Review: A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee

A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee by Danny Fingeroth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was fun. As with many people, I've always had a fascination with Marvel Comics, during spells where I was reading them one after another to drier periods where I'd only pick them up on occasion. But through it all, and through the explosion of Marvel products to the small and big screens, there was the lovable presence of Stan the Man.

This book is more than a story of Stan Lee's life. It actually reads like a history of comics, taking us through the early days of Siegel and Shuster creating Superman right up to the current year, where there seems to be something Marvel releasing for our viewing pleasure every week.

It was more than I really expected to learn about the comic book publishing industry, but was fascinating for all of that. Of course, no story of comic publishing is complete without the story of Stan Lee, whose career spanned more than sixty years in the field. He didn't solely create Marvel comics or the heroes we've all become familiar with, but he was the glue that held it all together and guided the company (and industry) to the modern age.

It was a sad day last year when Stan Lee died. At his age, it was certainly coming sooner or later. This was a good way to reconnect with his legacy and see just how expansive it will be for years to come.

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