Marvel

Stan Lee

Born Stanley Martin Lieber in New York City on December 28th 1922, Stan Lee was an iconic American comic book writer, editor, and former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.

He began his career at Timely Comics in 1939, earning $8 a week to help Captain America creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby with office and production tasks. It wasn’t long before he was given the editor’s reins (at the age of just 18), but with the United States increasing their involvement in World War II, the need for real-life superheroes was paramount and Stan enlisted.

After returning to New York and taking up his comic book stories once again, Stan was encouraged by his wife to create a superhero squad to rival that of the popular DC Comics’ Justice League of America – and with that the Fantastic Four was born, along with the Marvel title. Just like the down-on-his-luck Peter Parker, Stan fought for good over evil through his characters. Along with superheroes who save the day, he challenged important issues like racism and inequality to create a happy ending for all. In collaboration with writers like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he created famed characters including the X-Men, Black Panther, the Hulk and Thor.

His favourite creation was believed to be Spider-Man, with Stan quoted to have said in an interview: “In a way Spider-Man is more special than the others. Nothing ever goes right for Peter. I think for most people in the world, nothing ever goes right.” Stan’s Marvel Revolution extended beyond the characters and storylines to forge a bond between comic book readers and their creators. His determination to fight for what was right and challenge bigotry, injustice and discrimination may have landed him in hot water with the Comics Code Authority, but it won him a legion of fans around the world.

Upon his tragic death in November 2018, comic book fans of all ages united to mourn the 95-year-old’s passing. His legacy is remembered not only through his award of The National Medal of Arts, but through the superheroes he crafted on his trusty typewriter, and the generations who continue to be inspired by them.

John Romita Sr.

Born in Brooklyn in 1930, John gained a grounding in art when he studied at the School of Industrial Art in Manhattan. He entered the comic book industry commenced in the 1950s when he collaborated with publishers like Hillman Periodicals and later Atlas Comics, the precursor to Marvel Comics, which is when he first met the legendary Stan Lee, who has signed the works in our Legacy collection of Marvel works.

After a stint in the Army, Romita’s comics career really took off. He worked on new Captain America stories; moved briefly to DC Comics but returned to Marvel in 1965 where he worked on some of the most iconic superheroes ever.

In 1966, he took over the lead artist role on The Amazing Spider-Man from the iconic co-creator of Spider-Man, Steve Ditko. Romita and Stan Lee reinvented Spidey, and the pair added characters to the series like Peter Parker’s love interest Mary Jane Watson and villains Rhino, The Shocker and Kingpin. Romita also co-created the Punisher and Wolverine during his legendary career, in which he also served as a mentor for many other of the publisher’s artists.

John Romita Sr. sadly passed away in New York on June 12, 2023, aged 93, but his influence lives on in the incredible illustrations he created and which we are honoured to share with collectors in these limited edition artworks, signed by the legendary, visionary artist. These pieces from Marvel have huge historic interest for comic book fans, and are sure to be very popular with collectors, so you’ll have to be fast to secure the artwork of your choice!