STAN L E E b. 1922
Stan Lee is an iconic American comic book writer, editor and former president and chairman of Marvel Comics. Born Stanley Leiber in New York city December 28th 1922, he signed his name as Stan Lee when he wrote his first comic book script ‘Captain America Foils the Traitors Revenge’, in 1941. Stan Lee had a gift for inventing plots with more depth and substance than the distinguished competition. He created characters with interesting personalities, who spoke like real people. They suffered personal hang-ups and the bad guys possessed previously unseen psychological complexity. Lee’s first creation alongside Jack Kirby, launched under the Marvel brand, made history in November 1961. Lee added wit, subtlety and hidden morals to a genre that was previously locked into flat portrayals of good versus evil; a style of story writing that endures to this day. He collaborated with several comic book artists, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, and went on to co-create Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the
Silver Surfer, The Avengers and many more fictional characters. Stan Lee’s Marvel Revolution also extended beyond the characters and storylines, to the way in which comic books engaged the audience and created a community between the readers and the creators. Additionally, he pioneered and advocated the use of comic books to comment on social issues of the time, including bigotry, injustice and discrimination. This got him into some hot water with the rather conservative Comics Code Authority but Lee wouldn't yield, he continued to pursue what he believed in and what he knew his audience craved; thus the code changed. In summary, Stan Lee and his collaborations with some of the greatest comic book artists ever to have lived, changed the game. In 1984, Stan Lee was awarded The National Medal of Arts by the United States Congress, the highest honour awarded to an individual artist in the United States. Previous recipients include Georgia O'Keefe, William de Kooning, Robert Motherwell, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein and Bob Dylan.
L OU F E RR I GNO
b. 1951
When The Incredible Hulk first burst onto TV screens in 1978, audiences were captivated. The juxtaposition of mild-mannered scientist and powerful superhero resonated with all those who sought to find their own inner strength. The man behind the green Goliath was Lou Ferrigno, a former Mr. Universe who had fought off his own nemeses on the road to success. Bullied at school after suffering a series of ear infections that left him with only 25% of his hearing, the Brooklyn-born actor would go on to become a symbol of power. Inspired by childhood heroes, including the Marvel characters The Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man, Lou threw himself into athletics. Focusing mainly on weightlifting and bodybuilding, he began weight training at the age of 13. In 1973, at the age of 21, he won the titles of IFBB Mr. America and IFBB Mr. Universe, making him the youngest-ever recipient in the competition’s history – a Guinness World Record he still holds to this day. After appearing in the 1977 docudrama Pumping Iron , he caught the attention of television producer Kenneth Johnson, of Six Million Dollar Man fame.
The screenwriter was searching for the right actor to play the larger-than-life comic book superhero for his upcoming CBS TV series, The Incredible Hulk . With his 6ft 5in, 285 lb frame, Lou crushed his competition, which included fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger. He played the titular role until 1981, with the final episodes broadcast in 1982. Following the huge success of the show, the iconic character commanded several individual feature film adaptations, as well as many appearances as a member of Earth’s mightiest superheroes, the Avengers. Lou has featured in blockbusters such as Hulk (2003), The Incredible Hulk (2008) and The Avengers (2012), cementing his larger-than-life reputation as a TV and motion picture star. Now a motivational speaker and fitness trainer, Lou’s legendary portrayal still lives on. Husband to wife Carla and father to Shanna, Louie and Brent, his life mirrors that of his character, whose strength came from a desire to protect his family. While the Hulk may not have uttered a single word in the four years he appeared on screen, he spoke volumes for the little boy who one day became his own hero.
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