Today is the birthday of Stan Lee…and I don't think I have to throw in any explanation of who Stan Lee is. He's Stan Lee, that's who he is.
I first met Stan in July of 1970. By that, I mean I met him in person, in the offices of Marvel Comics. But of course, I'd met him years earlier in the pages of Marvel Comics and had been so impacted by his cheery editorial style that it didn't feel like meeting someone new. It was like seeing your old pal Stan again, only for the first time.
I'm not sure how you categorize Stan…writer, creator, editor, spokesperson, media legend. Whatever he is, he's the only one of its kind. It's a pleasure to wish him a joyful birthday day and many more.
Incidentally, I said in an item here the other day that Stan receives a nice percentage of revenues from the current spate of Marvel movies. Stan himself dropped me an e-mail to say this isn't so — "I wish," he wrote. But he should. He should also receive royalties every time one of us rips off some element of his style or manner. If he did, it would make the combined revenues of all the Spider-Man and X-Men movies look like chump change.
Anyway, a Happy Stan Lee Day to you all. Take a moment to face front and hang loose. 'Nuff said.