Stan Lee spent decades as Marvel’s spokesperson, spreading joy of comic books to college campuses
Stan Lee claims Shakespeare and Michelangelo would be great comic book creators
Although Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four revolutionized the comic book industry, Stan Lee still felt the sting of working in a third-class business at a time when most adults thought comic books were aimed at children. What Lee realized, though, was that college students in the 1960s and 1970s were responding to Marvel in a new way — gleefully reading and re-reading the otherwordly antics of the costumed heroes.
Stan Lee was in demand as a college lecture speaker
While he lamented that adults didn’t understand Marvel or superheroes as stories they could enjoy, Lee turned his attention to teenagers and college students, crisscrossing the nation to give lectures, like this one held at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University on October 14, 1975.
At the lectures, Stan did what he always did best — give attendees an inside look at comic books, Marvel history, and his firsthand account of the industry. What set him apart was his exuberance, unparalleled enthusiasm and excitement. Students found Lee’s spirit infectious, which made them love Marvel — and him — even more.
Lee had keen insight into American culture, understanding that the meaning of success in contemporary pop culture necessitated that he embrace the burgeoning celebrity culture. If a generation of teen and college-aged readers hoped to shape him into their leader, Lee would gladly accept the mantle, becoming their gonzo king. Fashioning this image in a lecture circuit that took him around the nation, as well as within the pages of Marvel’s books, Lee created a persona larger than his publisher or employer.
As a result, he transformed the comic book industry, essentially transforming into the face of the industry for comic book readers and the general public. The college appearances led to invitations to do television shows and a constant stream of media stories regaling the success of Marvel superheroes and the editor who they credited for making it all happen.
Stan Lee delivers "immutable laws" of Marvel comic books
While many adults looked down on Lee for writing comic books, especially early in his career, he developed a masterful style that rivals or mirrors those of contemporary novelists. Lee explained:
“Every character I write is really me, in some way or other. Even the villains. Now I’m not implying that I’m in any way a villainous person. Oh, perish forbid! But how can anyone write a believable villain without thinking, “How would I act if he (or she) were me? What would I do if I were trying to conquer the world, or jaywalk across the street?...What would I say if I were the one threatening Spider-Man? See what I mean? No other way to do it.”
Over time, Stan’s voice — the literal words in the mouths of comic book superheroes — became a part of popular culture and eventually transforming into a kind of American folklore.