STAN LEE
In 1939, a teenage Stan Lee began his career in comics and 75 years later, he is celebrated as the creative tour de force behind Marvel’s Silver Age - the co-creator of beloved characters like Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor and the X-Men. Take part in Stan ‘The Man’ Lee’s historic legacy!
Legendary Hits
First Work
In Captain America Comics (1941) #3
Lee’s first writing was providing filler text in this Golden Age Captain America story, written by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. A career in comics begins!
Wartime Comics
In Usa Comics (1941) #1
Check out one of Stan's first scripts in comics with "The Origin of Jack Frost"!
The Silver Age & Jack Kirby
In Fantastic Four (1961) #1
With the birth of Marvel’s First Family, co-creators Kirby and Lee ushered in the Silver Age. Rejecting the notion that super heroics were juvenile, Lee redefined comics by founding a team that struggled with recognizable issues. In their first year, the FF dealt with the Cold War and bankruptcy!
Radioactive Spider-Man
In Amazing Fantasy (1962) #15
Peter Parker makes his Marvel debut! Lee’s inspiration for Spider-Man came of his desire to depict an adolescent hero who wasn’t relegated to sidekick. Finding spiders ‘spooky’, Stan and artist Steve Ditko created Marvel’s most globally recognized hero.
The Incredible Hulk
In Incredible Hulk (1962) #1
Tortured Bruce Banner would resonate deeply with readers, particularly adults. Lee and Kirby present another Silver Age wonder – the irradiated monster Hulk.
Dawn of Mutants
In Uncanny X-Men (1981) #9
Following the success of Spider-Man and Hulk, Lee and Kirby developed a new team of heroes with inborn powers. The series was originally to be titled “The Mutants”, but was changed to the even more cryptic “X-Men” and featured a mostly teenage team. Read the very first Avengers vs. X-Men story!
The Coming of Galactus
In Fantastic Four (1961) #48
Often cited as one of Lee and Kirby’s greatest collaborations, this story arc marked a brave turn for the Fantastic Four. The team begins to unravel after the arrival of The Watcher and Silver Surfer portends the End of Days.
Legend of Thor
In Thor: Tales of Asgard by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby (2009) #1
The Realm Eternal is brought to vivid new life in this remastered series featuring Lee and Kirby’s Thor! Collecting the "Tales of Asgard" backup stories from Journey into Mystery (1952) #97-104.
Farewell to the Web-Head
In The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #110
Lee’s last issue on Amazing Spider-Man! Although he no longer wrote monthly titles, ‘The Man’ continued his influence as a Publisher and Editor.
Silver Surfer: Parable
In Silver Surfer: Parable (1988)
Lee turned writer again in 1988 when he joined French artist Moebius to spin this dreamy fable about Marvel’s cosmic wanderer. Galactus has gained the worship of Earth’s people. Moebius’ otherworldly style appears boundless.
Stan Lee Meets…
In STAN LEE MEETS SPIDER-MAN 1 (2006) #1
The writer meets his greatest creations in this really fun read! Partially penciled by Oliver Coipel, this series also explores comics fandom at large.