Thirty years ago I met the legendary Stan Lee for the first time. I was eight years old and my parents took me to small comic show in Van Nuys that I saw listed in the back of WIZARD Magazine. I was super excited to meet the man that made the X-Men. As I approached the table I waived and handed him my “Mr. Marvel” Stan Lee trading card from the Marvel Series One set. He asked me who in the Marvel Universe was my all-time favorite character. Without hesitation, I answered.
I told him, Jean Grey, the Phoenix, is my favorite Marvel character. As he autographed my trading card he told me he created the Marvel Girl, the X-Men’s most powerful and important character. I told him I just read X-Men #1 ( a reprint I found at a garage sale). I added that one day I would like to create something cool too.
He said read and write. That’s what he did growing up and it’s still what he loved to do. He called me a “True Believer” and I was on my way.
I’ve been thinking about that day a lot lately. It was a great day. Since then and up until Stan’s death, every chance I got to meet Stan “The Man” Lee, I tried to make it happen. The lines were always painfully long, but every time I approached his table, I became that 8-year-old again. Full of wonder. Full of excitement.
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