Stan Lee

[Slam_Bradley]

It's funny, I've never had any desire to meet anyone whose work I admired, whether it was an artist, musician or whatever. I just feel like they would have heard it all before. And I feel like their work is what I'm interested in, not so much them personally. But that's just me.

Not trying to be a bummer here, I get that lots of people love that sort of thing. I haven't been to a comic convention since the early 90s, I did actually meet Peter David there briefly and he was pretty nice and signed a comic for free. I also remember meeting Jimmy Doohan at a Star Trek convention as a kid and he didn't charge either.

Anyway I hope you have fun hondobrode.

I met blues musician Philip Walker at a very small venue with a pretty small crowd. I talked to him for a couple of minutes between sets, just to tell him I loved his work and ask about his version of "Don't Be ?afraid of The Dark.". I'm glad I had the chance to tell him his work mattered to me.

[Rob Allen]

You could ask Stan about the Spider-Man newspaper strip, which is about the only Marvel product that he has any creative input in these days.


Or you could ask him about the brokerage firm that he owns with his brother Morg.

You've heard of 'Morg & Stan Lee', haven't you?

(if you're puzzled, say it out loud a few times)

[destro]

I met blues musician Philip Walker at a very small venue with a pretty small crowd. I talked to him for a couple of minutes between sets, just to tell him I loved his work and ask about his version of "Don't Be ?afraid of The Dark.". I'm glad I had the chance to tell him his work mattered to me.

That's cool. Like I said, I never really felt that way but I totally understand that a lot of people do.

Let me clarify a bit too...I imagine it probably means a lot more to a less famous sort of person who might not hear this sort of thing so often. I was thinking more of people like Stan Lee, William Shatner, etc.. who I imagine have heard it all.

But maybe it still means something to them, I have no idea. And if it means something to you, or anyone else to say that to someone you admire that's cool, I'm certainly not trying to rain on anyone's parade.

[Slam_Bradley]

That's cool. Like I said, I never really felt that way but I totally understand that a lot of people do.

Let me clarify a bit too...I imagine it probably means a lot more to a less famous sort of person who might not hear this sort of thing so often. I was thinking more of people like Stan Lee, William Shatner, etc.. who I imagine have heard it all.

But maybe it still means something to them, I have no idea. And if it means something to you, or anyone else to say that to someone you admire that's cool, I'm certainly not trying to rain on anyone's parade.

Everyone is different and there is no right answer. I'll add I got a very nice reply when I e-mailed John Ostrander to tell him that his run on The Spectre and The Kents were two of my favorite comics runs.

[destro]

Everyone is different and there is no right answer. I'll add I got a very nice reply when I e-mailed John Ostrander to tell him that his run on The Spectre and The Kents were to of my favorite comics runs.

Nice, good to hear he's a cool guy.

[custodes]

I'm going to be seeing him at Dallas Comic Con in a few weeks. I've got a print I want him to sign and I've been wondering what to say to him.

Part of me wants to stand up for Jack Kirby, as in "Why no credits for Jack on the Avengers movie credits ", but I'll never get to see Stan again.

What do you guys suggest I say ? The guy is a legend, despite over-inflating his accomplishments and not giving some of his contributors and fellow creators with the full credit they deserve.

Do not spoil your visit with negative attitudes. Stan does not own Marvel. I noticed Kirbys' name on other Movies though.

Instead ask him about your favorite Silver Age comic. Remember he did not create Cap. If your favorite character is one he did co-create by all means tell him. Spidey, Hulk, FF, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, the Original Nick Fury, Ant Man or Giant Man & Wasp, Original X-Men ( Scott, Bobby, Jean, Hank, Warren, Prof X etc...

If you read any of his new comics tell him. Make sure what you bring to sign...he wrote. He might have a story. If he is mean (doubtful) ask him about his Entourage episode.

[Aaron King]

Everyone is different and there is no right answer. I'll add I got a very nice reply when I e-mailed John Ostrander to tell him that his run on The Spectre and The Kents were two of my favorite comics runs.

I don't want to derail things here too much, especially since I think we have a "Best Convention Experiences" thread or something along those lines hanging out somewhere on the board, BUT...

I had a chance to meet Ostrander in person at a convention here in St. Paul once, and he was the nicest guy. He signed about ten issues of The Spectre for the girl in front of me (who was, oddly, the only other person in line at the moment). I talked to him a little bit, mostly about Del Close and Ostrander's time in theater since I do some playwright stuff and a lot of my friends are actors who have really been influenced by Second City.

I had a copy of Wasteland #6 with me, which was from a series that Ostrander co-wrote with Close. Due to some convoluted printing stuff, this issue shipped with a blank white cover. (You can see it with some explanation here.) After talking to him awhile, I asked him to sign the blank cover. Instead of just signing it, he drew a self-portrait in Elizabethan garb and wrote a funny little message. It's one of my most treasured pieces of comic memorabilia.

I guess this is just the long way of saying that, if an artist has influenced your life or made a work that really speaks to you, and if you trust yourself to get that feeling across, most artists will respond to that sort of gesture. If the venue is bustling, if there's a cost associated, and you're really only there to meet someone famous, well... I'd probably pass on that.

[Johnny P. Sartre]

That Perez story reminded me of when I met Mignola.

It was last year, in March, in a very small conversation in Sacramento (Sac Con) and for 10 bucks! Not only did get met and extensively talk to Mignola, get as many items signed by him (Got my library vol 3, rocket raccoon, cosmic odyssey, Batman Dark Night, Dark City (he just did the covers and it was a great story by Peter Milligan)) all for free AND on top of that I got to met Inker Mick Gray (talked to him about digital comics and 52), Timothy Green II (we manga and Moebius nerded out for a straight hour) and the voice of Goku; all this for 10 bucks!

Now I know Mignola isn't BIG like Perez or Lee (I know MM is big but not as huge as those two) but it's great when creators go out of there way to do things like this.

[MRP]

Just came back from Avengers, and Kirby is credited twice in the movies' credits. First says Based on comic books created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The second says Captain America created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

As for what to say to Stan, can't tell you but all I can recommend is that whatever you say, mean it. Whether it's thank you, it's an honor, can you sign this it will mean a lot, or you're a bum for the way you treated blah blah, whatever you say, mean it because you will have to live with what you said.

-M

Edit-there was also a special thanks to line that had about 8-10 writers and artists names listed and went by too fast for me to read them all, but I did see Sal Buscema and George Perez mentioned.

[TAG]

Stan, along with Jack Kirby, are probably the only two comic book celebrities that I would like to meet. Like many of you, I’m not much into the hype created by celebrities. I was at the Boston convention a few weeks ago, and they had a panel that consisted of Berine Wrightson,Joe Sinnott, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bob Layton . As much as I loved Layton and Michelinie’s run on Iron Man (my favorite IM run), I felt no real need to meet him. However, Stan’s early work on Fantastic Four and Silver Surfer were some of the first comics I read. I remember distinctively that sense of wonder and an affiliation to the high moral fiber that his characters exhibited. To some small degree, Stan helped shaped my character at a young age.

I’ve had 3 or 4 times where I’ve had the opportunity to meet him. Each time however, I’ve met strange obstacles that have prevented me from doing so. I feel that our time to pay tribute to him is running short. So to answer your question Mark, speak from the heart.

[hondobrode]

Yes, I'll have thought out some questions, besides ranting how I feel in love with comics thanks in large part to him.

Rob, the broker thing threw me for a second...

[tolworthy]

$50 for the man to sign an item???

Stan has famously forgotten all the old details, and let's face it his work since 1970 has been forgettable. So the only reason to see him (and a very good reason it is) is to say thanks for his magnum opus, his editorial work in the 1960s. Saying thanks and paying money doesn't sound too incongruous.

Ansd I totally agree about Perez. Possibly the second greatest comic book artist ever (yeah I said it) and always a great guy. We don't deserve him.

[pinkfloydsound17]

Allow the following dialogue to work out

You: Hey, Stan. Did Spider-Man ever try to market himself for personal gain?
Stan: Umm well yes, when he tried to take advantage of his powers!
You: Right. And what happened?
Stan: Well, Uncle Ben died as a result of his actions
You: Kind of like I just died a little inside knowing how much you're charging me to stand here and ask you a question
Stan: Umm well....
You: Bazinga! Ps Kirby rules!

At which point you calmly take out your AF 15 issue and slowly tear it up.....too much?

[rob fleming]

Allow the following dialogue to work out

You: Hey, Stan. Did Spider-Man ever try to market himself for personal gain?
Stan: Umm well yes, when he tried to take advantage of his powers!
You: Right. And what happened?
Stan: Well, Uncle Ben died as a result of his actions
You: Kind of like I just died a little inside knowing how much you're charging me to stand here and ask you a question
Stan: Umm well....
You: Bazinga! Ps Kirby rules!

At which point you calmly take out your AF 15 issue and slowly tear it up.....too much?

Stan: and you just threw away thousands of dollars ...schmuck!

[hondobrode]

Allow the following dialogue to work out

You: Hey, Stan. Did Spider-Man ever try to market himself for personal gain?
Stan: Umm well yes, when he tried to take advantage of his powers!
You: Right. And what happened?
Stan: Well, Uncle Ben died as a result of his actions
You: Kind of like I just died a little inside knowing how much you're charging me to stand here and ask you a question
Stan: Umm well....
You: Bazinga! Ps Kirby rules!

At which point you calmly take out your AF 15 issue and slowly tear it up.....too much?

LOL

Awesome