Bob Batchelor - Stan Lee: A Life

Bob Batchelor is an award-winning cultural historian and biographer who has published books on Bob Dylan, The Great Gatsby, Mad Men, and John Up-dike, among other topics. Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon, An Illustrated History won the 2021 Independent Publishers Book Award for fine art. The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibitions Evil Genius won the 2020 Independent Publishers Book Award for historical biography. Stan Lee: The Man behind Marvel was a finalist for the 2018 Ohioana Book Award for nonfiction.

Bobs books have been translated into a dozen languages, and his work has appeared or been featured in the New York Times, Cincinnati Enquirer, Los Angeles Times, and Time magazine. Bob is also the creator and host of the pod-cast John Updike: American Writer, American Life. He has appeared as an on-air commentator for the National Geographic Channel, PBS NewsHour, PBS, and NPR. Bob hosted TriState True Crime on WCPOs Cincy Lifestyle television show.

Bob earned his doctorate in American literature from the University of South Florida. He has taught at universities in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, as well as Vienna, Austria. Bob and his wife, Suzette, live in North Carolina and have two teenage daughters.

Other books by Bob Batchelor are:

• Aging Heroes: Growing Old in Popular Culture (editor)
• Bob Dylan: A Concise Biography
• The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibitions Evil Genius
• Gatsby: The Cultural History of the Great American Novel
• Heroines of Comic Books and Literature: Portrayals in Popular Culture (editor)
• Heroines of Film and Television: Portrayals in Popular Culture (editor)
• John Updike: A Critical Biography
• Mad Men: A Cultural History
• Michael Chabons America: Magical Words, Secret Worlds, and Sacred Spaces (editor)
• Rookwood: The Rediscovery and Revival of an American Icon, An Illustrated History
• Stan Lee: The Man behind Marvel
• Stan Lee: The Man behind Marvel, Young Adult Edition

I s it possible to calculate all that goes into writing a book? Stan Lee: A Life is the culmination of a lifetime of reading, research, and enjoying comic books within the long through line of studying popular culture. I taught myself to read so that I could unlock the joys of Spider-Man and the Avengers. Later I grew obsessed with the reality-bending What If series. I do not remember a time without Stan Lee. The Stan Lee Presents banner is ever-present in my minds eye.

I was lucky enough to spend some time with Stan in late 2016. When I asked him how it felt to inspire generations of fans and artists with his flawed hero narrative, he paused for a moment. Looking wistfully off into the distance, he explained: Its an incredibly great feeling, when I think about it. I dont have that much time to think about, but when I do Then his voice trailed off. With a brief grin and eyes almost sparkling behind his semidark glasses, my wife, Suzette, and I could see his pride and hear it in his voice. Thinking back on that time now, my hands still tremble a bit. How often does one get to stand in the shadow of greatness?

As you have read in the preceding pages, Lees career and impact on popular culture has not been without controversy. Given the billions of dollars at stake in the Marvel universe across films, comics, merchandise, and everything else related to the company across the globe, the hullabaloo will likely never end. As youve also now learned, I think both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby deserve equal credit for their creations, as does Steve Ditko for his cocreation of Spider-Man. Equal. My advice to those so quick to argue for or against these creators is to dig in and come to your own conclusions.

My attempt to tell Stans story centered on multi-archival research and using that material, plus interviews, newspaper articles, essays, blogs, and all other information I could get my hands on to create my own interpretation. Thats all history is, in the end. History is not what actually happened, rather a snippet and an elucidation. As such, the ideas and analysis are mine, as are any errors of judgment. I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to the amazing team at the American Heritage Center (AHC) at the University of Wyoming. How Lees papers got to Laramie, Wyoming, is itself a great story. The archivists and librarians I worked with were so professional and provided access to material that few had previously seen.

I would also like to thank the team at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum at Ohio State University. Additional resources, including rare books and Marvel materials, were hunted down at the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, and Lane Public Library in Oxford, Ohio. Newspapers.com is an invaluable source, as are the many digital databases that help the historian find and utilize materials. I read deeply in the Marvel back catalog via the Marvel Unlimited subscription service.

Thanks to the many editors and staffers I have had the great pleasure to work with at Rowman & Littlefield! Christen Karniski has been a wonderful editor and guide as we took another headlong dive into Stans epic life. Her steady and thoughtful work made this a much better book. I would also like to thank everyone who had a hand in this book at R&L over the years, including the design team, copyeditors, marketing team, and the production stafffirst-rate one and all. A huge thanks to illustrator, comic artist, and storyteller Jason Piperberg for his Marvel comic bookinspired cover design. His work on this book and the young adult version brings Stan alive for a new generation of readers.

I would like to thank several friends and scholars who helped me along the way, including Arthur Asa Berger, who is simply one of the nations great creative minds. His friendship with Stan gave me another point of reference, and I greatly appreciate his advice and support. Thanks too go to Carl Rollysonin my mind the dean of American biographywho always says, The answer to one biography is another biography. His work is inspirational, and I used his thinking as a guide as I wrote this book! Thanks as well to my mentor and friend Phillip Sipiora and to the memory of the great historian Lawrence S. Kaplan. I am constantly inspired to be a stronger writer and thinker by Jerome Charyn. He has had a profound impact on me. Thank you, too, to Jeromes wife, Lenore Riegel, for continued friendship and support.

A big shout-out to several friends who have offered unwavering support on the journey, including Brian Jay Jones, one of Americas best biographers, and Kyle Sarofeen, the publisher of Hamilcar Publications and a guy Im happy to call friend! I would also like to thank Jim Thompson, Alex Grand, and the Comic Book Historians group they run on Facebook. I have learned so much as a member. I have also learned so much at Comics Silver Age, run by the eminent Clifford Meth.

Josh Schwartz is a trusted friend, advisor, and confidante. Thanks, buddy, for all youve done for me and Stans story! My thinking about history, life, and friendship has been shaped and formed by Thomas Heinrich. He is more than a frienda brother for life.

Imagine my surprise when Tom DeLonge agreed to write the foreword! Thanks to everyone on Toms team for making this happen, particularly Kari DeLonge. From music superstar to To the Stars to major motion pictures, Tom has shaped contemporary culture in a way few can claim. Thanks, Tom, for lending your insightExcelsior!

This book is dedicated to the memory of my mother-in-law, Josette Hrup Percival Valois. I would also like to extend my thanks to Michel Valois, Carole and Laurent van Huffel, Matthew van Huffel and Trang, Benjamin van Huffel, and Nicholas van Huffel.