Stan Lee, born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28, 1922, was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer who became the primary creative leader of Marvel Comics.[1] Joining Timely Comics in 1939 as an assistant through family connections, he rose through the ranks, writing early Golden Age features like the Destroyer, Jack Frost, and Father Time under pseudonyms.[1][3] In the 1960s Silver Age, Lee co-created Marvel's iconic universe with artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, pioneering the "Marvel Method" of plotting before scripting dialogue.[1][2][3] Key achievements include the Fantastic Four in 1961, which introduced flawed, relatable heroes facing real-world issues; Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962), an adolescent everyman with the motto "With great power there must also come great responsibility"; and others like the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, X-Men, and Avengers.[1][2][3][4] These innovations transformed Marvel from a small publisher into a multimedia empire dominating comics and films.[1] As editor and publisher, Lee fostered a shared universe with crossovers, broke the fourth wall to engage fans, and promoted the medium.[3][4] Later, he wrote for DC's Just Imagine series (2001), created Stripperella, and founded POW! Entertainment for media projects.[1] He appeared in cameos in Marvel Cinematic Universe films, boosting his cultural icon status.[2] Lee faced debates over creative credits, with collaborators like Kirby and Ditko receiving significant recognition, though his promotional genius and character development endured.[2][4] He died on November 12, 2018, at age 95.[1][4] Posthumously, biographies like Abraham Riesman's True Believer (2021) and Tom Scioli's graphic novel I Am Stan (2023) examined his complex legacy, sustaining his relevance amid ongoing Marvel dominance.[4][5]