Marvel Superheroes | 2022

STAN LEE

MARVEL SUPERHEROES 2022

1922-2018

Often credited with transforming the industry forever, the late Stan Lee was an American comic book writer, editor, former President and Chairman Emeritus of Marvel Comics. Born Stanley Lieber in Manhattan, New York City, on 28th December 1922, he graduated from high school early and eventually became an assistant at Timely Comics – which would later evolve into Marvel Comics. Following a stint in the United States Army, Stan was tasked by publisher Martin Goodman in the late 1950s to create a superhero team to rival that of DC Comics. The first superheroes Stan and artist Jack Kirby created were the Fantastic Four. In collaboration with Jack and Steve Ditko, he went on to co-create Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, the Silver Surfer, the Avengers and many other fictional characters. From the tip of his pen and the keys of his trusted typewriter flowed not only larger-than-life superheroes, but an exploration of social issues such as bigotry, injustice and discrimination. As a result, Stan’s Marvel Revolution extended beyond the characters and storylines to engage with his audience and create a community between readers and creators.

His unconventional approach may have got him into hot water with the Comic Codes Authority, but in 1984 Stan was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the United States Congress – the highest honour awarded to an individual artist in the USA. Previous recipients include Georgia O’Keeffe, Willem de Kooning, Roy Lichtenstein and Bob Dylan. Known as much for his rapport with fans as his impact on the world of comic books, he remarked in an interview with the Radio Times: “It’s always great when people come up to me and mention how much they like the characters I’ve created. It’s always a great feeling to hear that.” Such was Stan’s legend that upon his passing at the age of 95 in Los Angeles, California, on 12th November 2018, millions of messages poured in from around the world. In part, no doubt, because Stan Lee was a guiding voice for generations who needed to hear that it was okay to be different. We will forever remember his immortally self-deprecating, and yet simultaneously self-aware, words: “I feel that if you’re able to entertain, you’re doing a good thing.”

Washington Green and Castle Fine Art proudly presents the final instalment from the Superheroes series; iconic comic book covers, created, orchestrated and masterminded by the legendary Stan Lee. Penned and inked by some of the greatest artists to emerge from the comic book industry, these six classic covers feature some of the most influential characters that have dominated our society over the many years of Stan Lee’s reign at Marvel. This seminal series of work, curated between 2012 and 2018, was the result of a collaboration between Marvel’s Chairman Emeritus, the late, great Stan Lee and Castle Fine Art’s publisher, Washington Green. For this swansong release, we bring you The Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, The Avengers, The Fantastic Four and The Mighty Thor. Ironically, for a last instalment, it is comprised of many firsts. ‘Amazing Fantasy #15 – Introducing Spider- Man’ is one of the most collectable comic books within the Marvel universe, has sold for record prices and it one of the most widely read comics of all time. All for good reason - it is the first time that Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko collaborated to bring us the first ever appearance of Spider-Man. It was one of Stan Lee’s personal favourites, and remains of high importance to Marvel fans across the world today. Similarly, ‘Fantastic Four #49’ marked a new direction for Marvel in the sixties, when Stan Lee recognised

the need for an ensemble cast of characters, to bring together different personalities, strengths and weaknesses in one team against their enemies. Crucially, this also sparked a move towards Stan Lee expanding upon his superheroes’ alter egos; soon the narrative would bestow almost equal importance on their time away from doing battle with evil, and add to his established focus on keeping his characters relatable and relevant. Thus the Fantastic Four made their debut, and are now referred to by many comic book aficionados as Marvel’s ‘first family’. Marvel’s other acknowledged ensemble, The Avengers, was the means by which Stan Lee reintroduced Captain America into the Marvel universe – in ‘The Avengers #4’ – after a hiatus of nearly twenty years since his debut in the 1940s, made under their previous company name of Timely Comics. Captain America represented the American ideal and, as a character that Stan Lee worked on with Jack Kirby at a time when both men were in far less senior positions, it was of great significance to them both to breathe new life into his story arc. It also presented the opportunity for the duo to retell Captain America’s journey into the popular domain, satisfying the previously unconvinced comic fans by taking his character narrative back full circle to where it first began.

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