Excelsior!
Stan Lee is considered the Godfather of comic books, and his iconic 60-year stint at Marvel resulted in so many of our favorite superheroes that are still around today. He was a well-loved figure in the comic world, and it always brought us joy to try and find him in any Marvel-related movie. To learn some interesting bits about his life, read on.
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1. Part-Timer
Before his career really took off, Lee worked several part-time jobs. These included being a sandwich delivery guy for Rockefeller Center, selling newspapers for the New York Herald Tribune, working at a paint manufacturing office, and as an usher for Broadway’s Rivoli Theater.
2. Early Graduate
Even though he graduated from high school early, Lee decided not to go to college. Growing up, his family went through tremendous financial hardship, which helped him decide to get right to work instead of attending post-secondary school.
3. Why Stan Lee?
Stan Lee’s full name is Stanley Martin Lieber. In 2015, Lee told NPR that he wanted to keep his full name for the books he was going to write someday - little did he know that comics were going to become his life.
4. Working Hard
Stan Lee created over 300 characters throughout his career at Marvel. Alongside Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Lee created Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, Ant-Man, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, the Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, Professor X, The Hulk, and so, so, so many more.
5. He Hated Comics
After becoming Marvel’s editorial director in 1972, Lee began dismissing the world he created through his comic books. Despite gaining a lot of respect for his comic book work, this change in attitude was due to his desire to become a filmmaker and a screenwriter.
6. He Loved Canada
Throughout his travels, Lee was most fond of the great white north. His last trip to Canada was for Fan Expo in 2016, when he was 93 years old. During a CBC interview, he told Doug Kirks, “I’d miss the enthusiasm of the fans, I’d miss meeting them, talking to them, kidding around with them.”
7. Thanks To Stan Lee
Famed Game of Thrones author George R.R Martin said that Lee was a huge influence on his career. In fact, Martin’s first published work was a letter of praise for the 17th issue of Fantastic Four back in 1964.
8. Grey Hulk
Bruce Banner’s alter ego was inspired by Frankenstein’s Monster and Quasimodo, originally featuring a grey hue to represent his misunderstood nature. Due to continuous printer errors, the Hulk eventually became the green mutant we see today.
9. Goodbye Typewriter
During a heated argument, Joan Boocock, Stan’s wife, broke his prized typewriter. He has used this typewriter for the very first issues of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four.
10. He Has Favorites
Depending on who you ask, Stan Lee’s favorite superhero is either Spider-Man or Silver Surfer. Apparently, Lee was very protective of the Silver Surfer and even refused to let other writers use him. However, he’s also said Peter Parker symbolizes the underdog character and has a very special place in his heart.
1. Spider-Man 3
In the third installment of Toby Maguire’s Spider-Man run, Lee shows up in Times Square to offer Peter a bit of advice. He also ends the interaction with his iconic catchphrase, “Nuff said!”
2. Amazing Spider-Man
In the first movie of Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man run, Lee shows up as a librarian wearing a big pair of headphones. We guess those headphones are pretty heavy-duty, as he seemingly doesn’t hear the intense battle that’s happening right behind him.
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3. Thor: The Dark World
In this installment of the Thor series, Lee plays a patient in a mental ward. In the scene, he gives his shoe to Erik Selvig as he tries to explain the idea of the multiverse to the other patients. At the end of his rant, Selvig asks if there are any questions, to which Lee says, “Yeah, can I have my shoe back?”
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4. Captain America: Civil War
The 3rd Captain America movie features Lee dressed up as a FedEx delivery driver. When appearing on screen, he tells Rhodey that he has a package for “Tony Stank.”
5. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Lee shows up twice during this space-scoring movie. In the first scene, Lee shows up as a lost astronaut. He even mentions his previous job as a Federal Express Man, referencing his cameo in Civil War.
6. Ant-Man And The Wasp
In this movie, Lee plays a bystander who watches his car shrink thanks to the hero's Pym Particles. Seemingly unbothered, he says, “The 60s were fun, but now I'm paying for it,” which is a pretty good one-liner.
7. Avengers: Age Of Ultron
This cameo is said to be Lee’s favorite. He plays a war veteran getting a little too inebriated at Tony Stark's party. We later see him carried out of the party because he can’t hold his Asgardian brew. Since Lee himself is a World War II veteran, this particular cameo is a whole other layer of meta.
8. Thor
In this 2011 Film, Lee poses as an Oklahoma resident who’s trying to pull out Mjolnir with his truck. Of course, the back of the truck falls off, while Mjolnir stays in place. We guess he wasn’t worthy enough.
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9. Doctor Strange
In this movie, Lee shows up as a bus rider reading Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception. He is completely oblivious to the intense battle that’s happening out on the street, or that Doctor Strange is pressed up against the bus window.
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10. Avengers: Endgame
We have to bring this one up, as it was his last cameo before his passing. In this 2019 film, a digitally de-aged Lee and Joan pass by during a scene that takes place in the 70s. He shouts, “Make love, not war!” An admirable send-off for an absolute legend.
