The Many Cameos of Stan Lee

The trials and tribulations of Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, the X-Men and different Marvel Comics superheroes are acquainted world wide due to comedian books and movies. Somewhat much less identified are the successes and struggles of the author, the writer and the showman Stan Lee, who was pivotal — together with the artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko — in bringing so lots of Marvel’s characters to life.

The documentary “Stan Lee” by the director David Gelb that debuts on June 10 on the Tribeca Festival in New York City seeks to vary that. The movie makes use of beforehand unreleased audio recordings and movie footage and new and archival interviews to inform Mr. Lee’s story. The movie, which can be accessible on Disney+ June 16, is a brand new approach of seeing Mr. Lee, who was a continuing presence within the lives of followers due to his writing, his voice work, his tv appearances and his Marvel film cameos. Here are some notable ones.

Cameo Appearances

When “Iron Man” was launched in 2008, it was the start of what’s now referred to as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It additionally began a streak of appearances by Mr. Lee within the movies. In “Iron Man,” he’s at a celebration and is noticed by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who confuses him for Hugh Hefner.

Not all his appearances had been tongue-in-cheek. One of essentially the most honest might be discovered within the opening of 2019’s “Captain Marvel,” which got here after Mr. Lee’s loss of life in 2018. As the “Marvel Studios” emblem comes into focus, flashes of comedian ebook pictures and dialogue give approach to clips of Mr. Lee as swelling music performs. When the emblem fades, solely the phrases “Thank You Stan” stay. Later within the movie he appeared in a extra conventional cameo, shot earlier than his loss of life, when Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) meets him on a practice studying a “Mallrats” script.

Voices Carry

Mr. Lee’s voice and his catchphrase “Excelsior!” had been comforting to followers in lots of locations. In addition to narrating a number of Spider-Man video video games, gamers might use “EEL NATS” (his title spelled backward) to unlock ranges.

In 1975, he narrated a “Fantastic Four” radio sequence. The Human Torch was voiced by Bill Murray, who advised Jimmy Kimmel final 12 months that he solely remembered saying the character’s battle cry, “Flame On!”

In the ultimate episode of “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” (1994-98), Spider-Man, throughout an journey by way of the multiverse, visits our world. He meets Mr. Lee and swings him on spider-webs by way of town. When the mysterious Madame Web arrives to take the hero dwelling, Mr. Lee asks, “Who is that exotic lady?” Her voice was a clue: she was performed by Joan Lee, his spouse, who died in 2017.

Distinguished Competition

Mr. Lee and Marvel are irrevocably linked, however he was no stranger to working with superhero business rivals DC Comics. From 2001 to 2002, DC launched a “Just Imagine” sequence of tales written by Mr. Lee by which he reinterpreted Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and different heroes. The firm revisited them final 12 months with all new tales in honor of his a hundredth birthday.

A cartoon model of Mr. Lee additionally appeared in DC’s 2018 animated movie “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.” In one scene, he dances, strikes motion poses and declares, “Hey everybody, look at me, doing my subtle cameo,” whereas music performs and “Stan Lee” logos seem on the display. He returns later and says, “I don’t care if it’s a DC movie — I love cameos!” It was an indication of how self-effacing he could possibly be: poking enjoyable of himself in a rival’s film.

Letters From the Editor

Mr. Lee wrote a mess of tales, however readers heard from him immediately within the type of editorials on the again pages of many Marvel Comics. “Stan’s Soapbox” columns, written between 1967 and 1980, allowed him to ruminate on all the things from the inventive course of to social points. The writer Brad Meltzer wrote in Mr. Lee’s obituary for Entertainment Weekly, “He gave an entire generation creeds to live by. Principles to emulate.” One of Mr. Lee’s editorials, from 1968, began with this: “Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today.” A assortment of his editorials is accessible from the Hero Initiative, a charity which helps comedian ebook creators in want.

Birthday Suit

The Marvel Fumetti Book, revealed in 1983, is a comic book ebook anthology utilizing black and white pictures by Eliot R. Brown to inform its tales. Readers had been handled to behind-the-scenes seems at Marvel’s editorial workers, who had been generally proven appearing out plot particulars. In one story, Mr. Lee playfully admonishes the group for latest developments, together with “Alcoholic Iron Men!” and the mohawk haircut for the X-Men’s Storm. “I’m not sure I like what I see!” he says. “Knock it off already!”

He can be pictured within the comedian’s centerfold laying on a sofa with a Hulk costume superimposed over him. But the unique, unused picture was bolder: It was a nude image of him with a strategically positioned comedian ebook.

Non Marvel Comics

In 2020, TidalWave Productions launched “Tribute: Stan Lee,” a 30-page biographical comedian. It chronicles Mr. Lee’s profession earlier than and after Marvel, the writer’s preliminary forays into animation and tv and among the inventive gestalt that gave start to the Fantastic Four and different superheroes. The comedian additionally notes the battle between him and Mr. Kirby, the artist who created most of the characters with Mr. Lee, who felt he was not given sufficient credit score or compensation for his hand in bringing these heroes to life.

One of Mr. Lee’s remaining tasks was the serialized Webtoon comedian Backchannel, co-written by Tom Akel and drawn by Andie Tong, a few hactivist group. A collected version can be launched Aug. 15. Watch out for a cameo look by Mr. Lee in Chapter Nine. He is proven working at a movie show, which is predicated on one in all his first jobs as an usher.