Stan ‘The Man’ Lee of Marvel Comics: Along came a spider

Much of our youth was spent spellbound in the Marvel universe, caught up in a mythology spun by the mind of writer Stan Lee. It was one of those simple childhood truths: A Big Apple teeming with vibrantly costumed superheroes, New York City was where the superhumans lived. Daredevil lived in Hell’s Kitchen, The Fantastic Four in Midtown, and Spider-Man in Queens.

From under Lee’s long shadow, comic books have come into their own. He revolutionized the art form and made it one of the major signposts in popular culture.

Injecting philosophy and depth in his stories—stories in which not everything is black and white and where the villain has interesting motives—his existentially tortured characters have struck a chord not only with kids but also with college students and pop-culture intellectuals. His creations are living, breathing characters whose manner, expressiveness, and compulsion make them fascinating.

Afflicted with every variety of psychological disorder, Lee’s heroes frequently wise-assed their way through adversity. Lee invented the lexicon and impetus of the modern superhero, casting his characters in a graphic, lyrical landscape. He trimmed the action with striking grandiloquence, penning captions and speech balloons edged with ironic humor.

Lee broke down the barrier, giving insight into the interior world of a superhero. The familiarity drew in readers and opened up the imagination to the notion of a superhero living in the real world.

Lee’s prodigy has permeated the entertainment industry. His mark is everywhere, in the vivid characterization and prose—stories told in a crisp, compelling method.

Ironically, Stan Lee once thought of changing his last name to "What." When introduced to people, they always used to ask him, "Stanley what?"

Now nearly 80 years old, Stan "The Man" Lee is chairman emeritus of Marvel Media and a member of the editorial board of Marvel Comics. The father of The Fantastic Four, The Hulk, X-Men, Daredevil, The Avengers, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and The Silver Surfer, he hatched the idea that possessing superpowers can really suck.

Young Star: You once said, "Everybody has problems, and everybody has secret sorrows." What was going on in your life at the time you created Spider-Man in 1963?

Stan Lee: My biggest problem in 1963 was the same as most guys—trying to make a good living. In those days, working for comic books didn’t pay a lot of money.

In the 1960’s comic, Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider, and in the 2002 movie, he is bitten by a genetically engineered spider. Do you think this reflects the collective fears of each generation?

The change simply shows that Marvel tries to keep up with the times.

Do you think the World Trade Center attacks invalidate superheroes? Where was Spider-Man during September 11?

Spider-Man was in the same place during September 11 as he was on every other date—in the imagination of his artists and writers.

Point taken. Let’s take a different tack. Did you base Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker’s love-interest, on any female character or on your wife, Joanie?

No, I didn’t base MJ on any other comic book character. But I did have my wife Joanie in mind. Of course, I had her in mind for ALL the beautiful girls I wrote about!

What were your favorite comic strips during your childhood?

Dick Tracy, Tarzan, and Flash Gordon.

When you were about the same age as Peter Parker, Joe Simon and Jack Kirby left Timely Comics, the former name of Marvel Comics, and the publisher asked you, "Do you think you could hold down the job as editor until I get a real person." At what point did you become a "real person"?

I’m still trying to become a real person! But, to be serious, I probably finally felt like "real person" when I left the army in 1945 and became a civilian again.

In Captain America No. 3, where you wrote your first piece of prose for comics, you signed your name Stan Lee because you said, "I felt someday I’d be writing The Great American Novel, and I didn’t want to use my real name on these silly little comics." What would the title of The Great American Novel be?

I won’t know what the title would be ‘til I write the book—and, although I’ve written a few books, I haven’t written "The Great American Novel." Come to think of it, I’d better hurry.

Would you sign it Stan Lee or Stanley Martin Leiber?

I’d probably sign it Stan Lee now.

In your comic book by-line "Stan’s Soapbox," why did you sign-off your column with "Excelsior!"?

I just wanted a distinctive signature line that people would remember. Apparently, it worked.

Your imagination has spawned numerous creations. Do you have a favorite character?

I really don’t have a favorite character that I’ve created. I love them all, the way a parent loves all his children. But, the one I’m most closely associated with is Spider-Man so if I were forced to name a favorite, I guess he’d be the one.

For an eternity it seems, Marvel Comics characters have been stuck in development hell or embroiled in legal battles. Did you ever think the day would come when X-Men, Blade and Spider-Man would hit the big screen?

I always expected the day would come when our Marvel superheroes would make it to the big screen. It was just a matter of time until the technology existed to allow filmmakers to capture all the fantasy and to create the incredible special effects that would be needed to do justice to the stories.

What’s the next step for Marvel?

I believe that Marvel Comics will just get better and better. They have a great management team and a talented editor who has succeeded in hiring and rehiring many of the top artists and writers in the field. Since a company is only as good as the people who work for it, I predict a very bright present and future for mighty Marvel.

And for Stan Lee?

As for me, I’ve formed a company called POW! Entertainment. POW stands for Purveyors of Wonder. We’re associated with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer and we’re working exclusively on motion pictures and TV series. My offices are at MGM where we have a number of projects in development. I don’t think I’ve ever been busier and can’t remember when I’ve had more fun.

Do you think comic books will survive PlayStation and the Internet?

I’m pretty sure comics will survive the third millennium. Their form may change a bit, but I think people will always enjoy reading illustrated stories, which pretty much sums up what comics are.

Sorry the answers are so brief, but I just don’t have time for more. Excelsior!

‘Nuff said.

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