Or Reading a Novel

I didn't realize how important Stan Lee was to creating the Marvel Universe. I originally thought he started in the sixties, when the Marvel Universe I knew was created. I had this romantic version of two snot nosed teens starting in the industry recreating everything in their wake, but it was nothing like that.

Stanley Martin Lieberman and Jacob Kurtzman came to be known as the legends Stan "The Man" Lee and Jack "The King" Kirby. They met just as Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's creation in Captain America #1 was at the printers, finally hitting the newsstand on December 20th, 1940 a full twenty-one years before I thought they started. The reason Stanley was hired? He was a family relative.

At work my love for comic books is very well known, so well in fact, two of my customers, with two different book reviews from two different newspapers about "Marvel Comics The Untold Story" by former Entertainment Weekly editor Sean Howe were brought in for me to read. I knew this book existed and had already perused the dust jacket before going to see the new James Bond movie "Skyfall".

I wanted to buy it then and there, but I was too busy saving up for a Comic book, ironically; predictably published by Marvel Comics. It was another couple weeks before I bought the novel chronicling the birth and growth of what would become my greatest escape from reality, not to mention my weekly allowance. I finally purchased the book with my Father on a typical Wednesday before Fat Jacks, my LCS opened. I dared not begin reading it fearing my latest haul would go unread until I finished the hardcover.

To get through this book before my self imposed deadline I have brought it to work to read while on the register. I brought it to the bar that I frequent not worrying about people starring at me with my coffee, and I've been reading it at home hoping to finish it before "Two Graves" is released by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, the two authors I put everything else down to read which is why I have my deadline.

I've read so far about the beginning of Timely all the way up to the very early seventies. I am pausing at Gerry Conway's involvement with the very book I most recently wrote about, Amazing Spider-Man #129. I know I won't finish this by Tuesday but I can't seem to wait to get up to when Jim Shooter arrives on the scene, quite possibly the beginning of the Copper age?

If you have the chance I would recommend reading it. It not only gave me insight, but also gave me the desire to again look at the way I collect comic books. Thank you Sean Howe.

Thanks for Reading

Tnerb

To see old comments for this Journal entry, click here. New comments can be added below.