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I metStan Leefor the first time on five different occasions.
Back in the 1980s I worked at the Marvel Comics offices as the assistant direct sales manager.
My job was to confirm the comics got to all the retail comic book shops on time every week.
And in carrying out my duties, Id typically run into him in the hallways.
I did this because Stans lousy memory was fabled and notorious throughout the industry.
It was no secret.
In an early issue ofSpider-Man,the heros alter ego was cited as PeterPalmer rather than Parker.
It was subsequently explained that his full name was actually Robert Bruce Banner.
And we, as fans, all nodded and said, Okay.
So, four times I introduced myself.
My breath was taken away.
Stan Lee remembered me.
I had now fully arrived in the world of comic books.
So that was how I met him in person.
Now, understand that I knew nothing about the Marvel Universe.
I hadnt read a single issue of anything.
Yet I was able to read the entire story and understand every single thing that was going on.
Considering it featured pretty much every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe, that was quite an accomplishment.
Stans meticulous writing held to the concept that every comic is someones first issue.
I didnt have a clue who they were.
Yet they all know Stan Lee.
Everyone knows Stan Lee.
And theres no reason they shouldnt.
Before the rise of Marvel, comic books were considered strictly kids entertainment.
Stan took that concept and turned it on its ear.
By contrast, the DC heroes had weaknesses, yes, but theirs were arbitrary and supernatural.
Stan actually took a hardened defense contractor billionaire and made him sympathetic.
He crisscrossed the country, making appearances at dozens of colleges.
The fact that Marvels comics were hugely popular in universities was surprising to everyone.
But the fact is that before Marvel Comics, comics writers and artists were anonymous.
But the hostility toward Stan seemed to wane over the years.
Maybe it was all his cameo appearances in the multi-billion dollar Marvel movies.
Over the years, I became faster and faster friends with Stan.
We worked on projects such as the Marvel 2099 line.
Stan looked surprised and said, I thought he changed when he got angry.
Not in the beginning, I said.
It was at moonrise.
He frowned and said, I wonder why we changed it.
Then he shrugged and said, Eh.
It was probably Jacks idea.
I wondered what in the world they were talking about.
I never had the nerve to ask him.
At least now they can resume their chat.
Peter David is an award-winning comics writer.
With Stan Lee, he co-wroteAmazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir, illustrated by Colleen Doran.
