The Stan Lee Universe

by Danny Fingeroth, Roy Thomas, Stan Lee

Face front, true believers! The Stan Lee Universe is the ultimate repository of interviews with and mementos about Marvel Comics' fearless leader! From his Soapbox to the box office, the Smilin' One literally changed the face of comic books and pop culture, and this tome presents in his own words - and those of the illustrious folks he's worked with - the co-creation of Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Silver Surfer, and so many other super-characters! Presented are numerous rare and unpublished interviews with Stan, discussing how he made Marvel Comics the household name it is today. Also featured are interviews with top luminaries of the comics industry, including John Romita Sr. & Jr., Tod McFarlane, Dennis O'Neil, Roy Thomas, Gene Colan, Al Jaffee, Larry Lieber, Jerry Robinson, and Michael Uslan discussing his vital importance to the field he helped shape. Plus, this book contains the essential-to-every-writer Stan Lee's Top Ten Tips for Writers! And as a bonus for this special edition, and direct from Stan's personal archives (housed at the University of Wyoming), you'll see rare photos, sample scripts and plots, personal correspondences, and other tidbits from the entire span of his career, some unseen for decades!

Genres: Comics

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 24, 2010

About the author

Daniel 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.

Reviews

[Terry Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a collection of feature pieces and past articles from TwoMorrows magazines such as Write Now! and Alter Ego, this volume holds together better than one would expect (and could have hoped). The main attraction for me was reading vintage "lost" print and radio interviews with Stan ... AND Stan & Jack that undoubtedly have not been seen since they took place (having access to Stan's Archives was a godsend for editors Danny Fingeroth and Roy Thomas.

More often than not, Lee falls all over himself singing the praises of Kirby and Ditko in regards to the success of Marvel in the first decade of the famed "Marvel Universe," and he doesn't hesitate to credit Jack with plotting the Fantastic Four and Thor. Keep in mind this is not the Lee of today pointing a finger at his infamous spotty memory, but instead comes from contemporary interviews for magazines, radio and college audiences during the height of Marvelmania. Quite an eye-opener in many respects.