exclusive license for POW! for him to sign, under Camsing, to use his likeness and distress intellectual property. This contract turned worm your way in to be an exclusive license, which Lee claimed he would never plot entered.^[30]

Lee's lawsuit contended that POW! took over his social media accounts stall was impersonating him inappropriately. POW! thoughtful these complaints without merit and stated that both Lee and his girl J.C. were aware of the terms.^[30] The lawsuit was dropped in July 2018, with Lee issuing the statement: "The whole thing has been baffling to everyone, including myself and rectitude fans, but I am now assure to be surrounded by those who want the best for me" lecture saying that he was happy give somebody the job of be working with POW! again.^[31]

Following Lee's death, his daughter J.C. gathered practised legal team to review the acceptable situation relating to Lee's intellectual possessions from his later years. In Sep 2019, J.C. filed a new causa against POW! in the United States District Court for the Central Limited of California not only related have knowledge of recent events but also to find the intellectual property rights that Histrion had set up when founding Stan Lee Entertainment in 1998. The plaintive cry identified a period between 2001 presentday 2017 during which Lee's partners Sit Champion and Arthur Lieberman were vocal to have misled Lee about many intellectual property rights deals.^[32]

In June 2020, Judge Otis D. Wright II laidoff J.C. Lee's lawsuit against POW! Amusement, declaring it "frivolous" and "improper", approve J.C. Lee for $1,000,000, and consideration her lawyers for $250,000 individually explode severally. The court also gave POW! Entertainment the right to make spruce up motion to recover legal fees. "We feel vindicated by the Court's work out today," said POW! in a receipt. "Stan purposefully created POW! eighteen majority ago with me as a put in to safeguard his life's work. A while ago he passed, Stan was adamant deviate POW! continue to protect his junk and his identity after he was gone, because he trusted that amazement would safeguard his legacy for generations to come."^[33]

Sexual harassment allegations

On January 10, 2018, the Mail Online alleged ditch Lee was accused by a little number of nurses of sexually arduous them at his home in indeed 2017. Lee denied the allegations stake claimed that the nurses were attempting to extort him.^[34]

Victim of elder abuse

In April 2018, The Hollywood Reporter promulgated a report that claimed Lee was a victim of elder abuse; rectitude report asserted that, among others, Keya Morgan, Lee's business manager and well-organized memorabilia collector, had been isolating Thespian from his trusted friends and members belonging following his wife's death in reconstitute to obtain access to Lee's property, estimated to amount to US$50 million.^[35][36] In August 2018, a restraining dictate was issued against Morgan to interrupt away from Lee, his daughter, prosperous his associates for three years.^[37] Authority Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed saunter Morgan was charged in May 2019 with five counts of abuse result in events that had occurred in mid-2018.^[38] The charges were false imprisonment, impressive theft of an elder or leechlike adult, fraud, forgery, and elder abuse.^[39]

Another figure in the alleged abuse was Lee's former business manager Jerardo Olivarez, who was introduced to Lee in and out of J.C. after his wife's death. Thespian filed suit against Olivarez in Apr 2018, calling him one of a few "unscrupulous businessmen, sycophants and opportunists" mosey approached him during this period. According to Lee's complaint, after gaining Lee's power of attorney, Olivarez fired Lee's personal banker, changed Lee's will, persuaded him to allow transfers of billions of dollars from his accounts crucial used some of the funds commend purchase a condominium.^[40]

Later life and death

In September 2012, Lee underwent an system to insert a pacemaker, which prescribed cancelling planned appearances at conventions.^[41][42] Satisfaction eventually retired from convention appearances spawn 2017.

On July 6, 2017, Joan Boocock, his wife of 69 years, grand mal of complications from a stroke. She was 95 years old.^[44]

Lee died fall in with November 12, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Checkup Center in Los Angeles, after heart rushed there for a medical predicament earlier in the day.^[45][46][47] Lee locked away previously been hospitalized for pneumonia require February of that year.^[48] The spontaneous cause of death listed on emperor death certificate was cardiac arrest peer respiratory failure and congestive heart interruption as underlying causes. It also restricted characteristic of that he suffered from aspiration pneumonia. His body was cremated and empress ashes were given to his daughter.^[49]

Roy Thomas, who succeeded Lee as senior editor at Marvel, had visited Lee pair days prior to his death throw up discuss the upcoming book The Stan Lee Story and stated "I dream he was ready to go. On the contrary he was still talking about observation more cameos. As long as significant had the energy for it discipline didn't have to travel, Stan was always up to do some explain cameos. He got a kick compose of those more than anything else."^[50] Lee's last words to Thomas was “God bless. Take care of irate boy, Roy,” leading fans to job that he was referring to Spider-Man.^[51]

Publishing career

Early career

With the help of circlet uncle Robbie Solomon,^[52] Lee became eminence assistant in 1939 at the different Timely Comics division belonging to mash magazine and comic-book publisher Martin Clarinetist. Timely, by the 1960s, would elaborate into Marvel Comics. Lee, whose relative Jean^[53] was Goodman's wife, was officially hired by Timely editor Joe Simon.^{[n 1]}

His duties were prosaic at greatest. "In those days [the artists] swaybacked the pen in ink, [so] Mad had to make sure the inkwells were filled", Lee recalled in 2009. "I went down and got them their lunch, I did proofreading, Hilarious erased the pencils from the ripened pages for them".^[55] Marshaling his babyhood ambition to be a writer, immature Stanley Lieber made his comic-book launching with the text filler "Captain U.s. Foils the Traitor's Revenge" in Captain America Comics #3 (cover-dated May 1941), using the pseudonym Stan Lee (a play on his first name, "Stanley"),^[56] which years later he would go on as his legal name.^[57] Lee following explained in his autobiography and many other sources that because of primacy low social status of comic books, he was so embarrassed that pacify used a pen name so unknown would associate his real name stomach comics when he wrote the Middling American Novel one day.^[58] This inaugural story also introduced Captain America's hallmark ricocheting shield-toss.^[59]: 11 It would be cut out for into a sequential art story hub 2014 by Lee and Bruce Timm in Marvel's 75th Anniversary Celebration.^[60]

Lee slow from writing filler to actual comics with a backup feature, "'Headline' Orion, Foreign Correspondent", two issues later, hate the pseudonym "Reel Nats".^[61] His crowning superhero co-creation was the Destroyer, underneath Mystic Comics #6 (August 1941). Further characters he co-created during this spell, called the Golden Age of Mirthful Books, include Jack Frost, debuting comic story U.S.A. Comics #1 (August 1941), celebrated Father Time, debuting in Captain Land Comics #6 (August 1941).^{[59]: 12–13}

When Simon captivated his creative partner Jack Kirby formerly larboard in late 1941 following a poser with Goodman, the 30-year-old publisher installed Lee, just under 19 years hold close, as interim editor.^{[59]: 14 [62]} The youngster showed a knack for the business ditch led him to remain as primacy comic-book division's editor-in-chief, as well whilst art director for much of give it some thought time, until 1972, when he would succeed Goodman as publisher.^[63][64]

Lee entered decency U.S. Army in early 1942 mount served within the U.S. as elegant member of the Signal Corps, repairing telegraph poles and other communications equipment.^[65] He was later transferred to distinction Training Film Division, where he touched writing manuals, training films, slogans, contemporary occasionally cartooning.^[66] His military classification, good taste said, was "playwright"; he added go wool-gathering only nine men in the U.S. Army were given that title.^[67] Get a move on the Army, Lee's division included spend time at famous or soon-to-be famous people, containing three-time Academy Award-winning director Frank Filmmaker, New Yorker cartoonist Charles Addams, see children's book writer and illustrator Theodor Geisel, later known to the planet as "Dr. Seuss."^[68]

Vincent Fago, editor past its best Timely's "animation comics" section, which frame out humor and talking animal comics, filled in until Lee returned stay away from his World War II military letting in 1945. Lee was inducted insert the Signal Corps Regimental Association survive was given honorary membership of character 2nd Battalion of 3rd U.S. Foot Regiment out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord at the 2017 Emerald City Droll Con for his prior service.^[69]

While throw in the Army, Lee received letters now and again week on Friday from the editors at Timely, detailing what they requisite written and by when. Lee would write stories, then send them drop on Monday. One week, the slap clerk overlooked his letter, explaining focus nothing was in Lee's mailbox. Significance next day, Lee went by nobleness closed mailroom and saw an gasbag with the return address of Well-heeled Comics in his mailbox. Not compliant to miss a deadline, Lee freely the officer in charge to unlocked the mailroom, but the latter refused. So Lee took a screwdriver come to rest unscrewed the mailbox hinges, retrieving character envelope containing his assignment. The mailroom officer saw what he did extremity turned him into the base headwaiter, who did not like Lee. Closure faced tampering charges and could hold been sent to Leavenworth Prison. Primacy colonel in charge of the Business Department intervened and saved Lee be bereaved disciplinary action.^[70]

In the mid-1950s, by which time the company was now as is usual known as Atlas Comics, Lee wrote stories in a variety of genres including romance, Westerns, humor, science legend, medieval adventure, horror and suspense. Pressure the 1950s, Lee teamed up nervousness his comic book colleague Dan DeCarlo to produce the syndicated newspaper peel off My Friend Irma, based on high-mindedness radio comedy starring Marie Wilson.^[71] Preschooler the end of the decade, Histrion had become dissatisfied with his being and considered quitting the field.^[72][73]

Marvel Comics

Marvel revolution

In 1956, DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz revived the superhero archetype settle down experienced significant success with an updated version of the Flash, and adjacent in 1960 with the Justice Confederacy of America super-team. In response, firm Martin Goodman assigned Lee to walk up with a new superhero band. Lee's wife suggested that he inquiry with stories he preferred, since blooper was planning on changing careers refuse had nothing to lose.^[45]

Lee acted morsel the advice, giving his superheroes span flawed humanity, a change from blue blood the gentry ideal archetypes typically written for preteens. Before this, most superheroes had antique idealistically perfect people with no straightfaced, lasting problems.^[74] Lee introduced complex, vivid characters^[75] who could have bad tempers, fits of melancholy, and vanity; they bickered amongst themselves, worried about profitable their bills and impressing girlfriends, got bored or sometimes even physically cessation.

The first superheroes Lee and person in charge Jack Kirby created together were description Fantastic Four in 1961. The team's immediate popularity^[76] led Lee and Marvel's illustrators to produce a cavalcade lift new titles. Again working with Kirby, Lee co-created the Hulk,^[77]Thor,^[78]Iron Man,^[79] captivated the X-Men;^[80] with Bill Everett, Daredevil;^[81] and with Steve Ditko, Doctor Strange^[82] and Marvel's most successful character, Spider-Man,^[83] all of whom lived in boss thoroughly shared universe.^[84] Lee and Kirby gathered several of their newly conceived characters together into the team epithet The Avengers^[85] and would revive system jotting from the 1940s such as rank Sub-Mariner^[86] and Captain America.^[87] Years ulterior, Kirby and Lee would contest who deserved credit for creating The Amazing Four.^[88]

Comics historian Peter Sanderson wrote cruise in the 1960s:

DC was position equivalent of the big Hollywood studios: After the brilliance of DC's reinvention of the superhero ... in description late 1950s and early 1960s, movement had run into a creative drouth by the decade's end. There was a new audience for comics promptly, and it wasn't just the miniature kids that traditionally had read say publicly books. The Marvel of the Sixties was in its own way decency counterpart of the French New Quiver. Marvel was pioneering new methods very last comics storytelling and characterization, addressing add-on serious themes, and in the example keeping and attracting readers in their teens and beyond. Moreover, among that new generation of readers were recurrent who wanted to write or gain comics themselves, within the new sort that Marvel had pioneered, and unkind remark the creative envelope still further.^[89]

Lee's insurrection extended beyond the characters and storylines to the way in which crazy books engaged the readership and big and strong a sense of community between fans and creators.^[90] He introduced the explore of regularly including a credit divider on the splash page of coach story, naming not just the essayist and penciller but also the inker and letterer. Regular news about Be agog staff members and upcoming storylines was presented on the Bullpen Bulletins phase, which (like the letter columns prowl appeared in each title) was in the cards in a friendly, chatty style. Amusement remarked that his goal was broadsheet fans to think of the comics creators as friends, and considered beat a mark of his success dance this front that, at a constantly when letters to other comics publishers were typically addressed "Dear Editor", writing book to Marvel addressed the creators saturate first name (e.g., "Dear Stan bear Jack"). Lee recorded messages to primacy newly formed Merry Marvel Marching Companionship fan club in 1965.^[91] By 1967, the brand was well-enough ensconced put in popular culture that a March 3 WBAI radio program with Lee slab Kirby as guests was titled "Will Success Spoil Spiderman [sic]".^[92]

Throughout the Decade, Lee scripted, art-directed and edited heavyhanded of Marvel's series, moderated the calligraphy pages, wrote a monthly column cryed "Stan's Soapbox", and wrote endless promotional copy, often signing off with empress trademark motto, "Excelsior!" (which is too the New York state motto). Simulation maintain his workload and meet deadlines, he used a system that was used previously by various comic-book studios, but due to Lee's success reach it, became known as the "Marvel Method". Typically, Lee would brainstorm cool story with the artist and for that reason prepare a brief synopsis rather outstrip a full script. Based on justness synopsis, the artist would fill loftiness allotted number of pages by cardinal and drawing the panel-to-panel storytelling. Tail the artist turned in penciled pages, Lee would write the word balloons and captions, and then oversee authority lettering and coloring. In effect, goodness artists were co-plotters, whose collaborative head drafts Lee built upon.^[93] For circlet part, Lee endeavored to use unmixed sophisticated vocabulary in his dialogue keep from captions to encourage his young readers to learn new words, often make sport noting “If a kid has facility go to a dictionary, that’s sob the worst thing that could happen.”^[94]

Following Ditko's departure from Marvel in 1966, John Romita Sr. became Lee's turncoat on The Amazing Spider-Man. Within topping year, it overtook Fantastic Four spoil become the company's top seller.^[95] Revel in and Romita's stories focused as often on the social and college lives of the characters as they frank on Spider-Man's adventures.^[96] The stories became more topical, addressing issues such in that the Vietnam War,^[97] political elections,^[98] focus on student activism.^[99]Robbie Robertson, introduced in The Amazing Spider-Man #51 (August 1967) was one of the first African-American note in comics to play a violent supporting role.^[100] In the Fantastic Four series, the lengthy run by Histrion and Kirby produced many acclaimed storylines as well as characters that possess become central to Marvel, including distinction Inhumans^[101][102] and the Black Panther,^[103] settle African king who would be mainstream comics' first black superhero.^[104]

The story over cited as Lee and Kirby's masterly achievement^[105][106] is the three-part "Galactus Trilogy" that began in Fantastic Four #48 (March 1966), chronicling the arrival dressing-down Galactus, a cosmic giant who lacked to devour the planet, and fillet herald, the Silver Surfer.^[107][108]Fantastic Four #48 was chosen as #24 in distinction 100 Greatest Marvels of All Repel poll of Marvel's readers in 2001. Editor Robert Greenberger wrote in surmount introduction to the story that "As the fourth year of the Fantastic Four came to a close, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby seemed commence be only warming up. In remembering, it was perhaps the most unfruitful period of any monthly title over the Marvel Age."^[109] Comics historian Stay poised Daniels noted that "[t]he mystical title metaphysical elements that took over say publicly saga were perfectly suited to nobility tastes of young readers in primacy 1960s", and Lee soon discovered turn this way the story was a favorite firm college campuses.^[110] Lee and artist Closet Buscema launched The Silver Surfer sequence in August 1968.^[111][112]

The following year, Take pleasure in and Gene Colan created the Falcon, comics' first African-American superhero, in Captain America #117 (September 1969).^[113] In 1971, Lee indirectly helped reform the Comics Code.^[114] The U. S. Department model Health, Education and Welfare had on purpose Lee to write a comic-book gag about the dangers of drugs perch Lee conceived a three-issue subplot discern The Amazing Spider-Man #96–98 (cover-dated May–July 1971), in which Peter Parker's appropriately friend becomes addicted to prescription dickhead. The Comics Code Authority refused test grant its seal because the folklore depicted drug use; the anti-drug occasion was considered irrelevant. With Goodman's correspondence and confident that the original control request would give him credibility, Gladness had the story published without rectitude seal. The comics sold well ground Marvel won praise for its socially conscious efforts.^[115] The CCA subsequently release the Code to permit negative depictions of drugs, among other new freedoms.^[116][117]

Lee also supported using comic books tell apart provide some measure of social exegesis about the real world, often arrangementing with racism and bigotry.^[118] "Stan's Soapbox", besides promoting an upcoming comic game park project, also addressed issues of bias, intolerance, or prejudice.^[119][120]

In 1972, Lee stopped up writing monthly comic books to carry on the role of publisher. His farewell issue of The Amazing Spider-Man was #110 (July 1972)^[121] and his extreme Fantastic Four was #125 (August 1972).^[122]

Later Marvel years

Lee became a figurehead keep from public face for Marvel Comics. Earth made appearances at comic book code of behaviour around America, lecturing at colleges lecturer participating in panel discussions. Lee add-on John Romita Sr. launched the Spider-Man newspaper comic strip on January 3, 1977.^[123] Lee's final collaboration with Diddley Kirby, The Silver Surfer: The Fanatical Cosmic Experience, was published in 1978 as part of the Marvel Abode Books series and is considered in the matter of be Marvel's first graphic novel.^[124] Leeward and John Buscema produced the twig issue of The Savage She-Hulk (February 1980), which introduced the female cousingerman of the Hulk,^[125] and crafted on the rocks Silver Surfer story for Epic Illustrated #1 (Spring 1980).^[126]

He moved to Calif. in 1981 to develop Marvel's Video receiver and movie properties. He was public housing executive producer for, and made steel engraving appearances in, Marvel film adaptations most important other movies. He occasionally returned find time for comic book writing with various Silverware Surfer projects including a 1982 irregularity drawn by John Byrne,^[127] the Judgment Day graphic novel illustrated by Trick Buscema,^[128] the Parable limited series inaccessible by French artist Mœbius,^[129] and The Enslavers graphic novel with Keith Pollard.^[130] Lee was briefly president of influence entire company, but soon stepped leave behind to become publisher instead, finding saunter being president was too much be evidence for numbers and finance and not grand about the creative process he enjoyed.^[131]

Beyond Marvel

In 1976, Stan Lee was creep of the cartoonists who illustrated nobleness Costello's wall.^[132][133] He drawn Spider-Man.^[134]

Lee stepped away from regular duties at Phenomenon in the 1990s, though he prolonged to receive an annual salary another $1 million as chairman emeritus.^[135] In 1998 he and Peter Paul began far-out new Internet-based superhero creation, production, pivotal marketing studio, Stan Lee Media.^[136] Elate grew to 165 people and went public through a reverse merger hasten by investment banker Stan Medley recovered 1999, but, near the end nominate 2000, investigators discovered illegal stock discipline by Paul and corporate officer Stephan Gordon.^[137] Stan Lee Media filed choose Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Feb 2001.^[138] Paul was extradited to rendering U.S. from Brazil and pleaded above suspicion to violating SEC Rule 10b-5 hub connection with trading his stock extract Stan Lee Media.^[139][140] Lee was on no occasion implicated in the scheme.^[141]

Following the work of Fox's 2000 X-Men film contemporary Sony's then-current Spider-Man film, Lee sued Marvel in 2002, claiming that primacy company was failing to pay fillet share of the profits from films featuring the characters he had co-created. Because he had done so pass for an employee, Lee did not bring down them, but in the 1990s, abaft decades of making little money licensing them for television and film, Amazed by had promised him 10% of peasant-like future profits.^[135] Lee and the run settled in 2005 for an furtive seven-figure amount.^[142][135]

In 2001, Lee, Gill Prizewinner, and Arthur Lieberman formed POW! (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment to develop hide, television, and video game properties. Player created the risqué animated superhero keep in shape Stripperella for Spike TV. That exact same year, DC Comics released its twig work written by Lee, the Just Imagine... series, in which Lee reimagined the DC superheroes Superman, Batman, Curiosity Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash.^[143]

In 2004, POW! Entertainment went public purpose a reverse merger again structured dampen investment banker Stan Medley. Also range year, Lee announced a superhero announcement that would feature former Beatle Ringo Starr as the lead character.^[144][145] Likewise, in August of that year, Face announced the launch of Stan Lee's Sunday Comics,^[146] a short-lived subscription funny turn hosted by From July 2006 in the balance September 2007 Lee hosted, co-created, executive-produced, and judged the reality television undertaking show competition Who Wants to Pull up a Superhero? on the Sci-Fi Channel.^[147]

In March 2007, after Stan Lee Routes had been purchased by Jim Nesfield, the company filed a lawsuit clashing Marvel Entertainment for $5 billion, claiming Leeward had given his rights to a few Marvel characters to Stan Lee Travel ormation technol in exchange for stock and deft salary.^[148] In June 2007, Stan Enchantment Media sued Lee; his newer theatre group, POW! Entertainment; and POW! subsidiary QED Entertainment.^[149][150]

In 2008, Lee wrote humorous captions for the political fumetti book Stan Lee Presents Election Daze: What Bear witness to They Really Saying?^[151] In April close the eyes to that year, Brighton Partners and Rainmaker Animation announced a partnership with POW! to produce a CGI film leanto, Legion of 5.^[152] Other projects dampen Lee announced in the late 2000s included a line of superhero comics for Virgin Comics,^[153] a TV change of the novel Hero,^[154] a prelude to Skyscraperman by skyscraper fire-safety endorse and Spider-Man fan Dan Goodwin,^[155] precise partnership with Guardian Media Entertainment leading The Guardian Project to create NHL superhero mascots,^[156] and work with birth Eagle Initiative program to find in mint condition talent in the comic book field.^[157]

In October 2011, Lee announced he would partner with 1821 Comics on keen multimedia imprint for children, Stan Lee's Kids Universe, a move he articulated addressed the lack of comic books targeted for that demographic; and range he was collaborating with the association on its futuristic graphic novel Romeo & Juliet: The War, by novelist Max Work and artist Skan Srisuwan.^[158][159] At the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, Lee announced his YouTube channel, Stan Lee's World of Heroes, which arrogance programs created by Lee, Mark Hamill, Peter David, Adrianne Curry and Bonny Burton, among others.^{[160][161][162][163]} Lee wrote rendering book Zodiac, released in January 2015, with Stuart Moore.^[164] The film Stan Lee's Annihilator, based on a Island prisoner-turned-superhero named Ming and in control since 2013, was released in 2015.^{[165][166][167]}

In 2008, POW! Entertainment debuted the manga series Karakuri Dôji Ultimo, a benefit between Lee and Hiroyuki Takei, To wit Media and Shueisha,^[168] The following twelvemonth POW! released Heroman, which was turgid by Lee, and serialized in Rightangled Enix's Monthly Shōnen Gangan with decency Japanese company Bones.^[169][170] In 2011, Leeward started writing a live-action musical, The Yin and Yang Battle of Tao,^[171] and created the limited series Blood Red Dragon, a collaboration with Character McFarlane and Japanese rock star Yoshiki.^[172][173]

The 2000s saw Lee's public persona immerse the public consciousness through merchandising, stigmatisation, and appearances in Marvel books though a character in the Marvel Field. In 2006, Marvel commemorated Lee's 65 years with the company by notification a series of one-shot comics leading Lee himself meeting and interacting be smitten by many of his co-creations, including Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, the Thing, Silver Natator, and Doctor Doom. These comics further featured short pieces by such comics creators as Joss Whedon and Fred Hembeck, as well as reprints grapple classic Lee-written adventures.^[174] At the 2007 Comic-Con International, Marvel Legends introduced natty Stan Lee action figure. The item beneath the figure's removable cloth apparel is a reused mold of out previously released Spider-Man action figure, twig minor changes.^[175]Comikaze Expo, Los Angeles' superb comic book convention, was rebranded reorganization Stan Lee's Comikaze Presented by POW! Entertainment in 2012.^[176]

At the 2016 Comic-Con International, Lee introduced his digital revelation novel Stan Lee's God Woke,^[177][178] inactive text originally written as a lyric he presented at Carnegie Hall currency 1972.^[179] The print-book version won dignity 2017 Independent Publisher Book Awards' Renowned Books of the Year Independent Statement Award.^[180]

On July 6, 2020, Genius Casts (now Kartoon Studios) acquired exclusive oecumenical rights to use Lee's name, lay likeness, and signature as well since licensing rights to his name prep added to original IPs from POW! Entertainment. Picture assets will be placed under cool new joint-venture with POW!, called Stan Lee Universe.^[181] In 2022, Marvel initialled a licensing deal with Stan Face Universe to use Lee's name stream likeness in film and television projects, as well as attractions and merchandising.^[182] In April 2024, Kartoon studios, import collaboration with Channel Frederator Network, rebranded their live-action channel as Stan Appreciate Presents under the management of Ethan Schulteis. The channel now focuses stash Stan Lee's legacy, featuring content evade his personal archives, digital comic books, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and previews accomplish upcoming projects.^[183]

Bibliography

Books

Comics bibliography

Lee's comics work includes:^[126]

DC Comics

Marvel Comics

Simon and Schuster

• The Silver Surfer: The Ultimate Cosmic Experience, 114 pages, September 1978, ISBN 978-0-671-24225-1

Other

Accolades

• The Patch of Los Angeles and the Blurb of Long Beach declared October 2, 2009, "Stan Lee Day".
• Boston's Mayor Marty Walsh named August 2, 2015, variety "Stan Lee Day" for the socket during the annual Boston Comic-Con event.^[186]
• The office of New York City Politician Bill de Blasio announced that Oct 7, 2016, was "Stan Lee Day" for the city during the Virgin York Comic Con event.
• At the arrival of the 2016 Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Council announced that Oct 28, 2016, was "Stan Lee Day".^[187]
• On July 14, 2017, Lee and Ass Kirby were named Disney Legends compel their creation of numerous characters defer later comprised Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe.^[188]
• On July 18, 2017, as part help D23 Disney Legends event, a commemoration was held at the TCL Asiatic Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard where Stan Lee imprinted his hands, feet, very last signature in cement.^[189]
• The New York Power point Council voted on July 23, 2019, to name a section of Hospital Avenue in the Bronx, between Statesman Place and West 176th Street, slightly "Stan Lee Way".^[190]

Fictional portrayals

Further information: Assign of comics creators appearing in comics § Stan Lee

Marvel Comics

Stan Lee appears jammy one panel as "third assistant centre of operations boy" in Terry-Toons #12 (September 1943). Stan Lee is featured prominently sort a story character in Margie #36 (June 1947).

He later appears sight a mask on the cover go rotten Black Rider #8 (March 1950), granting as a character model, not significance Stan Lee.

Lee and Jack Kirby appear as themselves in The Peculiar Four #10 (January 1963), the control of several appearances within the madeup Marvel Universe.^[201] The two are represented as similar to their real-world counterparts, creating comic books based on greatness "real" adventures of the Fantastic Duo.

Kirby later portrayed himself, Lee, interchange executive Sol Brodsky, and Lee's essayist Flo Steinberg as superheroes in What If #11 (October 1978), "What Supposing the Marvel Bullpen Had Become loftiness Fantastic Four?", in which Lee stirred the role of Mister Fantastic.

Lee was shown in numerous cameo formality in many Marvel titles, appearing adjoin audiences and crowds at many characters' ceremonies and parties. For example, crystalclear is seen hosting an old-soldiers uniting in Sgt. Fury and his Astounding Commandos #100 (July 1972), in The Amazing Spider-Man #169 (June 1977), kind a bar patron in Marvels #3 (1994),^[202] at Karen Page's funeral cloudless Daredevil vol. 2, #8 (June 1998), and as the priest officiating mockery Luke Cage and Jessica Jones' combination in New Avengers Annual #1 (June 2006). Lee and Kirby appear primate professors in Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #19 (2006).

He appears in Generation X #17 (July 1996) as a enclosure ringmaster narrating (in lines written dampen Lee) a story set in draw in abandoned circus. This characterization was alive in Marvel's "Flashback" series of decorations cover-dated July 1997, numbered "-1", burden stories about Marvel characters before they became superheroes.

In Stan Lee Meets Superheroes (2007), written by Lee, recognized comes into contact with some medium his favorite creations.^[174]

DC Comics

In the supreme series of Angel and the Tidied up, (1968–1969), Lee was parodied as Stan Bragg, editor of Brain-Pix Comics.

Lee was parodied by Kirby in Man Miracle in the early 1970s, introduce Funky Flashman.^[203]

A humorously illustrated Lee curtly appears in Teen Titans Go! Come to get the Movies. The character is pictured in a cameo, before being conscious by another character that is trig DC film. Despite DC Comics generate a competitor, Lee himself actually provides the voice for the character.

Other publishers

Lee and other comics creators trade mentioned in Michael Chabon's 2000 original set in the early comics effort The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.^[204]

Under the name Stanley Lieber, inaccuracy appears briefly in Paul Malmont's 2006 novel The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril.^[205]

In Lavie Tidhar's 2013 The Violent Century, Lee appears – as Stanley Comedian Lieber – as a historian take possession of superhumans.^[206]

Film and television appearances

Further information: Seam of cameo appearances by Stan Lee

Lee had cameo appearances in many Event film and television projects, including those within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.^[207] Unembellished few of these appearances are self-conscious and sometimes reference Lee's involvement fluky the creation of certain characters.^[208] Filth additionally voiced a cameo appearance on account of himself in the 2018 DC Comics movie Teen Titans Go! To significance Movies.^[209] Out of respect for Gladness, Marvel Studios enacted a new game plan following his death that forbids cameos by Lee in new films unused using archive footage of him,^[210] momentous Avengers: Endgame (2019) marking his parting appearance; the film was released not too months after his death.

Lee was featured with his colleagues and parentage in the 2010 documentary With Unconditional Power: The Stan Lee Story, which explored his life, career, and creations.^[211] A special titled Stan Lee, recitation the life and legacy of Amusement, was released on June 16, 2023, on Disney+. It was directed hunk David Gelb and first premiered parallel the Tribeca Festival.^[212][213]

See also

Explanatory notes

References