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A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee
The comprehensive biography of Stan lee, father of Spider-Man and The Avengers, beloved comicbook writer and editor, and former president and publisher of Marvel Comics, by Lee's colleague of over four decades.
Stan Lee invented Spider-Man! And Iron Man! And the Hulk! And the X-Men!
And more than 500 other iconic characters! His name has appeared on more than a billion comic books, in 75 countries, in 25 languages. His creations have starred in multibillion-dollar grossing movies and TV series.
This is his story.
Danny Fingeroth writes a comprehensive biography of this powerhouse of ideas who changed the world’s understanding of what a hero is and how a story should be told, while exploring Lee's unique path to becoming the face of comics.
With behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with Stan’s brother Larry Lieber and other industry legends, The Marvelous Life has insights that only an insider like Fingeroth can offer.
Fingeroth, himself a longtime writer and editor at Marvel Comics and now a lauded pop culture critic and historian, knew and worked with Stan Lee for over three decades. Due to this connection, Fingeroth is able to put Lee’s life and work in a context that makes events and actions come to life as no other writer could.
Stan Lee invented Spider-Man! And Iron Man! And the Hulk! And the X-Men!
And more than 500 other iconic characters! His name has appeared on more than a billion comic books, in 75 countries, in 25 languages. His creations have starred in multibillion-dollar grossing movies and TV series.
This is his story.
Danny Fingeroth writes a comprehensive biography of this powerhouse of ideas who changed the world’s understanding of what a hero is and how a story should be told, while exploring Lee's unique path to becoming the face of comics.
With behind-the-scenes stories and interviews with Stan’s brother Larry Lieber and other industry legends, The Marvelous Life has insights that only an insider like Fingeroth can offer.
Fingeroth, himself a longtime writer and editor at Marvel Comics and now a lauded pop culture critic and historian, knew and worked with Stan Lee for over three decades. Due to this connection, Fingeroth is able to put Lee’s life and work in a context that makes events and actions come to life as no other writer could.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2019
123 people are currently reading
902 people want to read
About the author
Danny Fingeroth
329 books24 followersDaniel Fingeroth (/ˈfɪŋɡərɔːθ/) is an American comic book writer and editor, best known for a long stint as group editor of the Spider-Man books at Marvel Comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
October 25, 2019
The introduction to this awesome biography makes an important point. Most people, when asked to name famous comic book creators/writers, would respond, "Stan Lee.'' Because there are very few people who don't know who Stan Lee is (I can't bring myself to use past tense there). And for most people who aren't avid comic book fans, Stan Lee's name is the only one they can come up with. There are other greats (which my husband is introducing me to a bit at a time -- he's been a comic book fan for decades. I'm just now learning.), but Stan Lee was just a force all to himself.
This biography includes interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, background information on Marvel Comics, the characters Stan created, and his life from childhood until his death. I love how the book doesn't just focus on Marvel comics but on the man himself. It gives a full account of his life, experiences, and his writing.
I took my time reading this book. I enjoyed it a little bit at a time. Most of the time I followed up a chapter by reading a comic from my husband's extensive collection or watching a Marvel movie. I will truly miss Lee's cameos in Marvel movies. I always waited with expectation for the cute scene with Lee in it. It always made me smile. I don't remember a single theater experience where the audience didn't clap or show appreciation for the cameos. He will be missed by many.
The author of this book worked with Stan Lee for more than 40 years. And it shows. This biography is well researched, complete and obviously heart-felt. I loved every page!
RIP Stan Lee. Excelsior!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This biography includes interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, background information on Marvel Comics, the characters Stan created, and his life from childhood until his death. I love how the book doesn't just focus on Marvel comics but on the man himself. It gives a full account of his life, experiences, and his writing.
I took my time reading this book. I enjoyed it a little bit at a time. Most of the time I followed up a chapter by reading a comic from my husband's extensive collection or watching a Marvel movie. I will truly miss Lee's cameos in Marvel movies. I always waited with expectation for the cute scene with Lee in it. It always made me smile. I don't remember a single theater experience where the audience didn't clap or show appreciation for the cameos. He will be missed by many.
The author of this book worked with Stan Lee for more than 40 years. And it shows. This biography is well researched, complete and obviously heart-felt. I loved every page!
RIP Stan Lee. Excelsior!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
January 21, 2023
A tako nam je dobro krenulo Stan i onda nam se veza razvodnila... Ostalo je na liked it.
October 12, 2019
A Marvelous Life by Danny Fingeroth is the biography of Stan Lee of Marvel Comics. I will admit that I have minimal knowledge of comic books, other than when I read them as a kid in the early 90s. This biography is richly detailed about not only the life of Stan Lee, but it also serves as the biography of Marvel Comics, who employed Mr. Lee from age 17 until his passing.
We first learn of Stan Lee's (born Stanley Leiber) childhood growing up poor in New York City. Working odd jobs to support his family, once he became old enough to work, as his father had difficulties finding employment. As was often the case in immigrant families during the depression era, Lee was hired to work for a publisher owned by a family member as a favor. This is where the story really takes off.
From here on out we are immersed in the up and down world of comic books and learn a great deal about the business. For example, I found the behind the scenes stories of how some of the most well known and beloved characters were created quite interesting.
The author does a great job of holding the readers' interest in relating a lot of facts while mixing in anecdotes about Lee and the many people he worked with. Mr. Lee was definitely a pioneer in comics by realizing that it wasn't just kids reading comics, there were adults who were reading them too. He also made superheroes more human, with imperfections and real emotions. Thereby making them more relatable to readers.
Just like the heroes he created, he had flaws too, and the author does not shy away from the controversies over co-creators feeling they were not given enough credit by Stan Lee and Marvel for the parts they played in these creating these characters. The author gives both sides to the story in these cases and how they were resolved.
The book shows that despite these controversies, that Mr. Lee was charming, charismatic, and highly regarded among his co-workers, friends, and family. It is said that he would instruct his personal assistants to interrupt anything he was doing, no matter how important, if his wife, Joan were to call.
If you're a fan of comics, Marvel, or Stan Lee, you should give this book a read! My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Danny Fingeroth, and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
We first learn of Stan Lee's (born Stanley Leiber) childhood growing up poor in New York City. Working odd jobs to support his family, once he became old enough to work, as his father had difficulties finding employment. As was often the case in immigrant families during the depression era, Lee was hired to work for a publisher owned by a family member as a favor. This is where the story really takes off.
From here on out we are immersed in the up and down world of comic books and learn a great deal about the business. For example, I found the behind the scenes stories of how some of the most well known and beloved characters were created quite interesting.
The author does a great job of holding the readers' interest in relating a lot of facts while mixing in anecdotes about Lee and the many people he worked with. Mr. Lee was definitely a pioneer in comics by realizing that it wasn't just kids reading comics, there were adults who were reading them too. He also made superheroes more human, with imperfections and real emotions. Thereby making them more relatable to readers.
Just like the heroes he created, he had flaws too, and the author does not shy away from the controversies over co-creators feeling they were not given enough credit by Stan Lee and Marvel for the parts they played in these creating these characters. The author gives both sides to the story in these cases and how they were resolved.
The book shows that despite these controversies, that Mr. Lee was charming, charismatic, and highly regarded among his co-workers, friends, and family. It is said that he would instruct his personal assistants to interrupt anything he was doing, no matter how important, if his wife, Joan were to call.
If you're a fan of comics, Marvel, or Stan Lee, you should give this book a read! My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Danny Fingeroth, and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2019
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
This was fun. As with many people, I've always had a fascination with Marvel Comics, during spells where I was reading them one after another to drier periods where I'd only pick them up on occasion. But through it all, and through the explosion of Marvel products to the small and big screens, there was the lovable presence of Stan the Man.
This book is more than a story of Stan Lee's life. It actually reads like a history of comics, taking us through the early days of Siegel and Shuster creating Superman right up to the current year, where there seems to be something Marvel releasing for our viewing pleasure every week.
It was more than I really expected to learn about the comic book publishing industry, but was fascinating for all of that. Of course, no story of comic publishing is complete without the story of Stan Lee, whose career spanned more than sixty years in the field. He didn't solely create Marvel comics or the heroes we've all become familiar with, but he was the glue that held it all together and guided the company (and industry) to the modern age.
It was a sad day last year when Stan Lee died. At his age, it was certainly coming sooner or later. This was a good way to reconnect with his legacy and see just how expansive it will be for years to come.
This was fun. As with many people, I've always had a fascination with Marvel Comics, during spells where I was reading them one after another to drier periods where I'd only pick them up on occasion. But through it all, and through the explosion of Marvel products to the small and big screens, there was the lovable presence of Stan the Man.
This book is more than a story of Stan Lee's life. It actually reads like a history of comics, taking us through the early days of Siegel and Shuster creating Superman right up to the current year, where there seems to be something Marvel releasing for our viewing pleasure every week.
It was more than I really expected to learn about the comic book publishing industry, but was fascinating for all of that. Of course, no story of comic publishing is complete without the story of Stan Lee, whose career spanned more than sixty years in the field. He didn't solely create Marvel comics or the heroes we've all become familiar with, but he was the glue that held it all together and guided the company (and industry) to the modern age.
It was a sad day last year when Stan Lee died. At his age, it was certainly coming sooner or later. This was a good way to reconnect with his legacy and see just how expansive it will be for years to come.
November 4, 2019
---> {60-second video review here} http://bit.ly/Marvelous_Life
In an alcove on the way up to the second floor of my house there are boxes of bagged and boarded comic books, many of them Marvel. Most of these are titles from the 1960’s, like The Fantastic Four, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, etc. Smilin’ Stan Lee was a friend I invited into my house every time another Marvel comic book was published.
Reading this book – for me – was like visiting old friends. I recognized all the names of the artists and letterers, and it was a treat to hear author Danny Fingeroth fill in the background to stories I only partially knew.
This book, however, is not just for those of us who were fortunate enough to enjoy Stan Lee back when all the memorable characters were created. There are people alive today that have never seen any of the old comic books yet are binge-watching Daredevil or enthralled with the Black Panther movie. Stan Lee was a genius, and this book celebrates the ups and downs of his life in a way that allows one to feel as if you were there.
Mr. Fingeroth holds nothing back, and all the conversations and debates on who created what character are included. He also includes the frustrations Stan Lee experienced as well as the triumphs. For almost 50 years, Stan Lee was the face of Marvel comics, and that’s never going to change. I agree with Todd McFarlane, who said that in 20 years we will realize that Stan Lee was an even bigger influence than we thought he was. This book will explain why. Excelsior! Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
In an alcove on the way up to the second floor of my house there are boxes of bagged and boarded comic books, many of them Marvel. Most of these are titles from the 1960’s, like The Fantastic Four, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Uncanny X-Men, Daredevil, etc. Smilin’ Stan Lee was a friend I invited into my house every time another Marvel comic book was published.
Reading this book – for me – was like visiting old friends. I recognized all the names of the artists and letterers, and it was a treat to hear author Danny Fingeroth fill in the background to stories I only partially knew.
This book, however, is not just for those of us who were fortunate enough to enjoy Stan Lee back when all the memorable characters were created. There are people alive today that have never seen any of the old comic books yet are binge-watching Daredevil or enthralled with the Black Panther movie. Stan Lee was a genius, and this book celebrates the ups and downs of his life in a way that allows one to feel as if you were there.
Mr. Fingeroth holds nothing back, and all the conversations and debates on who created what character are included. He also includes the frustrations Stan Lee experienced as well as the triumphs. For almost 50 years, Stan Lee was the face of Marvel comics, and that’s never going to change. I agree with Todd McFarlane, who said that in 20 years we will realize that Stan Lee was an even bigger influence than we thought he was. This book will explain why. Excelsior! Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance complimentary ebook of this title.
September 14, 2020
Great fun to read, a panoramic biography of the comic book legend, written by a Marvel insider who obviously loved Stan Lee like a father. Now let's see a Warren Magazines epic about the legends who created Uncle Creepy and Cousin Eerie!
December 19, 2025
a fairly deep dive into Stan Lee's life, his career, his controversies, his contributions, and his legacy.
it is a look at his childhood, his rise through Timely/Marvel, his work and battle ls with Kirby and Ditko. As well as his other pursuits and company's he created.
For fans of Stan, Marvel, or just biographies this is a good read.
it is a look at his childhood, his rise through Timely/Marvel, his work and battle ls with Kirby and Ditko. As well as his other pursuits and company's he created.
For fans of Stan, Marvel, or just biographies this is a good read.
August 23, 2019
A marvelous life, indeed! Bringing the story of a real life super hero to the forefront where it belongs. Definitely spotlight worthy. Every bit as fantastic as the characters he so lovingly brought to life. 5/5 stars for a super success to always be remembered.
August 30, 2020
Caveat: I have known Danny for decades and briefly worked as his Managing Editor on his Write Now magazine.
There are plenty of Stan Lee bios out with more forthcoming. This is the first serious, well-researched one to arrive after his passing nearly two years ago. It's good and even-handed, providing an interesting look at the man in full.
I wish he was sharper with Stan's activities in the 1970s and 1980s as the timeline gets fuzzy. Similarly, Stan's work in the 2000s is a laundry listed of entities and no real look at what they are and what they say about it.
There's no real analysis of why Stan's creative successes effectively ended years ago and none of the projects in the last 40 years had any staying power.
Other than marrying Joan, fathering JC, and having a small circle fo friends, we really have no sense of Stan as the man, the father, the husband. We know he's a workaholic, but how did that impact the other side of his life.
The best bio, about the career and creative impact, remains the one from Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael.
There are plenty of Stan Lee bios out with more forthcoming. This is the first serious, well-researched one to arrive after his passing nearly two years ago. It's good and even-handed, providing an interesting look at the man in full.
I wish he was sharper with Stan's activities in the 1970s and 1980s as the timeline gets fuzzy. Similarly, Stan's work in the 2000s is a laundry listed of entities and no real look at what they are and what they say about it.
There's no real analysis of why Stan's creative successes effectively ended years ago and none of the projects in the last 40 years had any staying power.
Other than marrying Joan, fathering JC, and having a small circle fo friends, we really have no sense of Stan as the man, the father, the husband. We know he's a workaholic, but how did that impact the other side of his life.
The best bio, about the career and creative impact, remains the one from Tom Spurgeon and Jordan Raphael.
October 21, 2019
I received a copy of A Marvelous Life through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A Marvelous Life by Danny Fingeroth is a full biography of the much beloved Stan Lee. Naturally, this read is going to be a bit emotional for fans, thanks to the fairly recent loss of Stan Lee. But it's still well worth the read.
This biography is perfect for any fans looking to know more about the comic book idol, and his life – both inside and out of the industry. And trust me, there is a lot to learn about this man. Danny Fingeroth is in a good position to tell this story, since he was a college of Stan Lee. And that's always a relief, of course.
“But for all of this enthusiasm, even Lee couldn't know that Spider-Man would become the poster child for every kid who ever felt like he didn't belong – just as the X-Men would make every alienated adolescent feel like there was a family of freaks he or she could fit into.”
A Marvelous Life is a brilliant read, both for fans of Stan Lee, and fans of comic books as a whole. This novel contains a rich and extensive amount of detail, both about the life of Stan Lee, and of Marvel Comics itself. This makes so much sense, given the role that Lee played in Marvel's early years in particular.
I will say that I found this to be an emotional read, despite all the facts within. But that probably had more to do with the timing of the novel's release than anything else. And I'm sure I won't be the only one who feels that way. But I still wholeheartedly believe that this is a book worth reading!
A Marvelous Life by Danny Fingeroth is a full biography of the much beloved Stan Lee. Naturally, this read is going to be a bit emotional for fans, thanks to the fairly recent loss of Stan Lee. But it's still well worth the read.
This biography is perfect for any fans looking to know more about the comic book idol, and his life – both inside and out of the industry. And trust me, there is a lot to learn about this man. Danny Fingeroth is in a good position to tell this story, since he was a college of Stan Lee. And that's always a relief, of course.
“But for all of this enthusiasm, even Lee couldn't know that Spider-Man would become the poster child for every kid who ever felt like he didn't belong – just as the X-Men would make every alienated adolescent feel like there was a family of freaks he or she could fit into.”
A Marvelous Life is a brilliant read, both for fans of Stan Lee, and fans of comic books as a whole. This novel contains a rich and extensive amount of detail, both about the life of Stan Lee, and of Marvel Comics itself. This makes so much sense, given the role that Lee played in Marvel's early years in particular.
I will say that I found this to be an emotional read, despite all the facts within. But that probably had more to do with the timing of the novel's release than anything else. And I'm sure I won't be the only one who feels that way. But I still wholeheartedly believe that this is a book worth reading!
August 11, 2020
Briliant. A must read for any comic book fan.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
June 24, 2021
True, this is a biography of Stan Lee, but also of Marvel and it’s predecessors. Over many decades, Lee - and Kirby, Ditko, et al - fought hard to keep this unique art form going. It’s all quite dramatic, tbh, but utterly fascinating! Lee’s flawed, realistic superheroes have massively impacted popular culture. What a brilliant move to make them relatable. I really enjoyed this! 🗯
PS. A good companion to Reed Tucker’s “Slugfest.”
PS. A good companion to Reed Tucker’s “Slugfest.”
October 19, 2020
Over the last thirty years or so, I’ve gotten a lot of pleasure and laughs thanks to Stan Lee and the artists who created Spiderman, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc. I grew up on DC comics – Superman and Batman – so I never knew what Marvel had going until my son was old enough to read. His super hero was Wolverine, a violent, flawed and sarcastic defender of underdogs. We love him. We also adored Stan Lee. When Stan died, my son, now 36, and I were truly saddened. We found Stan as interesting as any of the characters he’d created, so I was delighted when I was able to borrow this book from one of my online libraries. Well-written and very detailed, it’s written by someone who actually knew, worked with, and respected Stan Lee. This isn’t just Stan’s story, though. It’s also the story of Marvel Comics and how that company had to grow and adapt to changing times just as much as Stan had to himself. For any Marvel fans out there who are also still missing Stan, I highly recommend this book. I liked it so much that while reading it, I bought two more books about Stan. Besides being a great read, I now know what I’ll be getting my son for Christmas, so thank you Danny Fingeroth!
March 1, 2023
A Marvelous Life by Danny Fingeroth is the biography of Stan Lee of Marvel Comics filled with the eclectic backstory of the man himself, and the start of Marvel Comics where Stanley Leiber worked from age 17. We learn a lot about Stan Lee's childhood in New York City. Where he worked numerous jobs to provide for his family. We learn how he was hired to work for a publisher owned by a family member and the inner workings of Marvel Comics starts.
This is an immersive biography filled with comic book details from a business perspective. We learn the behinds the scenes stories of how our beloved characters were created. Fingeroth held my interest throughout and related the facts to the story. He created a brilliant reading environment that showcases how Stan Lee was a magician in the comic book scene by using his own judgement. I wasn't just a kid reading comics, I was a kid looking at superheroes who were human, who were flawed and filled with emotion. Who I related with and wanted to be. As an adult, these feelings have only escalated and Fingeroth's writing felt as relatable as this.
The great thing about this biography is that we deal with Stan Lee's flaws also. The co-creator controversies where they felt they weren't commended or credited enough by Stan or Marvel for their creations. We see both sides to the stories and their resolution and this provides insight into those inner workings. Stan Lee has been a staple in my own journey. His charisma, character and high regard amongst his peers, friends and family shows his dedication and that is portrayed well throughout this read.
If you're a fan of Stan, comics or simply just reading then this book is a delight.
This is an immersive biography filled with comic book details from a business perspective. We learn the behinds the scenes stories of how our beloved characters were created. Fingeroth held my interest throughout and related the facts to the story. He created a brilliant reading environment that showcases how Stan Lee was a magician in the comic book scene by using his own judgement. I wasn't just a kid reading comics, I was a kid looking at superheroes who were human, who were flawed and filled with emotion. Who I related with and wanted to be. As an adult, these feelings have only escalated and Fingeroth's writing felt as relatable as this.
The great thing about this biography is that we deal with Stan Lee's flaws also. The co-creator controversies where they felt they weren't commended or credited enough by Stan or Marvel for their creations. We see both sides to the stories and their resolution and this provides insight into those inner workings. Stan Lee has been a staple in my own journey. His charisma, character and high regard amongst his peers, friends and family shows his dedication and that is portrayed well throughout this read.
If you're a fan of Stan, comics or simply just reading then this book is a delight.
March 1, 2021
This was an interesting biography. I went in knowing almost nothing about Stan Lee’s personal life, and I enjoyed the journey I was taken on. It was a revealing look inside the comics industry of the 20th century, and although the author seems almost apologetic to make the claim, he illustrates that Lee was only human. With a few notable exceptions it felt like a balanced look at the life of someone who clearly meant a great deal to the author. One of those exceptions was how carefully worded some passages about artists trying to unionize were phrased so as not to implicate Lee in preventing that from happening (or at least that was my understanding, but I was reading between the lines here), and the other was that in his later life, some of Lee’s home care nurses came forward with stories of abuse. According to the author, “Lee stated he would fight the claims, and they seem to have evaporated.” I understand if there was not a lot of information for the author to elaborate on, but I feel like this could have been phrased less dismissively. All in all, this was an engaging, lively biography of one of 20th century’s pop culture giants.
November 9, 2019
Full disclosure: I have zero interest in comic books or graphic novels, and I read my Kindle in the theater when my husband drags me to superhero movies. That said, Stan Lee is likable enough that I still enjoyed this biography. His rise to prominence is a true New York rags-to-riches fairy tale of the kind that belongs to the mid-20th-century. Hard work, talent, and kindness propelled his career and personal life, and created careers (and obsessive hobbies) for many other people. A good book to pick up if you need an escape from dreary reality!
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC.
January 4, 2020
Yeah, sure. This is what Lee did and all but I still feel like I don't know the man.
Read
April 26, 2020I found this book something of a slog to get through, which surprised me, because the author, Danny Fingeroth, is himself a comic book writer, and I expect comic book writers to turn out exciting adventures. But I think that people in the comic book world care deeply about Stan Lee, and therefore care deeply about the smallest details of his life, and what everyone said about him, and what he said about them. I am not a follower of comic books, and felt at times that I was drowning in minutiae. But the overaching themes of the Stan’s story were clear.
Stan Lee was born Stanley Lieber, a New York Jew. (He later legally changed his name to Lee. His brother Larry worked with him in the comic book business, but he kept the name of Lieber.) The owner of the company was Stan’s cousin. Stan became editor of the comic books, but he was always an employee, paid a salary.
Many people thought Stan was top dog because he wrote a breezy, chatty letters page for the comic books that made readers feel like Stan was speaking directly to them, like he was their friend. Stan became the voice of Marvel Comics (and much later, thanks to his movie cameos, he would become its face.) Stan was an outgoing, high-energy person. Visitors to the studios remember that he sometimes jumped up on tables to demonstrate the action poses he wanted the artists to draw.
The comic book business had its ups and downs. One of the biggest downs was when a famous psychologist/author (whose name I have forgotten) published a book claiming that comic books were damaging to children’s psyches. This anti-comic book press got a significant following, and went all the way to hearings before the US Congress. All comic books nearly went out of business, but they hung on by their fingernails.
Even when business was good, Stan was always looking for ways for it to be better. He wanted to enlarge the readership from children, who would abandon comic books after they grew up, to older people, including college students. He wanted readers who would stay with them for the long haul. He wanted stories that had more depth and sophistication.
One of Stan’s great accomplishments was in creating characters with more complex motivations. Superman, DC Comic’s star, was a relatively simple character. He was pretty much purely good. Stan created characters who had backstories, who argued, who doubted themselves, who might be selfish, and had to overcome their faults to be good. In short, they were heroes that might be anyone, so ordinary people could identify with them.
Spiderman was the first of these. Stan imagined Spiderman, and Steve Ditko drew the artwork. This would lead to a lifelong feud. The two worked well together for years, but Ditko eventually became bitter that Lee was not giving him enough credit as co-creator of Spiderman, and the two parted ways. Something similar would happen with comic book artist Jack Kirby, who drew the Incredible Hulk, among others.
Eventually the business would be corporatized, and Stan’s role began to move out of the day to day running of the studio. He started some new collaborative projects, some successful, some not. He gave lectures. He went to Hollywood, and pushed to have Marvel comics made into movies. He attended comic conventions, where he was a popular speaker, almost until the day he died.
Stan Lee, like one of his own characters, was complex. Was he a great boss, fostering new talent? Or was he a scheming manipulator, cheating others out of their due? The answer is probably a little of both, but he was a great innovator, and he did change the future of comics, and therefore the face of American culture, and he did end up being beloved by many.
Stan Lee was born Stanley Lieber, a New York Jew. (He later legally changed his name to Lee. His brother Larry worked with him in the comic book business, but he kept the name of Lieber.) The owner of the company was Stan’s cousin. Stan became editor of the comic books, but he was always an employee, paid a salary.
Many people thought Stan was top dog because he wrote a breezy, chatty letters page for the comic books that made readers feel like Stan was speaking directly to them, like he was their friend. Stan became the voice of Marvel Comics (and much later, thanks to his movie cameos, he would become its face.) Stan was an outgoing, high-energy person. Visitors to the studios remember that he sometimes jumped up on tables to demonstrate the action poses he wanted the artists to draw.
The comic book business had its ups and downs. One of the biggest downs was when a famous psychologist/author (whose name I have forgotten) published a book claiming that comic books were damaging to children’s psyches. This anti-comic book press got a significant following, and went all the way to hearings before the US Congress. All comic books nearly went out of business, but they hung on by their fingernails.
Even when business was good, Stan was always looking for ways for it to be better. He wanted to enlarge the readership from children, who would abandon comic books after they grew up, to older people, including college students. He wanted readers who would stay with them for the long haul. He wanted stories that had more depth and sophistication.
One of Stan’s great accomplishments was in creating characters with more complex motivations. Superman, DC Comic’s star, was a relatively simple character. He was pretty much purely good. Stan created characters who had backstories, who argued, who doubted themselves, who might be selfish, and had to overcome their faults to be good. In short, they were heroes that might be anyone, so ordinary people could identify with them.
Spiderman was the first of these. Stan imagined Spiderman, and Steve Ditko drew the artwork. This would lead to a lifelong feud. The two worked well together for years, but Ditko eventually became bitter that Lee was not giving him enough credit as co-creator of Spiderman, and the two parted ways. Something similar would happen with comic book artist Jack Kirby, who drew the Incredible Hulk, among others.
Eventually the business would be corporatized, and Stan’s role began to move out of the day to day running of the studio. He started some new collaborative projects, some successful, some not. He gave lectures. He went to Hollywood, and pushed to have Marvel comics made into movies. He attended comic conventions, where he was a popular speaker, almost until the day he died.
Stan Lee, like one of his own characters, was complex. Was he a great boss, fostering new talent? Or was he a scheming manipulator, cheating others out of their due? The answer is probably a little of both, but he was a great innovator, and he did change the future of comics, and therefore the face of American culture, and he did end up being beloved by many.
August 8, 2020
This was a very interesting book and held a lot of good information I wasn't aware of about Stan. The writing style was to the point and sticking to the facts mostly, which was good but did make it a little bit of a dry read sometimes. It did heavily focus on the early years for most of the book, which I enjoyed, but there was this build-up towards him actually getting the Marvel characters made into film and then... nothing. It seemed to skip right over the success of it and onto other things, and then mention later on "oh yeah, it worked" as if it was an afterthought. Like, it was all this lead-up... would he get it made into films? Would the films be successful? (obviously I knew it did and were, but Stan's reaction and perhaps celebration would have been wonderful to read about.) It was like they posed the question of "to be or not to be? Would it work? Marvel for Hollywood?" And told us of the initial failures and then.... nothing. It happened to mention after they talked about his DEATH about the success of Endgame. It was weird.
Like I said, I learned a lot. About his wife, a lot about his career and how Marvel truly came to be, about all the details of the disputes between him and Ditko and Kirby, how things ended, and I did not know of the abuse he endured in his elderly years. I was a Marvel fan at that point and had not heard about it, so it was very sad but informative. Overall, good book. It did not focus on areas of his life I thought it might, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed learning about things I did not know. But perhaps a little more info on some of the other areas that I wanted would have been good, as well.
Like I said, I learned a lot. About his wife, a lot about his career and how Marvel truly came to be, about all the details of the disputes between him and Ditko and Kirby, how things ended, and I did not know of the abuse he endured in his elderly years. I was a Marvel fan at that point and had not heard about it, so it was very sad but informative. Overall, good book. It did not focus on areas of his life I thought it might, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed learning about things I did not know. But perhaps a little more info on some of the other areas that I wanted would have been good, as well.
March 15, 2020
Stan Lee will always be one of the most influential creators of pop mythos. This well researched book shows his impact on the world quite well. We hear from so many people about his influence.
There is a lot of argument in it about cocreators who fought with Stan their whole lives to gain that status. It’s interesting and sad how creative partners fight about ownership but considering the importance of the characters I certainly understand. I believe if Stan came up with the idea, he is the creator. But Kirby and Ditko and others should also be considered cocreators since they designed from scratch something so amazing and impactful. I’m glad their last interactions were friendly.
The Man is beloved and this does him justice.
On a side note I met him at a con in LA. He signed my X-Men #1 and we took a photo. One of the pics in the book looks exactly like the outfit he wore that day, which was cool. I distinctly remember Stan looking at my book, which cost a paycheck!, and flipping it in the air while saying, “I remember this one well!” I held my breath. That moment was priceless and I thank the author for bringing a little of that back in these pages.
There is a lot of argument in it about cocreators who fought with Stan their whole lives to gain that status. It’s interesting and sad how creative partners fight about ownership but considering the importance of the characters I certainly understand. I believe if Stan came up with the idea, he is the creator. But Kirby and Ditko and others should also be considered cocreators since they designed from scratch something so amazing and impactful. I’m glad their last interactions were friendly.
The Man is beloved and this does him justice.
On a side note I met him at a con in LA. He signed my X-Men #1 and we took a photo. One of the pics in the book looks exactly like the outfit he wore that day, which was cool. I distinctly remember Stan looking at my book, which cost a paycheck!, and flipping it in the air while saying, “I remember this one well!” I held my breath. That moment was priceless and I thank the author for bringing a little of that back in these pages.
October 15, 2019
Wow! A marvelous life indeed! This is a wonderfully marvelous read about the legendary Stan Lee - from his humble beginnings to the man we all know and adore! I have zero knowledge and interest in comic books but my curiosity about this legendary man compelled me to pick up this book. There are a lot of stories, the ups and downs of the comic world (did you know that there was an anti-comic books movement back then??), politics and so forth that happened. I admired Stan Lee for his hard work, dedication and talent of course. This is a must read for any Marvel fans!
***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***
***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***
August 29, 2022
** I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. **
Another Netgalley backlog item that I finally got around to reading. *facepalm*
Going into this book, I knew next to nothing about Stan Lee other than that he's the name behind the famous Marvel characters that we are all familiar with today. And also that he had a couple cameo's on one of my favorite television shows, The Big Bang Theory. While I grew to know him as a pop culture icon in the world of comic books during my late 20's, it was insightful to learn more about him as a person and how much he had to do with the development of the comic book, superhero world we all know. This book goes in depth and tells the story of Lee's life and his journey of accomplishments that he achieved.
Another Netgalley backlog item that I finally got around to reading. *facepalm*
Going into this book, I knew next to nothing about Stan Lee other than that he's the name behind the famous Marvel characters that we are all familiar with today. And also that he had a couple cameo's on one of my favorite television shows, The Big Bang Theory. While I grew to know him as a pop culture icon in the world of comic books during my late 20's, it was insightful to learn more about him as a person and how much he had to do with the development of the comic book, superhero world we all know. This book goes in depth and tells the story of Lee's life and his journey of accomplishments that he achieved.
March 22, 2020
A captivating, fair, and informative biography of Stan Lee, who I’m proud to say I met and almost worked for back in the 1990s. Stan Lee is a hero of mine. His work, which I loved as a kid—and still today, encouraged my own desire to be a writer. I thought I knew pretty much everything about Stan, but Danny tells a rich story with lots of new information in a compelling way. I’m very grateful for this book, because it captures my own sense of what Stan accomplished—certainly working with stellar artists and others—in creating the Marvel family.
February 4, 2020
I was a huge fan of Marvel comics growing up with Spiderman being my favorite. What I liked about Marvel was the “human-ness” of their super heroes. They made mistakes and were not unbeatable (e.g. DC’s Superman, Wonder Women, etc.). And Stan Lee’s sense of humor. This is a decent biography but I would have liked more detail on the formative Marvel years (the 60’s). How did Stan and his creative team create, develop, and sustain such an amazing fleet of characters and storylines. Their creative output was awe-inspiring. If you are a fan of comics and/or Mr. Lee, I recommend it.
May 21, 2020
Stupendo.
Ha il pregio di non essere un’agiografia e nemmeno un libro con scoop scabrosi e inventati.
È la vita di Stan, raccontata il più oggettivamente possibile da chi ha potuto stargli accanto e conoscere di prima mano e professionalmente il suo mondo (e il mondo Marvel).
Si legge così in fretta che ho dovuto lasciarlo in standby per settimane perché non sopportavo l’idea di finirlo.
Consigliatissimo.
Ha il pregio di non essere un’agiografia e nemmeno un libro con scoop scabrosi e inventati.
È la vita di Stan, raccontata il più oggettivamente possibile da chi ha potuto stargli accanto e conoscere di prima mano e professionalmente il suo mondo (e il mondo Marvel).
Si legge così in fretta che ho dovuto lasciarlo in standby per settimane perché non sopportavo l’idea di finirlo.
Consigliatissimo.
January 5, 2020
As someone who’s read dozens of comic biz history books, “Stan Lee: A Marvelous Life” is definitely one of the very best. Mixing the well known aspects of Stan’s career with poignant personal history I’d never been aware of, Danny Fingeroth weaves a compelling and humanizing story for this legendary pop-cultural figure. I also really appreciated how Fingeroth departed from the usual “just the facts, ma’am” approach and offered some extremely fascinating (and often touching) insights into Stan’s inner life and motivations. Obviously, nobody but Stan could know those things, but all of Fingeroth’s musings were carefully set within historical context and supported by plenty of citations. I really had a sense of getting to know Stan in a way none of the other histories have done. People looking for a biography that caricatures Stan as either a demon or saint will be sorely disappointed, since Fingeroth was obviously much more interested in painting a full portrait of the ACTUAL man who was Stan “The Man” Lee.
March 22, 2020
This was my first book into the "back-end" of the world of comics and comic book heroes. I'm probably too young to appreciate Stan Lee to the fullest (should have read Marvel comics in 1960s for that) and I first came across Stan when discovering his cameos in the most recent Marvel Cinematic Universe. I also have a few books about the Marvel universe which are also waiting for their turn. I have always wanted to believe that there is "more than meets the eye" in Marvel stories and now I see that Stan had the same intention in mind when creating them.
January 10, 2020
After reading the graphic novel version of Stan Lee’s life last year I was hoping for something with more depth. Although not as complete as I hoped this biography is the closest I have read yet. Author Danny Fingeroth does a fine job detailing Stan Lee's fortunes and misfortunes but he fails at critical times to provide the necessary analysis to fully examine why Lee was both so successful and so good at making enemies. I also think that Fingeroth does only an okay job trying to sort out the whole the Lee / Kirby relationship. I never felt that he or Lee or Kirby – nor the many industry insiders who commented on it – really understood or explained what drove them to push and pull each other like they did. Perhaps no one (including Lee and Kirby) ever understood it. The Lee / Kirby partnership is, except for Lee's marriage to Joan Lee, probably the most important one in Lee's long publishing history. It needed more analysis and not just a re-telling of the highs and lows. Still, this is a well-researched, engagingly written biography of a pop culture icon and comic fans of all stripes should read it. Nuff said!
February 28, 2021
The most well balanced of the many biographies of the heyday of Marvel comics and Stan Lee's part in it's creation. Jack and Steve get their dues but this book concentrates on Stan Lee.
March 26, 2025
Born into a poor Jewish family with several siblings and some wealthier relatives who sometimes helped, Stanley Lieber worked various odd jobs during the Depression until he got a job as a comics writer when the medium was still fairly new, and rode the ups and downs such as the campaign against comic books of the 1950s which damaged the industry, as well as what the fads were over the decades, such as how superheroes came and went as well as other forms of entertainment such as westerns and detective stories, how the Comics Code would allow certain content to be published in the early years, but most importantly making comics marketed to teens and adults rather than just little kids. Flawed heroes such as Spiderman and the X-men were created so regular people could relate to them, rather than simply idealized people such as Superman.
A charming, hardworking, personable man who was devoted to his wife and surviving daughter, he wanted to be a Hollywood actor but that only came in the form of cameos in Marvel movies. He was a writer and not an artist and he did fight with many people in the comics industry over credit as well as money and was always an employee of Marvel rather than its boss.
Perhaps due to space, a lot of details seems to have been left out about his life, and there may be better biographies, but this is a good enough one for newbies who wonder why Stan Lee became so famous as the face of comic books compared to everyone else.
A charming, hardworking, personable man who was devoted to his wife and surviving daughter, he wanted to be a Hollywood actor but that only came in the form of cameos in Marvel movies. He was a writer and not an artist and he did fight with many people in the comics industry over credit as well as money and was always an employee of Marvel rather than its boss.
Perhaps due to space, a lot of details seems to have been left out about his life, and there may be better biographies, but this is a good enough one for newbies who wonder why Stan Lee became so famous as the face of comic books compared to everyone else.
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