Happy Birthday Stan the Man

 December 28, 1922, Celia Lieber gave birth in her New York City apartment, to a baby boy.  Celia and her husband Jack Lieber named their child,” Stanley Martin Lieber”.

Today he is known as,”Stan the man” he is an American comic book writer, editor, and the former president to Pow!  Studios.

 This voracious man worked hard to be where he is today. He started at the bottom, and worked his way to the top! During his teenage years he attended DeWitt Clinton High School and worked part time writing obituaries for a news service. He also wrote press releases for the National Tuberculosis Center and was a delivery boy, delivering sandwiches for the Jack May pharmacy. Stan also worked as an office boy for a trouser manufacturer, and was an usher at the Rivoli Theater on Broadway.

Did you know Stan Lee was in the army during World War II? Well, you know now. While he was serving time in the Army Stan wrote manuals, training films, and slogans, and occasionally he would do cartooning.

After his Army days around 1941 Stan’s Uncle Robbie Solomon helped him enter the comic book industry. Stan worked as a writer for the new Timely Comics, which evolved into Marvel Comics around the 1960’s. August 1941 was Stan’s first superhero co-creation, the Destroyer, in Mystic Comics #6.  He also had part in and Father Time, debuting in Captain America Comics #6. This was the golden age of comics.  At the age of 19 Stan lee was editor-in-chief of Goodman’s publishing. Nothing could stop him, and he was eager to take on the comic industry one by one.

Around 1947 Stan lee married his Love, Joan Clayton Boocock and raised a beautiful family in Woodmere, New York, on Long Island.

This I found very interesting, in the mid-1950s Stan was writing for Atlas Comics. Atlas Comics is one of the many entities that Goodman called his company, before it involved into Marvel Comics. Moving on, Stan wrote many genres which included romance, Westerns, humor, science fiction, medieval adventure, horror and suspense. Ok, for the part I found interesting, Stan lee at this time became dissatisfied with his career that he actually considered quitting.

In 1951 Joan Lieber advised Stan to experiment with stories he preferred. Stan Openly took his wife’s advice. Stan lee created characters that broke away from the norm. His characters had Greed, Vanity, and etcetera.  Stan lee created characters that broke away from the perfect reality of past Superheroes.

Stan lee and Jack Kirby brought us a new set of characters, which led marvel to the top. The first group of heroes was, “The Fantastic Four” then the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and the X-Men with Bill Everett, Daredevil with Steve Ditko, Doctor Strange and Marvel's most successful character, Spider-Man.

There was no way to stop this man. Stan edited, scripted, moderated the letter pages and had his very own editorial page, "Stan's Soapbox”. He spoke to his readers about social justice issues such as discrimination, intolerance, and prejudice.

Later in the 1980’s he moved to California. Stan was now Executive producer to Marvel Film and TV.  Stan was president to the entire company, yet he felt he was unable to use his creative side so, he stepped down to Publisher.

I can go on and on talking about the movies he appeared in. I can speak about all the great books he has published. The list goes on and on. I honestly can write a book about this man. There is just too much to mention about his life.  For example, did you know he met President Bush? Well, he did and that’s a story all in its self.  How about in the 1980’s Stan got a star on the walk of fame. Do you see where I am coming from? The list just goes on and on. Honestly I am writing an article for you to read, but it can easily be turned into a biography.

Here is a man that his parents were Romanian-born Jewish immigrants. His parents moved to New York City and struggled to give him and his brother a good life. Stan shared a bedroom with his brother as his mom and dad slept on a pull out couch.

Here is a man that battled his whole life and succeeded.  Stan lee became president and chairman of Marvel Comics.  He published countless books and characters we all grown to love and created movies that we still watch today.  He won numerous Awards and honors which he greatly deserved.

Stan lee turned 87 today and he’s still working hard to give us what we love.  His last book, “Election Daze” published by his partner Tom Filsinger brings us the laughter and Joy this world needs.  I heard they are both working on some new things for 2010. The man just doesn’t stop!

Stan lee, it’s your birthday. I’m speaking for all your fans out there,” For those that ever doubted your creativity and your dream, well, here is your time to tell them where to stick it”.

Happy Birthday Stan! You will always be the man!