(photo by Alan Light)
Stan Lee, former president of Marvel Comics, co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, and several other comic book characters.
In 1998, he started Stan Lee Media, a new internet-based production and marketing studio, which grew to 165 people and went public. He produced the animated web series The 7th Portal and voiced the characters Izayus, The Drifter, and The Accuser.
Near the end of 2000, investigators discovered illegal stock manipulation and in February 2001, Stan Lee Media filed for bankruptcy. Stan Lee’s lawyer Peter Paul fled to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Excelsior!
In 2003, Lee created the animated series Stripperella for Spike TV, which was cancelled after thirteen episodes. In 2004, he announced plans to collaborate with Hugh Hefner on a superhero cartoon featuring Playboy Playmates and announced another superhero show that would feature Ringo Starr as the lead character. ‘Natch!
On July 27, 2006, Who Wants to Be a Superhero? starring Stan Lee debuted on the Sci Fi Channel. At the July 2007 Comic-Con International, Hasbro introduced a Stan Lee action figure. ‘Nuff said!