NEWS: Eventually, Even Stan Lee Runs Out of Ideas

Like Drake said, it's such an automatic assumption that comic books are about superheroes. There's a ton of stuff other out there that just doesn't get noticed because that's not what the fans want. But I actually think it would almost be easier to have a successful non-superhero book that a successful superhero book about a completely new character. Things like Preacher and Y: The Last Man sell because the people who look for mature books will buy them. But things like DC's Manhunter and Marvel's Ant-Man get cancelled because people who only buy superhero books typically limit themselves to familiar titles that have existed for 40+ years.

I don't believe the millions of people who went to see Spider-Man 3 did so because of the soul of the character, like you say. They like Spider-Man because he's Spider-Man (TM). He's an icon. And yes, the original concept created 50 years ago was a very good one, or else it wouldn't have lasted. But kids picking up a Spider-Man comic today is no different from a kid becoming a Christian because that's how his family raised him. They read Spider-Man and X-Men and Superman because those are the toys they see in the store and on their pajamas and underwear and on tv selling hamburgers.

Who's to say that some new writer couldn't come up with an equally good idea for a character that could resonate with a large number of people if they were given the chance? The big companies with the ability to actually promote books hardly ever takes chances. And when they do, the books still get outsold by anything with an X on it, so they're cancelled before they have a chance to come to fruition.

People buy what they know and have grown to trust, I can't blame them for that. It's just frustrating knowing the potential of the medium isn't being lived up to.

We should stop talking about Spider-Man with regards to Stan Lee.

He outright stole that character from Ditko, and others making points such as "the original four X-Men were a flop" etc., are right on the money.

Stan Lee is like P.T. Barnum. He knows how to exploit people and, more importantly, when. However, if it was a question of reliance on the single man's creativity, Marvel Comics would never have existed into the '70s, and Barnum & Bailey's would have folded in a month.

The lesson? Kids, you can make a long, successful living from stealing other peoples' ideas!

People forget that Stan Lee hasn't really created anything good without Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby. In fact it was actually Kirby's idea to give superheroes flaws to get away from the uber rich Bruce Wayne and god-like Superman inaccessibility.

I'm not saying he's not an amazing guy and responsible for much of what we all love about comics. But just don't be surprised when you see stuff like this come from the solo works of the man who created Stripperella.

holy crap! he is doing something not like himself. quick somebody shoot him before he does it again. We cant have people we like doing shit with people we dont. That might like change something.

so true. acting like the octogenarian he is.

Paris Hilton could be a great superhero... if the ability to give herpes is considered a superpower.

So "different" is good in-and-of-itself? If I record an album using nothing but wire hangers, will that make it good? If I go skiing with frozen chickens strapped to my feet rather than skis, will it be good?

The sad thing is this: this kind of thing is no longer "different" for Stan Lee. He's gotten into the habit of producing bullshit.

Stan...likes the ladies. Would you rather work with a buncha nerds?

Everything has always been muddled. We all just grew up a little bit.

Besides, which Spider-Man are you talking about? What annoys me the most about Marvel and DC is that, when they run out of ideas, they pretty much throw out all the continuity that has been built up to that point, and start all over.

A few years back, I went into a comic book store and the guy at the counter asked me if I had read the new series "Ultimate Avengers."

"No," I said, "I was never really into the Avengers."

He seemed perturbed, looked away, and mumbled through his teeth, "It's a new series."

"A new series"? Captain America's still there, isn't he? How much more complicated can his story get for me to spend my money on the comic? The Hulk? Ant/ Giant-Man? Iron Man? Thor? The Wasp? How is any of this new? If it was good the first time, what is the purpose in rehashing the classics over and over again?

I also, like other people have stated, wish that these companies would try to generate new ideas (that do not involve Paris Hilton or reality television) instead of constantly revamping their old characters for kids who are too lazy to read reprints of the classics.

Well, I knew this day would come eventually. I am sad.

NEWS: Eventually, Even Stan Lee Runs Out of Ideas (Where "Eventually" Means "40 Years Ago" and "Ideas" Means "Things He Takes Sole Credit for That Were Only Half His At Best")

A Few Holes in Your Theory:

1)Apparently, you've never heard of "The Incredibles" or "Heroes"? I know, they're obscure and all that, but I hear they have a very loyal cult following. Check them out, sometime.

2)Let's propose that your alternate reality exists out there in the ether, where Superman, Spider-Man, etc., never existed at all. The comics industry was dominated by the likes of EC Comics and Robert Crumb. They became the mainstream, and we end up with 5 different Tales From the Crypt a month. Flash forward to this alternate reality's 2007, where the indie-comic fans are bitching about how the industry's dominated by crime, horror, and the occasional out-there book. Then, these two young guys by the name of Stanley Lieber and Jacob Kurtzberg (hey, it's 2007, no need to hide behind pen names) come up with this wild idea called "Fantastic Four", about four normal people (well, with one of them being a genius) who get super-powers. But, these super-beings suffer from the same sort of problems that we do everday. They can face down God-like beings that devour planets, but still fall behind on rent.

Maybe it wouldn't sell as well as the now-mainstream EC Comics, but can you really believe that, if it were a good story, that people wouldn't read/enjoy it without the benefit of a brand name?

3)Beowulf, Hercules, Jesus Christ, Robin Hood: these guys were super-heroes long before the word 'super-hero' existed. They're still around. They're still studied endlessly by academics. How many movies exist between just those four? The reason that the long-underwear set are still around is because they have staying power. If it were only about sentimantality, those comics would have been done with in the eighties, at best.

Just a few not-so-humble observations.

I'll have to agree that Stan ran out of ideas a long time ago. Probably not 40, as I seem to recall a late '70's/early '80's series he did with Moebius called "Parable". Granted, it was a Sliver Surfer book, but it's something.

Also, giving the 'half his': Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men (original), Avengers, Hulk, Fantastic Four, Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos, and all those other characters add up to at least quite a few 'whole his'...'s. Correct?

Way too many so-called 'fans' are willing to downplay his contributions. Maybe Jack came up with the Silver Surfer, but Stan gave him a voice, a personality. That's how 'collaborations' work. (Note: and yes, I'm aware of the disputes about ownership and royalties, so spare me.)

All that said: a part of me died reading this news.