Stan "The Man" Lee Speaks!, Part II
September 12, 2008

Here’s the second half of my interview with legendary Marvel Comics’ icon Stan Lee!

VB: At the 2007 Comic Con, Hasbro introduced a new Stan Lee action figure. Do you have any sales numbers?

LEE: I’m not sure how it’s doing. I’ve got one on my shelf, just to knock people’s eyes out. I’m pretty sure two or maybe even three of them have been sold to members of my family.

VB: You pop up regularly in all the Marvel superhero film adaptations. Is it as much fun as it looks?

LEE: I love doing them! I almost feel guilty—I come on the set to do one line, and I have my own little trailer and everybody is so nice and they’re always asking me for autographs and pictures. It might be more than I deserve, but I must admit that I enjoy it.

VB: Comic books, movies, TV, animation, consumer products--did you ever imagine that the Marvel stable of superheroes would have such a global impact in so many different markets?

LEE: The thought never occurred to me. I just hoped that the books would sell and that we could keep our jobs and make a living. But I did begin to see how popular these characters were in the late Sixties and early Seventies through the fan mail. As the circulation grew, I sensed that their popularity could move beyond the books. We couldn’t really promote them until years later when Marvel got its present management, people who were able to realize what these characters had such potential.

VB: Like all great things, it took time and the right people.

LEE: The only thing that’s wonderful about the fact that it happened now is that if these movies had been produced at a much earlier time, we wouldn’t have the special effects that we have now, so they might not have worked as well. Just as long as the studios don’t become so dependent on the special effects that they lose the human qualities. Marvel seems to be very good at striking the right balance.

VB: Marvel certainly is. I’m looking pretty good here, Mr. Lee, so I was hoping that as one New Yorker to another, you could give me your signature sign-off so I can tell my friends I heard it from the man, himself.

LEE: Are you ready?

VB: I am…

LEE: Excelsior!

Posted by Laurence Lerman on September 12, 2008 | Comments (0)