Robot 6
Happy 90th birthday, Stan Lee!
Stan Lee, who along with such collaborators as Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Bill Everett and Don Heck created the Marvel Universe, was born 90 years ago today in New York City.
With a little help from his uncle, Lee was hired in 1939 as an assistant at Timely Comics, which was owned by his cousin’s husband Martin Goodman. Twenty-two years later, as editor-in-chief, Lee ushered in the Marvel revolution with the introduction of the Fantastic Four, followed quickly by the likes of the Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, the Avengers, the X-Men and Daredevil. He rose to president (if only briefly) and publisher of Marvel, as well as its public face, before becoming its Hollywood representative in the early 1980s.
Now, as chairman emeritus of Marvel and co-founder of POW! Entertainment, Lee frequently goes by the title “Generalissimo” on Twitter, where he answers questions and keeps his troops up to date on his many projects. Despite pacemaker surgery in September, he shows few signs of slowing down. “One bit of philosophy I made up some time ago,” Lee told Comic Riffs this week, “[it’s] a bit of a paradox: Everyone wants to live to a ripe old age — but no one wants to be old!” The Washington Post blog also collects some birthday tributes from Tom Brevoort, Roy Thomas, Joe Sinnott and Danny Fingeroth.
To help mark the occasion, I’ve included a handful of my favorite Stan Lee photos (some of which come from this terrific vintage gallery) above and below.
Stan Lee, surveying his domain at Comic-Con International
21 Comments
Kaniole
December 28, 2012 at 8:11 am
He is the best superhero in the world!
It was my hero as a kid, and he is my hero now I’m almost 40!
Long live to the Man!
demoncat4
December 28, 2012 at 8:25 am
hard to believe stan the man and one of the fouding fathers of the mu has been around for 9 decades . nice hope stan has 90 more . happy birthday stan
Jason Green
December 28, 2012 at 8:35 am
A huge happy birthday to Stan the Man! My life wouldn’t be the same without him, that’s for sure.
Jason
December 28, 2012 at 8:41 am
Happy Birthday Stan! Along with some talented collaborators he changed the face of comics forever!
Simon DelMonte
December 28, 2012 at 8:59 am
Exclesior, and many more!
Aaron B.
December 28, 2012 at 9:05 am
A super popular but still overlooked Walt Disney of a media savvy generation.
Dan Beck
December 28, 2012 at 9:13 am
Happy Birthday Stan, You deserve all the best! I am 40 years old and have been collecting and enjoying Marvel comics for three decades. My love of your creations started with the vintage 60′s Marvel comics that my Grandma would pick up for me at garage sales (imagine that, someone foolish enough to part with these treasures at garage sales, but it actually happened in Madison, WI in the late 70′s). That started a lifelong passion for all things Marvel. You have brought untold hours of enjoyment to my life. You helped to develop and fuel an imagination in me that is still strong today. I can’t thank you enough for your contribution to my life.
Excelsior!
C.Patrick Bay
December 28, 2012 at 9:15 am
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! EXCELSIOR!!!!!!
D.A. Baum
December 28, 2012 at 9:23 am
Happy 90th to the man who extended the life of the Living SuperSoldier (Captain America), The Exo-Suit (Iron-Man), Jade Jaws (Hulk), “The ever-lovin’ Blue eyed THING,” Brought back the 1st Mutant (the Sub-Mariner), Changed our way of seeing our heroes (Spider-Man/Peter Parker), Gave us the 1st Comic Book with blood in the ink (KISS), Took us to new worlds (Dr. Strange/Fantasic Four/The Avengers/Silver Surfer) and showed us what it really was like to be pursecuted for who we were (X-Men) and to know the right thing to do about it.
Happy Birthday Stan – A writer who’s legend will live long after you have passed – but not too soon from now, I’m expecting Disney to give you one hell of a shindig in 2022!
“Excelsior! “
Paul Garcia
December 28, 2012 at 9:30 am
YOU’RE THE MAN!!! Happy 90th Birthday, generallissimo!
Talmidge
December 28, 2012 at 9:40 am
Met him over the summer, he was nice as hell and was willing to talk to everybody even after they told him our time was up. He had the biggest smile on his face when you got him to tell stories about his wife. He and Geoff Johns are tied for the nicest guys at comic con with Neal Adams close behind.
RandomGuy
December 28, 2012 at 9:46 am
Happy Birthday Stan!
The number #1 Avenger of all time!
Ortiz
December 28, 2012 at 10:27 am
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STAN!! YOU ARE A LIVING LEGEND.
EXCELSIOR!!!
Matt
December 28, 2012 at 10:27 am
Is anyone else a little disturbed at the picture of him on the couch??
Happy Birthday Stan!
fearitself
December 28, 2012 at 10:51 am
I wish a Happy Birthday to the legend, Stan Lee.
Long live, pal.
Dave J.
December 28, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Met him at a local comic con back in january 1991, and he signed about 15 of my early marvels,and allowed a photo to be snapped with him and me doing so.Can’t imagine marvel ever achieving what it achieved without him alongside kirby and Ditko.
John Smith
December 28, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Comics would never have been the same without Stan Lee. Happy birthday!
Alex
December 29, 2012 at 2:35 am
Wow, that’s really something. Happy Birthday, Stan!
Rad
December 29, 2012 at 4:32 am
I want to wish a very happy birthday to Stan ‘The Man’ Lee as well! What ‘Sturdy’ Steve Ditko, Jack ‘King’ Kirby, ‘Dazzlin’ Don Heck and Bill Everett, co-created with Stan is MARVELOUS because they have endured for 50 years! Stan Lee WILL still be around the next years to continue to meet people who fell in love with the marvel characters he co-created in the 1960′s. To SUCCEED in creating characters that became equally as popular as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and many more DC characters is truly ASTOUNDING! I agree he’s the best superhero in the world.
EXCELSIOR Generalissimo, LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!
James Kash
December 30, 2012 at 11:01 am
Happy Birthday Stan , can realize a world without your contributions , WOW…. A fan since 1968 and still moving ! NUFF SAID TRUE BELIEVER
Paul Vaeth
January 1, 2013 at 4:12 am
Happy B-day . Stanley Libowitz, aka Stan Lee, I just hope I’m in your shape and keep my wits about, like you’ve done at 90! I’ve been a fan of your work ever since you created your main stay of characters in the 60′s. Spider-man has been my favorite from the first issue I read. Back then we used to buy the out of date issues so cheap, the store owner to get credit for unsold issues, would only have to return the cover. Then he would sell the comic minus the cover for 5 cents or 8 for 25 cents. Well thank you for keeping my brothers and I entertained for majority of our lives and now my kids as well.Nuf Said, Excelsior!
Again Happy Birthday To Stan (the Man) Lee!