It's only 7:00 so I still have time to wish a happy day o' birth to the man who once referred to me in his Bullpen Bulletins as "a young, zingy, with-it guy." This was in 1970 and I figure Stan Lee got one out of three right. As the "young" part has gone away, I've tried to compensate by becoming zingier but to no avail. How, you may be asking, does one go about become zingier? Easy: Try to take after Stan, who — at age however-old-he-may-be — remains charming and witty and much-admired.
And though some recent business reversals no doubt made "Smilin' Stan" scowl for a while there, no one blames him and his Legend status remains unblemished. As it should be. I've had the honor of knowing him since '70 and working with him on a few occasions…and he is truly as super as any character he ever wrote. And almost as powerful.