Stan Lee, born Stanley Martin Lieber, was a pivotal figure in the American comic book industry. He served as a writer, editor, publisher, and producer, spearheading Marvel Comics' transformation from a modest division of Timely Comics into a multimedia powerhouse. For two decades, Lee led Marvel's creative endeavors, overseeing its remarkable growth and dominance in both comics and film. He co-created numerous iconic characters, including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, and Black Widow, shaping the landscape of superhero narratives and popular culture. His innovative approach to storytelling, focusing on relatable characters with human flaws and complex motivations, revolutionized the comic book genre and continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.
December 28, 1922: Birth of Stan Lee
Stan Lee was born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922, in Manhattan, New York City, to Romanian-born Jewish immigrant parents.
1926: Start of Donations to American Heritage Center
From 1926 through 2011, Stan Lee made regular donations to the American Heritage Center at the University of Wyoming.
1939: Entry into the Comics Industry
In 1939, with the assistance of his uncle Robbie Solomon, Stan Lee started working as an assistant at Timely Comics, a division of Martin Goodman's publishing company. This marked the beginning of Lee's career in the comics industry, with Timely Comics later evolving into Marvel Comics.
1939: High School Graduation and Early Career
Lee graduated high school early in 1939 at the age of sixteen and a half and joined the WPA Federal Theatre Project.
May 1941: Comic Book Debut and First Superhero Story
Stan Lee made his comic book debut in May 1941, writing the text filler "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge" in Captain America Comics #3 under the pen name Stan Lee. This story also introduced Captain America's signature shield-toss technique.
August 1941: Early Superhero Co-creations
In August 1941, Stan Lee co-created several characters during the Golden Age of Comic Books, including the Destroyer in Mystic Comics #6, Jack Frost in U.S.A. Comics #1, and Father Time in Captain America Comics #6.
1941: Interim Editor at Timely Comics
Following the departure of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in late 1941, Stan Lee, then just under 19 years old, was appointed interim editor at Timely Comics, eventually becoming editor-in-chief and art director.
1942: Military Service in World War II
Stan Lee joined the U.S. Army in 1942, serving in the Signal Corps and later the Training Film Division, where he wrote manuals, training films, and slogans. His official military classification was "playwright."
September 1943: Terry-Toons Appearance
Stan Lee appeared as "third assistant office boy" in Terry-Toons #12 in September 1943.
1945: Post-War Residence
From 1945 to 1947, Lee lived in a rented brownstone in Manhattan's East 90s.
1945: Return from Military Service
Stan Lee returned from his World War II military service in 1945, resuming his work at Timely Comics. Vincent Fago, who had filled in during Lee's absence, stepped down as editor.
June 1947: Margie Appearance
Stan Lee was featured as a story character in Margie #36 in June 1947.
December 5, 1947: Marriage to Joan Clayton Boocock
Stan Lee married Joan Clayton Boocock on December 5, 1947.
1949: Purchase of first home
In 1949, Stan Lee and Joan purchased their first house together in Woodmere, NY and lived there until 1952.
March 1950: Black Rider Appearance
Stan Lee appeared as a character model on the cover of Black Rider #8 in March 1950.
1950: Birth of J.C. Lee
Their daughter, Joan Celia "J.C." Lee, was born in 1950.
1952: Move to Hewlett Harbor
The Lee family moved to Hewlett Harbor in 1952 and lived there until 1980.
1953: Death of daughter Jan
Stan and Joan's second daughter, Jan, tragically passed shortly after birth in 1953.
1956: DC Comics' Superhero Revival
In 1956, DC Comics, under editor Julius Schwartz, successfully revived the superhero genre with an updated version of the Flash, paving the way for the Justice League of America in 1960. This spurred Marvel Comics to create its own superhero team.
1960: Creation of the Justice League and Marvel's Response
DC Comics' formation of the Justice League of America in 1960 prompted Martin Goodman to task Stan Lee with developing a new superhero team for Marvel. Influenced by his wife, Lee decided to experiment with story styles he personally enjoyed.
1961: Creation of the Fantastic Four and Marvel's Superhero Boom
In 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby co-created the Fantastic Four, marking the beginning of Marvel's rise to prominence in the superhero genre. The team's success led to the creation of numerous iconic characters, including the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, the X-Men, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man, all inhabiting a shared universe. Lee and Kirby also revived older characters and formed The Avengers. However, the credit for creating The Fantastic Four became a subject of dispute between Lee and Kirby later on.
January 1963: First Marvel Universe Appearance
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby appeared as themselves in The Fantastic Four #10 in January 1963, marking their first appearance within the Marvel Universe.
1965: Marvel's Engagement with Readership
In 1965, Stan Lee aimed to foster a sense of community between comic book fans and creators. He introduced credit panels on splash pages, acknowledging the contributions of writers, pencillers, inkers, and letterers.
March 1966: The Galactus Trilogy
Published in March 1966, "The Galactus Trilogy" is often considered Lee and Kirby's best work. It introduced the cosmic entity Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and was ranked highly by Marvel readers.
1966: John Romita Sr. Joins Spider-Man
Following Ditko's departure, John Romita Sr. became Lee's collaborator on The Amazing Spider-Man in 1966. The series quickly surpassed Fantastic Four in sales.
August 1967: Introduction of Robbie Robertson
In August 1967, The Amazing Spider-Man #51 introduced Robbie Robertson, one of the first African-American characters in comics to have a significant supporting role.
1967: Marvel in Popular Culture
By 1967, Marvel's brand had become so popular that a WBAI radio program featuring Lee and Kirby was titled "Will Success Spoil Spiderman?" This event demonstrates the growing recognition of Marvel in mainstream media.
August 1968: The Silver Surfer Series Launch
Lee and John Buscema launched The Silver Surfer series in August 1968.
1968: Angel and the Ape Parody
Stan Lee was parodied as Stan Bragg in the first series of "Angel and the Ape" (1968–1969).
September 1969: Creation of the Falcon
In September 1969, Lee and Gene Colan introduced the Falcon in Captain America #117, marking comics' first African-American superhero.
1969: Angel and the Ape Parody
Stan Lee was parodied as Stan Bragg in the first series of "Angel and the Ape" (1968–1969).
July 1971: Comics Code Reform
In July 1971, a Spider-Man storyline about drug addiction, published without the Comics Code seal due to its sensitive content, sparked a reform within the CCA, allowing for more mature themes.
July 1972: Lee's Final Issue of The Amazing Spider-Man
In July 1972, Stan Lee wrote his last issue of The Amazing Spider-Man (#110), transitioning from writer to publisher at Marvel.
July 1972: Sgt. Fury Appearance
Stan Lee hosted an old-soldiers reunion in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #100 in July 1972.
August 1972: Lee's Final Issue of Fantastic Four
Stan Lee wrote his final issue of Fantastic Four (#125) in August 1972 as he became Marvel's publisher.
1972: Becomes Publisher at Marvel Comics
In 1972, Stan Lee succeeded Martin Goodman as publisher of Marvel Comics, marking a significant milestone in his career.
1972: God Woke Poem Presentation
The text for "God Woke" was originally a poem presented by Stan Lee at Carnegie Hall in 1972.
1975: Purchase of Manhattan Condominium
From 1975 to 1980, the Lees also owned a condo in Manhattan on East 63rd Street.
1976: Costello's Wall Contribution
In 1976, Stan Lee contributed to Costello's wall by drawing Spider-Man.
January 3, 1977: Spider-Man Newspaper Comic Strip Launch
On January 3, 1977, Lee and John Romita Sr. launched the Spider-Man newspaper comic strip, expanding the character's reach beyond comic books.
June 1977: Amazing Spider-Man Appearance
Stan Lee appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #169 in June 1977.
October 1978: What If Appearance
Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and others were portrayed as superheroes in What If #11 in October 1978.
1978: Marvel's First Graphic Novel
Published in 1978, "The Silver Surfer: The Ultimate Cosmic Experience", Lee's final collaboration with Jack Kirby, is considered Marvel's first graphic novel.
February 1980: The Savage She-Hulk Debut
Lee and John Buscema introduced The Savage She-Hulk in February 1980, expanding the Hulk's mythos.
1980: Sale of Hewlett Harbor Home and Manhattan Condo
The Lee family sold both their home in Hewlett Harbor and their Manhattan condo in 1980.
1981: Move to West Hollywood
The Lees relocated to the West Coast in 1981, purchasing a home previously owned by Jack Benny's announcer, Don Wilson.
1981: Move to California
In 1981, Lee moved to California to focus on developing Marvel's film and television projects.
1981: Beginning of Regular Donations to AHC
Stan Lee started regularly contributing papers, photos, and personal effects to the American Heritage Center in 1981. This continued until 2011.
1982: Return to Writing Silver Surfer
Lee returned to writing Silver Surfer projects in 1982, after becoming Marvel's president and later publisher.
1989: Conversation with Stan Lee
Joe Simon recounted a 1989 conversation with Stan Lee, seemingly reconciling differing accounts of Lee's early work, in an appendix of Simon's autobiography.
1990: The Comic Book Makers
Joe Simon's autobiography, "The Comic Book Makers", published in 1990, includes an account of Stan Lee's early career, differing slightly from Lee's own version.
1994: Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame Induction
In 1994, Stan Lee was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame.
1994: Marvels Appearance
Stan Lee appeared as a bar patron in Marvels #3 in 1994.
1995: Jack Kirby Hall of Fame Induction
Stan Lee was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995.
July 1996: Generation X Appearance
Stan Lee appeared as a circus ringmaster in Generation X #17 in July 1996.
July 1997: Flashback Series Appearance
Stan Lee's circus ringmaster character was revived in Marvel's "Flashback" series in July 1997.
June 1998: Daredevil Appearance
Stan Lee attended Karen Page's funeral in Daredevil vol. 2, #8 in June 1998.
1998: Stan Lee Media Founded
Lee co-founded Stan Lee Media, an internet-based superhero creation studio, in 1998.
1998: Founding of Stan Lee Entertainment
Stan Lee founded Stan Lee Entertainment in 1998
1999: Stan Lee Media Goes Public
Stan Lee Media went public through a reverse merger in 1999.
2000: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
Stan Lee and other comic creators were mentioned in Michael Chabon's novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" in 2000.
2000: Success of X-Men and Spider-Man Films
Fox's X-Men film and Sony's Spider-Man film were successful in 2000.
2000: Illegal Stock Manipulation Discovered
Illegal stock manipulation by others at Stan Lee Media was discovered in 2000, although Lee was not implicated.
February 2001: Stan Lee Media Bankruptcy
Stan Lee Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February 2001.
2001: Alleged Misleading of Stan Lee by Business Partners
From 2001 to 2017, Stan Lee's business partners allegedly misled him about various intellectual property deals.
2001: Fantastic Four #48 Recognition
In 2001, Fantastic Four #48, part of "The Galactus Trilogy", was chosen by Marvel readers as #24 in the "100 Greatest Marvels of All Time" poll.
2001: POW! Entertainment and DC Comics Collaboration
In 2001, Lee formed POW! Entertainment and wrote the "Just Imagine..." series for DC Comics, reimagining classic DC superheroes.
2002: Lawsuit Against Marvel
In 2002, Lee sued Marvel for unpaid profits from movies based on characters he co-created.
2002: Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee
Stan Lee published his autobiography, "Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee", in 2002.
2004: POW! Entertainment, Ringo Starr Project, and Stan Lee's Sunday Comics
In 2004, Stan Lee's company, POW! Entertainment, went public. He also announced a superhero project with Ringo Starr and launched "Stan Lee's Sunday Comics," a subscription service.
2005: Settlement with Marvel
Lee settled his lawsuit with Marvel in 2005 for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.
June 2006: New Avengers Appearance
Stan Lee officiated Luke Cage and Jessica Jones' wedding in New Avengers Annual #1 in June 2006.
July 2006: Who Wants to Be a Superhero? Premiere
In July 2006, Stan Lee began hosting, co-creating, and executive producing the reality TV show "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" on the Sci-Fi Channel.
2006: Childhood Influences
In 2006, Lee shared that his childhood was influenced by books and movies, particularly those featuring Errol Flynn.
2006: 65th Anniversary Comics
In 2006, Marvel celebrated Stan Lee's 65 years with the company with a series of comics featuring Lee interacting with his co-creations.
2006: The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril
Stan Lee (as Stanley Lieber) appeared briefly in Paul Malmont's novel "The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril" in 2006.
March 2007: Stan Lee Media Lawsuit Against Marvel
In March 2007, Stan Lee Media filed a lawsuit against Marvel Entertainment for $5 billion, alleging Lee had transferred character rights in exchange for compensation.
June 2007: Stan Lee Media Lawsuit Against Stan Lee and POW! Entertainment
Following the lawsuit against Marvel, in June 2007, Stan Lee Media sued Stan Lee himself, POW! Entertainment, and QED Entertainment.
September 2007: Who Wants to Be a Superhero? Concludes
Stan Lee's involvement with the reality show "Who Wants to Be a Superhero?" concluded in September 2007.
2007: Stan Lee Action Figure
A Stan Lee action figure was released as part of the Marvel Legends line in 2007.
2007: Stan Lee Meets Superheroes
Stan Lee wrote and appeared in "Stan Lee Meets Superheroes" in 2007.
2008: Karakuri Dôji Ultimo Debut
In 2008, POW! Entertainment launched the manga series "Karakuri Dôji Ultimo," a collaboration between Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei.
2008: Various Projects and Partnerships
In 2008, Stan Lee worked on various projects, including "Election Daze," a CGI film series with Brighton Partners and Rainmaker Animation, comics for Virgin Comics, and collaborations with Guardian Media Entertainment.
2008: National Medal of Arts
Stan Lee received the NEA's National Medal of Arts in 2008.
2009: Early Duties at Timely Comics
In 2009, Stan Lee recounted his early, humble duties at Timely Comics, which included filling inkwells, fetching lunches, proofreading, and erasing pencil marks.
2010: With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story
In 2010, the documentary "With Great Power: The Stan Lee Story" was released, featuring Lee, his colleagues, and family, and exploring his life, career, and creations.
2010: Establishment of the Stan Lee Foundation
The Stan Lee Foundation was established in 2010 to support literacy, education, and the arts.
October 2011: Stan Lee's Kids Universe and Romeo & Juliet: The War
In October 2011, Stan Lee partnered with 1821 Comics to create Stan Lee's Kids Universe, focusing on children's comics, and collaborated on "Romeo & Juliet: The War."
2011: The Yin and Yang Battle of Tao and Blood Red Dragon
In 2011, Stan Lee began writing a live-action musical, "The Yin and Yang Battle of Tao," and collaborated on the limited series "Blood Red Dragon."
2011: End of Donations to AHC
Stan Lee's donations of personal effects to University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center ended in 2011
September 2012: Pacemaker Surgery and Convention Cancellations
In September 2012, Stan Lee underwent surgery to have a pacemaker implanted, leading to the cancellation of several planned appearances at conventions.
2012: Stan Lee's World of Heroes YouTube Channel Launch
Stan Lee launched his YouTube channel, "Stan Lee's World of Heroes," at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con.
2012: Comikaze Expo Rebranding
Comikaze Expo was renamed "Stan Lee's Comikaze" in 2012.
2013: Stan Lee's Annihilator Production Begins
Production for the film "Stan Lee's Annihilator" started in 2013, featuring a Chinese superhero.
2013: The Violent Century
In 2013, Stan Lee was portrayed as a historian of superhumans, using his real name Stanley Martin Lieber, in Lavie Tidhar's novel "The Violent Century".
2014: Adaptation of "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge"
In 2014, the original text story "Captain America Foils the Traitor's Revenge" was adapted into a sequential art story by Stan Lee and Bruce Timm as part of Marvel's 75th Anniversary Celebration.
January 2015: Zodiac Release
Stan Lee's book "Zodiac," co-written with Stuart Moore, was released in January 2015.
2016: Stan Lee's God Woke Debut
Stan Lee introduced his digital graphic novel "Stan Lee's God Woke" at the 2016 Comic-Con International.
July 6, 2017: Death of Joan Boocock Lee
On July 6, 2017, Joan Boocock Lee, Stan Lee's wife of 69 years, passed away at the age of 95 due to complications from a stroke.
2017: Independent Publisher Book Award
The print version of "Stan Lee's God Woke" won an Independent Publisher Book Award in 2017.
2017: Sexual Harassment Allegations by Nurses
In 2017, Stan Lee was accused of sexual harassment by a small number of nurses who had worked at his home. Lee denied these claims, stating that they were attempting to extort money from him.
2017: POW! Entertainment Acquired by Camsing International
In 2017, POW! Entertainment was acquired by the Chinese company Camsing International.
2017: Retirement from Convention Appearances
By 2017, Stan Lee had retired from making appearances at conventions.
2017: Recognition for Military Service
At the 2017 Emerald City Comic Con, Stan Lee was recognized for his prior military service with an honorary membership in the 2nd Battalion of 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.
2017: End of Alleged Misleading by Business Partners
Alleged misleading of Stan Lee ended in 2017.
January 10, 2018: Sexual Harassment Allegations
On January 10, 2018, the Mail Online reported that Stan Lee faced accusations of sexual harassment by several nurses in early 2017. Lee denied the allegations, asserting they were an attempt at extortion.
April 2018: Lawsuit Against Jerardo Olivarez
In April 2018, Stan Lee filed a lawsuit against his former business manager, Jerardo Olivarez, accusing him of exploiting his vulnerability after his wife's death by mismanaging funds, changing his will, and making unauthorized purchases.
April 2018: Allegations of Elder Abuse Surface
In April 2018, The Hollywood Reporter published a report detailing alleged elder abuse against Stan Lee. The report suggested that Keya Morgan, Lee's business manager, among others, isolated Lee from trusted contacts after his wife's death to exploit his wealth, estimated at $50 million.
May 2018: Lawsuit against POW! Entertainment
Stan Lee filed a $1 billion lawsuit against POW! Entertainment in May 2018.
July 2018: Lawsuit against POW! Dropped
Stan Lee dropped the lawsuit against POW! Entertainment in July 2018.
August 2018: Restraining Order Against Keya Morgan
In August 2018, a restraining order was issued against Keya Morgan, preventing him from contacting Stan Lee, his daughter, and associates for three years, following allegations of elder abuse.
November 12, 2018: Death of Stan Lee
Stan Lee passed away on November 12, 2018, at the age of 95.
2018: Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
In 2018, Stan Lee made a self-aware cameo appearance, voicing himself, in the DC Comics movie "Teen Titans Go! To the Movies".
2018: Retirement and Cameo Appearances
Following his retirement from Marvel in the 1990s, Lee remained a public figurehead and made frequent cameo appearances in Marvel films and TV shows until his death in 2018.
May 2019: Keya Morgan Charged with Elder Abuse
Keya Morgan was charged with five counts of elder abuse, including false imprisonment and grand theft, in May 2019. The charges related to incidents from mid-2018.
September 2019: J.C. Lee Files Lawsuit Against POW!
J.C. Lee filed a lawsuit against POW! Entertainment in September 2019, aiming to regain control of Stan Lee's intellectual property rights.
2019: Avengers: Endgame
Stan Lee's final cameo appearance occurred in "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019, utilizing archive footage due to a new Marvel policy enacted after his death.
June 2020: Lawsuit Against POW! Entertainment Dismissed
In June 2020, a lawsuit filed by J.C. Lee against POW! Entertainment was dismissed by Judge Otis D. Wright II, who deemed it "frivolous" and "improper." J.C. Lee was sanctioned $1,000,000, and her lawyers were sanctioned $250,000. POW! Entertainment was also granted the right to pursue legal fees.
July 6, 2020: Genius Brands Acquisition
Genius Brands acquired the rights to Stan Lee's name, likeness, and IPs, forming Stan Lee Universe, on July 6, 2020.
2022: Marvel Licensing Deal
In 2022, Marvel licensed the use of Stan Lee's name and likeness from Stan Lee Universe.
June 16, 2023: Stan Lee Documentary Release
A documentary titled "Stan Lee", directed by David Gelb, about Stan Lee's life and legacy premiered at the Tribeca Festival and was released on Disney+ on June 16, 2023.