Stan Lee

Biography

Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. As the primary creative leader of Marvel Comics for two decades, he co-created the vast majority of the company's most iconic characters. His partnership with artist Steve Ditko was legendary but complex; while Lee provided the initial idea for a teenage hero with spider powers and wrote the snappy dialogue, he often credited Ditko with the visual heavy lifting that defined Spider-Man's world. Lee is credited with revolutionizing comics in the 1960s by introducing the "Marvel Method," creating complex, flawed heroes who bickered, had money problems, and dealt with real-world issues—a sharp contrast to the god-like archetypes of the era. He became the public face of Marvel for over 50 years, famous for his "Stan's Soapbox" columns and his cameo appearances in nearly every Marvel film until his death.