Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Co-Creator of Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men
Known to millions as the man whose Super Heroes propelled Marvel to its preeminent position in the comic book industry, Stan Lee's co-creations include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man, as well as hundreds of others. He introduced Spider-Man as a syndicated newspaper strip that became the most successful of all syndicated adventure strips and has appeared in more than 500 newspapers worldwide. He also headed the first major successful challenge to the comics industry's censorship organization, the Comics Code Authority, and forced it to reform its policies. Stan currently remains Chairman Emeritus of Marvel, as well as a member of the Editorial Board of Marvel Comics.
He has appeared in all movies based upon a Marvel character that he is credited with. He is the Hot Dog Vendor in X-MEN (2000), Man in Fair in SPIDER-MAN (2002), Old Man at Crossing in DAREDEVIL (2003), Security Guard in HULK (2003), Man Dodging Debris in SPIDER-MAN 2 (2004), Willie Lumpkin in FANTASTIC FOUR (2005), Waterhose Man in X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (2006), Man in Times Square in SPIDER-MAN 3 (2007), Rejected Wedding Guest in FANTASTIC 4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER (2007), Man mistaken as Hugh Hefner by Tony Stark in IRON MAN (2008) and has an uncredited appearance as the Man Who Drinks The Soft Drink Contaminated With Bruce Banner's Blood in THE INCREDIBLE HULK (2008). The only one he has not appeared in was X2 (2003). He also appeared as a US Army general in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011) (even though he did not create this character) because he created Captain America's signature move of throwing his shield in a early text story and was partially responsible for successfully reviving him in the 1960s as member of The Avengers.
Stan Lee was inducted into the comic book industry's The Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995.
In 2002, his long-awaited autobiography, Excelsior!: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee, was released. It's a memoir packed with previously unseen photos and artwork from Lee's personal archive. Excelsior ("ever upward") was the catchphrase of Stan Lee, who used it at the end of every "Bullpen Bulletins" column in Marvel Comics. It's also the state motto of New York where many of his superheroes live.
The Stan Lee Foundation was founded in 2010 to focus on literacy, education and the arts. Its stated goals include supporting programs and ideas that improve access to literacy resources, as well as promoting diversity, national literacy, culture and the arts.
Stan Lee on Twitter
Stan Lee's Official Website