A big, big part of my childhood and those of so many others.
I know I’m not the only one who read “Stan’s Soapbox” in the Marvel Comics “Bullpen Bulletins” and hung on every word like it was cosmic wisdom, at least up to a certain age. And there was the narration he did for that Spider-Man cartoon in the early ’80s, and all the other appearances.
Since I was such a nerd about reading credits in the comics, I knew that he didn’t write them all by the time I was reading the comics of the late 70s and early 80s, but he was still this benevolent presence in the background of everything Marvel. And then I found the reprints of old Amazing Spider-Man and others more interesting at some point, and then really discovered Mr. Lee’s talent for cranking these stories out, month after month. Anyone who can write at that level–regular, little time in between, always entertaining–is a great writer.
And this video takes me back to those days when Stan was Marvel Comics (and see the very insightful writing question from an audience member at 1:30). Rest in peace, Stan, and Excelsior!
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