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protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
Stan Lee's life is certainly an interesting one, but I feel like this could have been better if it was edited down a bit more. Fingeroth focused a lot on the Lee/Kirby battle and it was similar back and forth with the same commentary each time. Still a worthy read if you care at all about comics history.
Stan Lee's life is certainly an interesting one, but I feel like this could have been better if it was edited down a bit more. Fingeroth focused a lot on the Lee/Kirby battle and it was similar back and forth with the same commentary each time. Still a worthy read if you care at all about comics history.
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own..
For this and other book reviews, check out www.bargain-sleuth.com. Find me on Facebook at Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews.
I didn't read comics growing up. My exposure to comics was through TV with Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk, as well as The Amazing Spiderman and His Friends or Super Friends cartoon. And of course, later, the movies. I'm a casual fan.
I wish I could say this is an in-depth biography of Lee, but it left me wanting. The author knew Lee for 40 years, and interviewed him for this book, but most of the quotes from Lee come from other source material. Details about his early life are murky at best. Sometimes facts contradict Lee's memories, which is only natural when a person is looking back almost 90 years. But I found myself asking more questions than what was answered during the early years.
In fact, the book doesn't really find a voice until chapter 8, which was the start of the Marvel Age. Then it picked up and got interesting.
Once Lee leaves the day-to-day of the comic book production, the author doesn't seem to care about the rest of his life. The years when Lee was shopping Marvel Comics as movie ideas is scant, and when he finally lands Spiderman, little is said. There's a paragraph about his famous cameos in movies, but again, I expected more. And at the end of his life, when there were charges of elder abuse being thrown around, it is just mentioned in passing, maybe because the case hadn't been resolved by the time of publication. Again, more questions raised than answered.
If all you care about is the Marvel Age of comics, this book is for you. If you want to know more about Stan Lee's WHOLE life, look elsewhere.
For this and other book reviews, check out www.bargain-sleuth.com. Find me on Facebook at Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews.
I didn't read comics growing up. My exposure to comics was through TV with Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk, as well as The Amazing Spiderman and His Friends or Super Friends cartoon. And of course, later, the movies. I'm a casual fan.
I wish I could say this is an in-depth biography of Lee, but it left me wanting. The author knew Lee for 40 years, and interviewed him for this book, but most of the quotes from Lee come from other source material. Details about his early life are murky at best. Sometimes facts contradict Lee's memories, which is only natural when a person is looking back almost 90 years. But I found myself asking more questions than what was answered during the early years.
In fact, the book doesn't really find a voice until chapter 8, which was the start of the Marvel Age. Then it picked up and got interesting.
Once Lee leaves the day-to-day of the comic book production, the author doesn't seem to care about the rest of his life. The years when Lee was shopping Marvel Comics as movie ideas is scant, and when he finally lands Spiderman, little is said. There's a paragraph about his famous cameos in movies, but again, I expected more. And at the end of his life, when there were charges of elder abuse being thrown around, it is just mentioned in passing, maybe because the case hadn't been resolved by the time of publication. Again, more questions raised than answered.
If all you care about is the Marvel Age of comics, this book is for you. If you want to know more about Stan Lee's WHOLE life, look elsewhere.
aidaninasia's review against another edition
4.0
Even though I knew the ending, it still brought me to tears. While it annoyed me how often Fingeroth repeats himself, it is still worth reading.
thewulverslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
A Marvelous Life by Danny Fingeroth is the biography of Stan Lee of Marvel Comics filled with the eclectic backstory of the man himself, and the start of Marvel Comics where Stanley Leiber worked from age 17. We learn a lot about Stan Lee's childhood in New York City. Where he worked numerous jobs to provide for his family. We learn how he was hired to work for a publisher owned by a family member and the inner workings of Marvel Comics starts.
This is an immersive biography filled with comic book details from a business perspective. We learn the behinds the scenes stories of how our beloved characters were created. Fingeroth held my interest throughout and related the facts to the story. He created a brilliant reading environment that showcases how Stan Lee was a magician in the comic book scene by using his own judgement. I wasn't just a kid reading comics, I was a kid looking at superheroes who were human, who were flawed and filled with emotion. Who I related with and wanted to be. As an adult, these feelings have only escalated and Fingeroth's writing felt as relatable as this.
The great thing about this biography is that we deal with Stan Lee's flaws also. The co-creator controversies where they felt they weren't commended or credited enough by Stan or Marvel for their creations. We see both sides to the stories and their resolution and this provides insight into those inner workings. Stan Lee has been a staple in my own journey. His charisma, character and high regard amongst his peers, friends and family shows his dedication and that is portrayed well throughout this read.
If you're a fan of Stan, comics or simply just reading then this book is a delight.
This is an immersive biography filled with comic book details from a business perspective. We learn the behinds the scenes stories of how our beloved characters were created. Fingeroth held my interest throughout and related the facts to the story. He created a brilliant reading environment that showcases how Stan Lee was a magician in the comic book scene by using his own judgement. I wasn't just a kid reading comics, I was a kid looking at superheroes who were human, who were flawed and filled with emotion. Who I related with and wanted to be. As an adult, these feelings have only escalated and Fingeroth's writing felt as relatable as this.
The great thing about this biography is that we deal with Stan Lee's flaws also. The co-creator controversies where they felt they weren't commended or credited enough by Stan or Marvel for their creations. We see both sides to the stories and their resolution and this provides insight into those inner workings. Stan Lee has been a staple in my own journey. His charisma, character and high regard amongst his peers, friends and family shows his dedication and that is portrayed well throughout this read.
If you're a fan of Stan, comics or simply just reading then this book is a delight.
starketry222's review against another edition
4.0
As maybe the largest Marvel fan ever when NetGalley, thank you, gave me a chance to review this I jumped at the chance this is one on the most honest and best biographies of Stan “the man” Lee, that I have read. Working with other comic legends like Steve Ditko, and Jack Kirby was something that absolutely needs to be told to every person.
nerdvanafandomheart's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
jacobjonk's review against another edition
3.0
A little long and over detailed at times for my taste but that doesn't make this book less of a lovely tribute and comprehensive telling of Stan lee's Adventure of a life.