True Believer, The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee. This is the true story of Stan Lee, who he really was and how the myth of his greatness was created and spread. It is written by author Abraham Riesman, who interestingly once met Lee as a young man and asked him for his autograph. Now as an adult he looks back at the myth and legend of Stan Lee.
This is a very interesting book that chronicles Lee's life from his childhood through his career at Marvel Comics and the growth and popularity of the super heroes, the Fantastic Four and others.
There are many of the names I grew up hearing mentioned here in their connections to Lee. Milton Caniff who had a very successful career drawing Steve Canyon. Vince Colletta, who my father knew as Vinney, who worked with many different comic writers and artists. My father, Hy Eisman, drew many of the comic pages working for Vinney, who got the jobs and then passed on the finished work, my father had ghosted. That was the secret for Stan who was not a good cartoonist, he had so many great people like Jack Kirby drawing and he put his name to their work.
This book shows the enormous climb to the top that Lee made, but also shows the end of his life as an unhappy, allegedly bullied and abused man. He had a long marriage, with one daughter. His daughter in the end was a sick and troubled woman who the book says took advantage of him and was horrible to him at the end of his life.
So sometimes the grass is not really greener and success is not always sweet.
Hy is a beloved artist and a personal favorite of my father. Vinnie spoke often of Hy, who was one of the backbones of The Colletta Studio. The Private Secretary stories are amazing art collaborations. He was also a staunch supporter who told many Vinnie-tales at the Kubert School, so I'm told. He refused to let anyone bash Vinnie without teaching and explaining the world of production art to his students. Meeting you is a great pleasure. -Franklin Colletta
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