“…and pulled down fistfulls of the national zeitgeist.” Reviewing the gruesome ‘Stan Lee: the Man Behind Marvel’

Start a pot of tea because this is going to be a lengthy one, covering the 2017 pre-death Stan biography “Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel” by one Bob Batchelor. Apparently, it comes in multiple editions, (there’s a young readers adaption of the same book, not pictured) with what I presume is the latest update […]

De Facto Protege: The Changing Continuity of Roy Thomas

Roy Thomas- repped by his omnipresent manager John Cimino- admittedly falls into the “doesn’t need an introduction” category, such has his long tenure been in the world of comics these past six decades. What is generally glossed over and seldom explored however is his changing timeline, the alternate realities of his career, his blatant retcons […]

“To a Global Audience as Never Before”- The Endless Fake Creations of Stan Lee

The weekend had not yet arrived when news trickled in from such esteemed and terrible “news” websites such as hoax supporting Bleeding Cool and glorified press release hub Comic Book Resources that a brand new line of comics was on the horizon, a line that was sure to launch a new and glorious media empire. […]

“What about the Darlin’ One?” How Dick Ayers was blacklisted and slandered by Marvel

“It was clobberin’ time for Stan Lee at a 1976 college lecture, a one-two punch, feint and jab. “Hey, Stan” came the question from the floor. “Do you remember Dick Ayers?” Lee beamed. “Darlin’ Dick?” he grinned, using an old credit-box endearment. “Sure, I remember Darlin’ Dick! What about the Darlin’ One?” How come Darlin’ […]

“And using it to further a White Man’s story is so f**king awful…” Thoughts on those who forget the past

This past May, the comic reading community once again had reason to be upset when Marvel decided to kill the popular Kamala Khan incarnation of Ms. Marvel in, curiously, the pages of Amazing Spider-Man. While no longtime reader of comic books expects the beloved Ms. Khan to stay dead, especially in lieu of that character […]

“Energized by her own enthusiasm”: 11 Untruths in 2002’s Stan Lee Autobiography

It was nothing if not a genuinely pleasant surprise to witness that the recent documentary/propaganda piece “Stan Lee“, directed by David Gelb, actually had the unintended effect of nudging a certain conversation a few more inches forward into the lexicon. That conversation was largely about the lack of credit and acknowledgement for collaborators such as […]