HOLLYWOOD—Comic book legend Stan Lee, the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics and co-creator of characters such as Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Iron Man and the X-Men, was given the 2,428th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Tuesday, January 4. Lee was entered in the category of motion pictures.
Born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922, in New York City, Lee got his first break in the comics industry in 1939 with Timely Comics, doing assistant work such as fetching lunch and filling inkwells before ascending to interim editor of the company. Timely eventually transformed into Marvel Comics in the 1960s, and by 1972, Lee had become the sole publisher of the company.
The event was presented by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and its president/CEO, Leron Gubler. Guest speakers included Seth McFarlane, of Spawn and McFarlane Toys fame, and Gill Champion, president and COO of POW! Entertainment, Lee’s newest startup company.
More than two billion comic books featuring Lee’s creations or co-creations have been published in 75 countries and in 25 languages. The syndicated “Spider-Man” newspaper strip, which started in 1977, has gone on to become the longest-running super hero strip of all time.
Lee has been praised by U.S. presidents and competitors alike. Paul Levitz, the former president of DC Comics, once stated, “Most of my generation of writers learned our craft from or through Stan Lee.”
“Stan and I do the same thing. Only my pictures move,” said Steven Spielberg. Ronald Reagan once said he started his days by reading the “Spider-Man” strip.
Lee currently serves as the Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Enterprises Inc. and the Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of POW! Entertainment. The World War II veteran is also a member of the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame.
