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Stan Lee

Animation Executive / Show Creator

"I learned one of life’s greatest lessons.  I don’t know the reason for this, but people who like superhero stories want their heroes to wear costumes.  And if any psychologist or sociologist out there can ever tell me the reason, I would like to know."

About This Interview

In his interview as part of the Archive of American Television's Living Television Collection, animation legend Stan Lee discusses his career in multiple media, from comic books to feature films. He describes the birth of Marvel Comics, competition with DC comics, and the creation of many of his most beloved characters -- The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Spider-Man. Mr. Lee also recalls the formation of production companies Marvel Productions, Stan Lee Productions and POW! Entertainment, and his role in each. He talks about his involvement with television programs based on his comic characters (the animated Spider-Man series and the unforgettable The Incredible Hulk) and defines what a superhero means to him.  He also reveals his real name and why he changed it to Stan Lee.  The interview was conducted by Lisa Terrada on March 22, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Shows

  • Incredible Hulk, The
  • Incredible Hulk, The: "The Trial of the Hulk"
  • Simpsons, The
  • Spider-Man
  • X-Men, The

People

  • Garry Marshall

Topics

  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
  • Pop Culture

Genres

  • Animation
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • Chapters
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres

Highlights

  • Stan Lee on his signature, "As told by Stan Lee"Stan Lee on his signature, "As told by Stan Lee"
    Clip begins at: 21:25, Duration: 00m 58s
  • Stan Lee on the "Marvel Method"Stan Lee on the "Marvel Method"
    Clip begins at: 27:26, Duration: 02m 49s
  • Stan Lee on serving in the film unit during WWII and winning the war through comic book heroesStan Lee on serving in the film unit during WWII and winning the war through comic book heroes
    Clip begins at: 31:30, Duration: 00m 37s
  • Stan Lee on his wife's advice to him to write a comic book his way -- <i>The Fantastic Four</i>Stan Lee on his wife's advice to him to write a comic book his way -- The Fantastic Four
    Clip begins at: 41:17, Duration: 01m 57s
  • Stan Lee on creating a great storyStan Lee on creating a great story
    Clip begins at: 58:39, Duration: 00m 26s
  • Stan Lee on creating The X-Men charactersStan Lee on creating The X-Men characters
    Clip begins at: 37:58, Duration: 01m 47s
  • Stan Lee on what a superhero is to himStan Lee on what a superhero is to him
    Clip begins at: 49:56, Duration: 00m 32s
  • Stan Lee on how he'd like to be rememberedStan Lee on how he'd like to be remembered
    Clip begins at: 01:35, Duration: 00m 40s

Chapters

  • Chapter 1
  • On his childhood and early influences; on his interests in acting and advertising; on his first jobs
    Clip begins at: 0:18
  • On getting into comics at Magazine Management's Timely Comics; on the "Marvel Method"; on his time in the army during World War II
    Clip begins at: 17:24
  • On critics of comics; on the comic The Fantastic Four and the start of Marvel Comics; on creating  The Incredible Hulk; on the stumbling block to creating the Spider-Man comic book; on working with art director Jack Kirby
    Clip begins at: 35:24
  • On seeing his characters on television; on developing stories for comic books, television, and film; on the Spider-Man character being in comics; on TV and in movies at the same time
    Clip begins at: 53:09
  • Chapter 2
  • On the Spider-Man TV series, syndicated newspaper strip, and on The Incredible Hulk TV Show; on naming his company Marvel and the competition with DC Comics; on being publisher and president of Marvel; on lecturing at colleges
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On moving to Los Angeles and forming Marvel Productions; on the Spider-Man movie; on the animated series The X-Men; on forming the company Stan Lee Media - with a focus on Internet projects; on forming POW! Entertainment
    Clip begins at: 20:10
  • On characters he developed: The X-Men, Daredevil; on creating an animated TV series; on the WPA; on his cameos in films; on his favorite characters, his inspiration, and on what a superhero means to him
    Clip begins at: 37:18
  • On technology's effect on animation; on advice to young comic writers; on the highlight of his career; on his signature, "Excelsior;" on his relationship with Martin Goodman
    Clip begins at: 50:28
  • Chapter 3
  • On his relationship with Martin Goodman; on how he'd like to be remembered
    Clip begins at: 0:0

Shows

  • Incredible Hulk, The
    • Stan Lee on The Incredible Hulk television show
      Clip begins at: 05:12, Duration: 04m 48s
  • Incredible Hulk, The: "The Trial of the Hulk"
    • Stan Lee on his cameo on "The Trial of the Hulk" episode of The Incredible Hulk television show
      Clip begins at: 08:18, Duration: 01m 42s
  • Simpsons, The
    • Stan Lee on voicing his character on The Simpsons
      Clip begins at: 44:12, Duration: 00m 17s
  • Spider-Man
    • Stan Lee on his involvement with the animated series Spider-Man and other cartoons
      Clip begins at: 54:31, Duration: 01m 37s
    • Stan Lee on the Spider-Man TV series
      Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 01m 24s
  • X-Men, The
    • Stan Lee on the animated series The X-Men
      Clip begins at: 29:05, Duration: 02m 16s

People

  • Bill Bixby
    • Stan Lee on Bill Bixby of The Incredible Hulk television show
      Clip begins at: 08:18, Duration: 01m 42s
  • Lou Ferrigno
    • Stan Lee on Lou Ferrigno of The Incredible Hulk television show
      Clip begins at: 08:18, Duration: 01m 42s
  • Kenneth Johnson
    • Stan Lee on The Incredible Hulk television show, created by Kenneth Johnson
      Clip begins at: 05:12, Duration: 04m 48s
  • Garry Marshall
    • Stan Lee on his high school classmate Garry Marshall
      Clip begins at: 10:50, Duration: 00m 32s

Topics

  • Choose ..
    • Stan Lee on how technology has affected animation
      Clip begins at: 50:28, Duration: 01m 00s
  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
    • Stan Lee on comic strips he read as a child
      Clip begins at: 07:53, Duration: 01m 33s
    • Stan Lee on wanting to be an actor when he was young
      Clip begins at: 09:26, Duration: 01m 03s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Stan Lee on the enduring nature of the Spider-Man character
      Clip begins at: 02:53, Duration: 02m 16s

Genres

  • Animation
    • Stan Lee on his involvement with the animated series Spider-Man and other cartoons
      Clip begins at: 54:31, Duration: 01m 37s
    • Stan Lee on creating an animated television series
      Clip begins at: 39:45, Duration: 11m 43s
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