In celebration of Stan Lee’s extraordinary contributions to the Marvel Universe, Disney+ has recently unveiled a thought-provoking documentary named after the legendary artist himself. This film delves into the life of a man who is often credited as the sole architect behind the success of some of the world’s most beloved characters. The emergence of Spider-Man’s massive popularity in 2002, with Tobey Maguire taking on the iconic role, brought widespread recognition to the bespectacled man who made memorable cameos. However, it is essential to acknowledge that Marvel’s triumphs over the years are not owed to a single individual. Jack Kirby, the immensely talented artist, played an undeniable part in the creation of characters like Ant-Man and the Fantastic Four. Jillian Kirby, the granddaughter of this comic book maestro, took to her social media platforms to share a statement from her father, Neal Kirby, regarding how the documentary portrays his father’s legacy.
Kirby eloquently draws parallels between his father’s work and other instances in the art world where deserving creators were not duly acknowledged. He expresses his apprehension regarding Disney+’s latest feature. It is undeniable that the Marvel Cinematic Universe owes much of its richness in characters and visual inspiration to the countless hours that Jack Kirby devoted to the company throughout his career. Jillian Kirby’s statement reads as follows: “[I] understand that, as a ‘documentary about Stan Lee,’ most of the narrative centers around his voice, both literally and figuratively. It’s not a secret that controversies have always surrounded the creation and success of Marvel’s characters. Stan Lee had the privilege of having access to corporate megaphones and media outlets, which he used to shape his own mythos around the birth of the Marvel character pantheon. He became the voice of Marvel. Consequently, for several decades, he stood as the ‘only’ man, blessed with a long life. However, it is widely accepted that Stan Lee possessed limited knowledge of history, mythology, or science. On the other hand, my father possessed extensive knowledge of these subjects, which I and many others can personally attest to. To quote Einstein, ‘More the knowledge, lesser the ego. Lesser the knowledge, more the ego.’ If you were to examine a list and timeline of Marvel’s characters from 1960 to 1966, the period during which Lee was primarily involved, you would notice Lee’s name listed as a co-creator for every character except the Silver Surfer, which was solely created by my father. Are we to assume that Lee had a hand in creating every Marvel character?”
The statement goes on to address the ongoing issue of crediting within the comic book realm, drawing attention to the well-known conflict between Lee and Steve Ditko: “Are we to assume that it was always Lee who had the ideas brought to him by other co-creators, rather than the other way around? According to Lee, all the ideas were his. Lee dedicates significant time to explaining how and why he created the Fantastic Four, with only a fleeting mention of my father. The majority of comics historians acknowledge that my father based the Fantastic Four on a 1957 comic he created for DC, called ‘Challengers of the Unknown,’ even naming Ben Grimm (The Thing) after his father Benjamin, and Sue Storm after my older sister Susan. While the conflict between Lee and my father regarding creator credit is given little attention in the documentary, more focus is given to Lee’s disputes with Steve Ditko, with Lee asserting, ‘it was my idea, therefore I created the character,’ and Ditko countering that his art and storyline gave life to Spider-Man. In 1501, the Opera del Duomo commissioned a 26-year-old Michelangelo to sculpt a statue of David for the Cathedral of Florence – their idea, their money. The statue is called Michelangelo’s David – his genius, his vision, his creativity.”
The statement concludes with the following remark: “Lee enjoyed over 35 years of uncontested publicity, largely with Marvel’s endorsement, as he boosted the Marvel brand alongside his own personal fame. His decades-long self-promotion culminated in cameo appearances in more than 35 Marvel films, starting with ‘X-Men’ in 2000. This solidified his status as the creator of all things Marvel in the eyes of millions in the movie audience, who were largely unaware of the true history of Marvel comics. My father’s name did not appear on the big screen until the end credits of the 2008 film adaptation of ‘Iron Man,’ coming after Stan Lee, Don Heck, and Larry Lieber. The battle for creator’s rights has persisted since the first Babylonian tablet was inscribed. It’s high time to set the record straight, at least in this particular chapter of literary/art history. ‘Nuff said.”
What lies ahead for the legacy of Jack Kirby? As Disney continues to utilize Kirby’s visionary work to expand their enduring franchise, we can expect his creations to grace the silver screen in the years to come. A fresh take on the Fantastic Four is set to hit theaters in 2025, and although the casting for the new team remains undisclosed, Kirby’s visual iconography established all those years ago will undoubtedly influence Marvel’s first family in the MCU. Moreover, Paul Rudd’s portrayal of Ant-Man may still have a place in the franchise, serving as a reminder of the profound impact the artist has had on the company. The profound statement concerning the Stan Lee documentary can be found below.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
