Marvel Visionaries: Stan Lee

The Amazing Spider-Man (1963-1998) #33, 96-98, Annual #1

by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby (Artist), John Romita Sr. (Artist)

In celebration of its 65th anniversary, the House of Ideas proudly presents a timeless testament to another true Marvel visionary In 1961, writer Stan Lee penned Fantastic Four #1, an historic issue unlike any comic book that had come before. This super-hero team had true personalities - they doubted their own abilities, battled problems of money and illness, and even fought among themselves. The monumental popularity of this realistic comic-book style inspired Lee to create similarly themed titles - including Hulk, X-Men, and Avengers with artist Jack Kirby; and Amazing Spider-Man with artist Steve Ditko. By 1965, Lee had successfully established Marvel Comics as a cohesive universe populated by world-famous comic-book characters. Now, this deluxe keepsake edition collects his greatest moments - some never before reprinted: "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge" (Captain America Comics #3): Stan's first story, a two-page text piece "The Red Skull's Deadly Revenge" (Captain America Comics #16): The defining Golden Age Red Skull story "The Raving Madman" (Suspense #29): Stan's satire on Frederick Wertham and the comics witch hunts of the '50s "Your Name Is Frankenstein " (Menace #7): A modern Frankenstein story, featuring many of the elements of the later Marvel books "Where Walks the Ghost" (Amazing Adult Fantasy #11): A short, twist-ending story by Lee and Ditko Plus: "Spider-Man" (Amazing Fantasy #15); "A Visit With the Fantastic Four" (Fantastic Four #11); "How Stan and Steve Create Spider-Man" (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1); "In Mortal Combat with Sub-Mariner" (Daredevil #7); "The Final Chapter" (Amazing Spider-Man #33); "Bedlam in the Baxter Building" (Fantastic Four Annual #3); "And Who Shall Mourn for Him?" (Silver Surfer #5); "Brother, Take My Hand" (Daredevil) #47; "And Now, The Goblin," "In the Grip of the Goblin," and "The Goblin's Last Stand" (from Amazing Spider-Man #96-98); "No Longer Alone" (Captain America #110); "No More the Thunder God," "When Gods Go Mad," and "One God Must Fall" (from Thor #179-181); "While the World Spins Mad" (Marvel Premiere #3); and "The Circle of Life" (Spectacular Spider-Man Super-Special 1995)

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.

With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor as a superhero, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Scarlet Witch, The Inhumans, and many other characters, introducing complex, naturalistic characters and a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. He subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific collection that showcases Lee's long career writing Marvel comics. Rather than including all of the most famous stories, some of his best social conscious comics are included, with good anti-drug abuse and anti-racism themes. It may be tame by current standards, but it was visionary and daring stuff in the 1960s, way ahead of its time. It includes his very first stories from 1940 and 1941, featuring Captain America, of course, and then a couple of his short horror tales before moving back to superheroes with the first appearance of Spider-Man. (And yes, the last panel includes the iconic phrase,"...with great power there must also come-- great responsibility!") There are great triple-issue arcs of Thor (Loki is up to his old tricks, Odin has banished Thor so his Asgardian pals come to the rescue) and Spider-Man (which has a rare happy ending, Peter and Gwen together), as well as good single issue stories of Doctor Strange, the Silver Surfer, a pair of good Daredevil stories, another Spider-Man, and a Fantastic Four. There's a funny behind-the-scenes story of the famous Bullpen, Lee's original notes for the first issue of the FF, and several samples of his Soapbox editorials from the '60s. I believe the story that most stands out is Bedlam in the Baxter Building from the 1965 FF Annual, in which Reed and Sue finally get married. Doctor Doom is intent on disrupting the wedding and influences an army of super-villains to disrupt their happy day. The wedding guests include most of the Avengers and X-Men and unaffiliated heroes, and they unite to keep the ceremony on track. It's one of the first, and certainly one of the most visibly promoted, mega-team-ups the Marvel universe ever saw, and the format shaped the course of the M.U. forevermore. Even Patsy was there, long before she was Hellcat. The story concludes with two top-hat-wearing gentlemen trying to crash the party and being rebuffed by Nick Fury, who's in charge of security. The two walk off into the night, after threatening that they have ways of getting even, and refer to each other by their names, Stan and Jack. It's a neat cameo, a breaking of the Wall years before Deadpool. The art is spectacular, too, and the roster includes many of the most famous illustrators of comics history: Jack Kirby, Joe Simon, Al Avison, Joe Maneely, Steve Ditko, Wally Wood, Marie Severin, Gene Colan, John and Sal Buscema, Neal Adams, Gil Kane, Barry Windsor-Smith, and Derrick Robertson. It's impossible to overstate the importance of Stan Lee in comics history. It sounds like hyperbole, but it's almost impossible to overstate his role, period... what other writer has created so many universally recognized and loved characters? I'll bet far more people in the world today would recognize Tony Stark, Peter Parker, and Natasha Romanova that would know any of Shakespeare's characters, or Doyle's, or Christie's. Maybe J.K. Rowling or Walt Disney would top Stan Lee's recognition factor, but I wouldn't bet on it. Anyway, this is a lovely collection of Lee's best, a big, slick volume with some of the best of comics' history. Okay, all together now: *Excelsior!*

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty stellar collection. Rather than being a "greatest hits" package full of first appearances and all the classic issues you'd expect, it instead focuses on Stan's true genius: social awareness. The toll of war. The threats posed by censorship. The struggle of minorities. The dangers of drugs. Stan and the early Marvel bullpen had their fingers on the pulse of young America. Stories like the Silver Surfer's doomed friendship with an African-American man (black guys can be scientists!) and the Spider-Man drug issues published without Code approval (Harry's a pillhead!) might seem quaint today, but this volume reminds you how revolutionary they really were.

My favorite bit was the inclusion of Stan's original synopsis for "Fantastic Four" #1. Originally, Sue was supposed to be unable to turn visible again and would wear a mask to be seen. Her clothes would remain visible as well, and she would have to get naked to be of any use. ("Too sexy?" he asked Jack, "we'll have to discuss.") He also outlined how the Human Torch's powers could be used within the parameters of the Comic Code. (He could never burn a person or throw a fireball, but he could fly and burn through things like ropes or doors.)

Fun fact: I believe I counted a total of 8 panels in the 300+ pages that didn't feature word balloons or captions.

[Rolando Marono · Rating 3 out of 5]

The good:
-The origin and/or first adventures of very beloved characters.
-The daredevil comic and Dr. Strange one are very entertaining.
-Good selection of stories.
-Nostalgia feels all the way.
-Kirby's and Ditko's art is astounding no matter the year you read this.

The bad:
-Lee's script is boring.
-Some of the dialogues are mysoginist.
-Too much dialogue describing what is drawn.

[Carlos B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si tuviera que usar una palabra para describir este libro es inocencia. No creo que quienes hicieron esto fueron unos chavales ingenuos e inocentes. De lejos se ve lo sarcásticos y mala leche que eran, incluso entre ellos . Al leer se ve reflejado que existe una pasión por el trabajo, un esfuerzo de dar lo mejor de ti y crear lo más grande del mundo al mismo tiempo que saben que son sólo cómics y que no es para tanto. Realmente te lleva a otros tiempos (uno donde el machismo y patriotismo estaba a todo lo que daba) y te da un vistazo de porque estos superheroes llevan años con nosotros,.

[XMCU]

RIP Stan Lee. the X-Men and there villains show up Fantastic 4 Annual 3 and Silver Surfer 5. Silver Surfer 5 is my favorite comic in this compilation.

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible reproduction. Avoid.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned something important with this. Stan Lee is an important figure in reviving Marvel, and introducing many peoples favorite characters. He also isn’t a great writer.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beauty of this book is that the only really well-known story included here is Amazing Fantasy #15, probably Stan Lee's most classic story. There's no Fantastic Four #1, no Hulk #1, just a bunch of great stuff. There's a three-part Thor story where Loki switches their bodies, a couple of cool Daredevil stories, the Spider-Man drug saga from the 70s, some early sci-fi stories, and a Dr. Strange story that strangely ends on a cliffhanger. I only wish there was a couple of Stan's Captain America issues from the 60s, where I felt the action was incredibly well done. All in all, this is a fantastic book, and was an awesome read.

[Albert_Camus_lives · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esos bastardos de Televisa me mintieron, no traen las primeras historias que dice tener, en realidad son diferentes a las que ponen aquí. Inga tu mamí, Pedorriza