STAN LEE:
How to Be a
Real Super Hero!

Do you know what it takes to be a Real Life Superhero? Stan 'The Man' Lee, creator of an ever-expanding universe of superheroes including Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Daredevil, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Silver Surfer, has some mighty words of wisdom on the subject. So stop wondering and start learning from the world's greatest authority on superheroes, the living legend himself, Stan Lee, in this awesome, amazing, fantastic and exclusive CyberSpacers Interview.

Stanley Martin Lieber was only 16 when he went to work for Marvel Comics. Of course at that time (World War II was just getting started) the name 'Marvel' had not been born. His cousin's husband owned what was then called Timely Comics. The future comic-book king's first writing job was a two-page text filler piece in the super patriotic Captain America No. 3. The youngster had big dreams and decided to sign it "Stan Lee" because he hoped someday to be writing the Great American Novel, and he didn't want to use his real name on "mere, humble comic strips." Years later he would be credited with the heroic deed of saving the industry. Indeed, the name Stan Lee was destined to become THE most famous in comic-book history.

It all began when his early career took an unexpected turn. The creators of Captain America, editor Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby, left Timely Comics for rival publisher, DC, who had a star-studded lineup of new superheroes, including Superman and Batman. So at the ripe old age of 18, Stan became Timely's 'temporary' editor and chief writer. But the job became his to keep as prolific Stan churned out stories ranging from Westerns to Horror to Romance. The future held great promise for the young man with the super imagination and an unflagging exuberance, who had grown up in poverty in New York.

However, like millions of other unsung heroic Americans, Stan's career was interrupted by the war. He left his job, and joined the Army. He yearned for combat duty, but recognizing his talent, the Army had him write training films, manuals and other papers that no doubt helped win the conflict. After the war, Stan returned to Timely Comics, and began his personal precarious march toward fame, fortune and immortality.

Stan makes cameos in the films based on his comic-book stars. He's appeared as the security guard in "Hulk," an old man at crossing in "Daredevil," a hot dog vendor in "X-Men," with Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman the sunglasses vendor in "Spider-Man" - and with more films on the way - he'll be in those, too! And despite the astonishing fact that he is busier now than at any time in his illustrious, roller-coaster ride of a career, Stan 'The Man' has the taken time to speak out here on the important issue of being a Real Life Superhero,
Stan Lee is a True Believer. He believes in the Golden Rule, and has always tried to stress "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you," in his comic-book stories. "If people would just live according to that simple idea," says the legendary creator of Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Daredevil, Silver Surfer and a galaxy of others, "this planet would be a utopia, a heaven on earth."

But in the complex, challenging and often dangerous 21st century world of today - Stan 'The Man' Lee believes that only real life superheroes can safeguard civilization. "I'm a true believer that now, more than ever before, we need the heroic deeds of real people from the real world. These are the actual superheroes." Stan explains:

"Heroism, in a sense, is doing something that is right - even if it's difficult to do. It sometimes means choosing the toughest path instead of going the easy way. And that can apply to a variety of things on many levels, some personal, and some involving other people.

"It could be, for example, doing your homework when you'd rather be playing a video game or hanging around with your pals. It could be spending your time wisely instead of wasting it. It could be helping out a friend who is in some sort of trouble, when you'd rather be going to a movie or a concert or not get involved at all.

"Heroism in the real world means, making a difficult choice at any time - and doing it because it is the right choice, the proper thing to do. And, that choice you make in doing something for others, that's the same choice you would want them to make for you, too."

Stan sees a parallel between performing heroically in the real and make-believe worlds. "To make those difficult choices in life requires even more heroism than it would take a powerful superhero to fight a super-villain in a fantasy universe.

"And those in this world of ours who are not the heroes, and who in fact may be the villains, are the ones who always follow the easy path," Stan explains to CyberSpacers. "They are the ones who do not care about others.

"Another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people's well-being, and will go out of his or her way to help them -- even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero."

The eldest of two children of Romanian immigrants, Stan's family was poor, but Stan remembers his parents as, "two good people who loved their children more than anything else in the world." Proving that having a super imagination can run in the family, Stan's younger brother is artist-writer Larry Lieber, co-creator of Mighty Thor and Iron Man. The two have worked closely over the years. In fact, Stan and Larry still collaborate on the Spider-Man comic strip, the most successful superhero strip in history!

"Our mother, Celia, was a wonderful woman," Stan recalls fondly in this exclusive CyberSpacers interview. "And our father, Jack, was an honest and caring guy. But I always felt sorry for him. Times were tough, and try as he did, he could not find steady work to support us. It finally broke his spirit. My parents frequently argued over money. It seemed it was never sufficient to pay the rent or buy groceries."

Stan says he will forever regret the fact that by the time he was making enough money to take care of his parents, it was too late. Stan adored his mother, and she loved him. Stan recalls:

"Although I wasn't a whiz-kid in school, reading and composition were my best subjects. I don't remember when I learned to read, or ever not reading. I was an insatiable reader. I would read just about anything I could, especially adventure stories. I loved Tarzan, Nicholas Nickleby by Dickens, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe, O. Henry, and the Hardy Boys. I also read the Bible. And Shakespeare, too. I didn't always understand it, but I enjoyed the phraseology, the rhythm and use of words and language."

Stan's mother encouraged her son's love of reading, and often asked him to read aloud to her. "At home, I would read a book or magazines at every meal. One of the best presents I ever got was when my mother bought me a little stand to keep on the kitchen table. I could rest what ever I was reading against it while I ate. It had little clips on the bottom to hold the pages in place."

Stan loved going to movies, too. "Swashbuckling films and action heroes were my favorites. The books and movies were a way for me to escape from the sadness at home," Stan explains. "In fact, my love of film led to a job I still chuckle about."

As a teen, he recalls having a job as an usher at a major movie theater. "It was a big deal at the time," he says, "we wore uniforms and everything. One day, Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the President came in with a bunch of Secret Service guys. And she was standing in my aisle! I walked straight and proud in front of her to escort her to her seat -but some wise guy stretched out his foot, and I tumbled to the floor! Only my pride was injured as Mrs. Roosevelt asked me if I was all right, and tried to help me to my feet."

After serving with distinction, Stan came back from the Army with undaunted ambition. He knew what he wanted to do with his talent. That is, continue to write, and to create something that would be both successful, and worthwhile. Perhaps not even Stan could have imagined that a few years later, he would be credited with rescuing the faltering comic-book industry, and helping comics achieve acceptance as an American art form. Ultimately, Stan would bring to comics, television and motion pictures, a new brand of superhero that would change entertainment forever.











"When you think about it," Stan 'The Man' continues, "there is a thread of reason that weaves make believe and reality together. Superheroes in comics, heroes in fiction and heroes in the real world have this all-important virtue in common: they help people simply because it is the right thing to do.

"And it's far easier for a character with super-powers to perform heroically than it is for a normal person to be a hero in this world. I would have to say that an average boy or girl or adult who strives and accomplishes great things, for others, and themselves, must be considered a real life super hero."

After conquering comics, many of Stan's Marvel characters jumped into animation. The popularity of 'Mighty Thor,' 'The Fantastic Four,' 'Captain America,' 'Incredible Hulk,' 'Iron Man,' 'Spider-Man' and 'The Marvel Superheroes' grew swiftly on TV.

But there are always setbacks. In the late '70s, The Hulk and Spider-Man took the leap to live-action television. Stan disliked the live-action 'Amazing Spiderman' TV series that starred Nicholas Hammond. "Nicholas was great, but they didn't give him, or me, enough to work with. It was too juvenile. Spiderman was treated on the show as a cardboard character. There was no depth to the character," 'The Man' tells CyberSpacers in this exclusive interview. Although Stan was the script consultant, he didn't have the final say so on the stories. The series only lasted two seasons.

'The Incredible Hulk' live-action TV series was much more successful. Featuring the late Bill Bixby as Dr. Banner, and bodybuilder superstar Lou Ferrigno as the monster, 'The Hulk' was a full-fledged hit and had a power-packed five-year run.

The making of a major motion picture is surrounded by politics, as in the case of Roger Corman's 1992 feature of Stan Lee's Fantastic Four starring Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab and Joseph Culp. The film was slapped together hastily, as the contract for the rights to make the film expired. The film was never officially released.

Sure, the lines to see big-time movies like 'Spider-Man' starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, 'The Hulk' starring Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly, may have been around the block. But the crowds who show up to meet Stan Lee in person, are, excuse the pun: SUPER! And whether he's signing a copy of his autobiography, 'Excelsior! The Amazing Life of Stan Lee,' or his recent video 'Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters, and Marvels,' or 'How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way,' or a photo or just an autograph, Stan is always happy to oblige his fans. "They're the ones who are really super," he says. These days, Stan's more busy, successful and happy than at any time in his entire career. In the last few years - and he's already working on the next few - the very young at heart comic-book king has become an exceptional Executive Producer of sure-fire hit movies. These include: 'Spider-Man' (2002), 'The Hulk' (2003), 'Spider-Man II' (2004), 'X2, X-Men United' (2003), 'Fantastic Four' (2004), and 'Iron Man' (2005).

On top of all this, Stan recently formed POW! Entertainment. POW stands for 'Purveyors of Wonder.' The company creates live action and animated films and TV series. Like a magnet, Stan is able to attract the biggest names in show business to his projects. For example, fans still rave about David Hasselhoff appearing in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. And now, POW's first animated show, 'Stripperella,' intended for adults, features the enchanting voice and likeness of 'Bay Watch' star Pamela Anderson. (See the promo for Stripperella with Stan Lee and Pam Anderson in .mpg format.)

But meanwhile, back to the mainstream audience: Stan is set to dream up a whole new galaxy of heroes under a partnership with leading kids entertainment company DIC. POW! and DIC's 'The Stan Lee Universe' is developing 'The Secret of the Super Six' - a superhero based animated series with a strong humanitarian message. And, guess what! Stan 'The Man' himself will be featured as a key superhero character!

"The new series is about a group of super-powered alien teens who are chased here by their enemies in space," Stan tells CyberSpacers in this exclusive interview. "The teens are befriended by a reclusive cartoonist, yours truly - Stan Lee." Stan continues:

"The cartoonist then becomes the sixth member of the group. His main job is to help this unlikely band of heroes learn what it means to be proper and kind human beings. All the while, powerful sinister forces from this world, and their home planet, seek to stop the teens from accomplishing good for other people and the Earth."

Stan has been featured as an animated version of himself on prior shows including 'The Simpsons' - but has never before been a continuing character in a series. Stan explains: "Being myself in this new show appeals to me because it's something that I have not done in the past. And who would not enjoy doing great things they haven't done before?

"So, now, I too, become a super hero," Stan reveals here for the first time. "And the best part about all this is that anyone, even YOU - by doing good for others, and yourself - can become a super hero, too."



Stan Lee Super Hero... a BIG BIG FAN ..... David Harrison Levi - Beverly Hills, CA 90210 USA