Stan Lee created a wealth of interesting super heroes that permeated not only comic books but TV as well.
Back on November 14, 2018, I created a file to eulogize Stan Lee because my spouse, with her voice cracking, left a voice mail on my phone that the legendary founder of Marvel Comics and consummate story teller, had died.
I had been fortunate that she invited me along to meet Stan Lee, months before he died, at the Calgary Expo, or more commonly referred to as Comic Con.
Yet, what motivated me to finally reflect on the life of Stan Lee was that we watched a new documentary on him simply called, “Stan Lee”.
It delved into his world, his experiences and philosophy of life.
It reinforced all the reasons I liked him and much more.
As seen on TV
My entire Stan Lee experience in the 1980s was the shows on TV made from the comic books he created. I have never been one of those “either/or” comic book readers. I refuse to pick either Marvel or DC, just as I refuse to pick either Coke or Pepsi.
My entire Stan Lee experience in the 1980s was the shows on TV made from the comic books he created. I have never been one of those “either/or” comic book readers. I refuse to pick either Marvel or DC, just as I refuse to pick either Coke or Pepsi.
In fact, it took me a few minutes to think about which comics I saw on TV were DC and which were Marvel, because it really doesn’t matter to me.
In any event, Stan Lee’s work was all over the decade, punctuated by three experiences for me – “Spider Man”; “The Incredible Hulk”; and “Dr. Strange”.
He’s amazing
“Spider Man” was on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial, but only for a handful of episodes. It was another victim of never being on at the same time, or so it seemed to me. I just could never find it. One day I did, on a Sunday afternoon, when our house was full of company. Everyone crowded around one TV in the living room, and only about half really cared about the show, so I had to battle side conversations and odd comments such as “You know he’s not really climbing up the side of a building.” I actually did know that.
“Spider Man” was on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial, but only for a handful of episodes. It was another victim of never being on at the same time, or so it seemed to me. I just could never find it. One day I did, on a Sunday afternoon, when our house was full of company. Everyone crowded around one TV in the living room, and only about half really cared about the show, so I had to battle side conversations and odd comments such as “You know he’s not really climbing up the side of a building.” I actually did know that.
Beyond all that, I recall Peter Parker/Spider Man was played by Nicholas Hammond.
I only remember one episode, where some university students steal some plutonium to make a bomb out of protest. It was the first time I ever heard of plutonium, and I remember the bomb looking kind of like a space ship.
“Spider Man” actually ran from 1977 to 1979, just before the dawn of the decade, and lasted 13 episodes. Wikipedia reveals two interesting notes.
One is that Stan Lee initially clashed with the producer because he thought the series was too juvenile. The other was that the series performed well in the ratings, finishing 19th in the Nielsen ratings at one point, but was cancelled because CBS did not want to be seen as the super-hero network. It also was expensive to make and not doing well with older audiences.
I actually bought the series on DVD at the Calgary Expo, or Comic Con, and plan on watching it this winter.
Green with envy, not rage
By far, the most successful comic book on television back then was “The Incredible Hulk”. It starred Bill Bixby, who had been on television in one show or another seemingly forever, as Dr. David Banner and body builder Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk.
By far, the most successful comic book on television back then was “The Incredible Hulk”. It starred Bill Bixby, who had been on television in one show or another seemingly forever, as Dr. David Banner and body builder Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk.
Interestingly, when I went to school and we talked about the “Incredible Hulk”, some of my classmates had read the comic books and kept referring to him as Bruce Banner. I insisted it was David Banner. Again, Wikipedia revealed the producers of the TV show changed the name because both Stan Lee and Lou Ferrigno have said the network thought the name Bruce was “too gay”. That is so ridiculous it is laughable. Alternatively, the producer of the show said it was to distance the show further from the comic and later because his son was named David and it was a tribute to him.
The show ran from 1977 to 1982, for 80 episodes, and there were five TV movies.
I distinctly remember the pilot, specifically David Banner sneaking into the lab at night, strapping in to a chair and exposing himself to gamma rays. It transforms his body so he becomes a green hulking beast when he experiences rage. My sister watched with me. When I asked why the Hulk turned green, she answered maybe because the gamma rays were green. The Marvel movie starring Edward Norton pays homage to that scene in its back story, which I really appreciated.
And the opening each week which had a scene of David saying, “Don’t make me angry, you woudn’t like me when I’m angry.”
There were other episodes too, such as when David fell in love again, with a dying woman, played by Mariette Hartley, who was also a scientist. He endeavoured to help her find a cure, but she died in the end, and he was back on the road to the next destination.
I was also lucky enough to meet Lou Ferrigno at Comic Con, one year, and heard him speak at two different cons, including earlier this year.
Not normal but strange
Long before Benedict Cumberbatch immortalized the role of Dr. Strange, the Marvel comics character was played by Peter Hooten in a TV movie in 1977.
Long before Benedict Cumberbatch immortalized the role of Dr. Strange, the Marvel comics character was played by Peter Hooten in a TV movie in 1977.
Stan Lee consulted on the project. I thought it had the look and feel of a pilot, and it was, but never got picked up as a series.
To be honest, I may have been too young and actually misunderstood what the plot was. I have faint memories of Dr. Strange seeing a patient. Later, Dr. Strange sees a window with the same pattern as the ring he wears. Then, and this is where I really got it wrong, I thought he was from another race, and someone visits him.
Right after that, my Mom made me go to bed, so I never did see all of “Dr. Strange”. I had to rely on my sister telling me the next day what happened.
Then, I did not think about Dr. Strange again, until I started watching the Marvel movies.
One other odd note. Dr. Strange aired as a sort of movie of the week on Channel 7. Another movie the next week was “Dr. No”. I wondered if only “Dr.” movies were allowed on Channel 7.
Parting thoughts
Stan Lee has reached legendary status, and for good reason. Not only did he create some great characters, as illustrated in that documentary we watched, but he is a great person, and I know that personally from meeting him twice.
Stan Lee has reached legendary status, and for good reason. Not only did he create some great characters, as illustrated in that documentary we watched, but he is a great person, and I know that personally from meeting him twice.
I didn’t really have a lot of knowledge about the man back in the 1980s. That all came later. But I did know some of his characters and they were memorable.
What that documentary did, more than anything, was inspire me. It showed just how creative and prolific Stan Lee was. It’s what I would like to be myself.
At the end of the movie, he was given a commencement address at a university convocation. He concluded by sharing his simple philosophy.
Do what you like and give it everything you got.
What else could you ask for?
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