Happy Birthday, Smiley!

Saturday was Stan "The Man" Lee's 91st birthday, and like Ol' Groove is wont to do every year, I've gotta say, "Happy Birthday, Smiley!" and thanks for working with the bashful Bullpen to create the Marvel Universe!

The years and memories of joy from what you and the gang did back in the 60s and 70s will ne'er be forgotten here. And thanks, too, for some of the most far-out Christmases when I was in Junior High! Young Groove didn't need Santa when he had Stan providing the grooviest, ginchiest gifts of all--Origins of Marvel Comics, Son of Origins of Marvel Comics, Bring on the Bad Guys, and The Superhero Women! Hoo-hah! Did those books inspire yers trooly to want to become comicbook historian (amateur,yes,  but still...)? Did those books inspire many of the things Ol' Groove does here on the Diversions? You bet your sweet bippy!

 

We love ya, Stan!!

(Oh, and thank you Jazzy John Romita for being such an in-freakin'-credible cover artist!!)

Happy Birthday, Stan!

Today is Stan "The Man" Lee's birthday, Groove-ophiles, and Ol' Groove is sure you'll all join me in wishing him a very happy 88th. We all know that Stan is one of the greatest creators, writers, editors, and all-around cool pop icons of all time. We've all grooved to his cosmic sagas in mags like Fantastic Four and Thor. We've been awed by his wall-to-wall action tales for heroes like Daredevil and Captain America. We've even shed a tear or twelve with Spider-Man or the Silver Surfer. But one area of Stan's skills is often given the short-end, and that's his humor. I love his corny, self-deprecating style, m'self. Of course, it always helps that Stan manages to team up with just the right co-creator/artist on his endeavors (Jack "King" Kirby on FF, Thor, and Cap; Gene Colan on DD; Steve Ditko and John Romita on Spidey; John Buscema on Silver Surfer, for those of you from Outer Slobbovia). When Stan came up with his earth-shattering single-panel gag strip, "My Son the Super-Hero" he teamed with humor artist supreme Marie Severin. What? You never heard of "My Son the Super-Hero"? Huh. Mebbe it's 'cause Stan and Marie never sold the strip to any newspaper syndicates. A shame, too, 'cause it was a hoot. I know this 'cause Marvel dug it up and presented a few sample strips in FOOM Magazine. Ya wanna see 'em?

Okay, it's not Krazy Kat, or Pogo, or even Frank and Ernest, but hey, it's Stan and Marie and super-heroes, baby! C'mon, you know you giggled...

Ah, well, I tried Stan! Happy Birthday, anyway--we love ya! You'll always be The Man!! (Mebbe I should'a run some Millie the Model...?)

Happy 87th Birthday, Stan!

Here's wishing Smilin' Stan the swingingest birthday of all! Just for the occasion, Ol' Groove has written a special birthday ditty. Sing it to the tune of the jazzy 1967 Spidey cartoon theme and join me, won'tcha?

Stan The Man! Stan The Man!

Hero to every Marvel Fan!
Spins those words
With such glee!
Bringing joy
to fans like me!
Thanks Stan! You really are The Man!

When I feel the gloom
Your mags make my day!
Even Dr. Doom
Would have to stop and say...

Stan The Man! Stan The Man!
Slinging words like no one can!
Characters you can't ignore!
Spidey and so many more!

You gave
Heroes all those hang-ups!
Your mags are always bang-up!
Forever you're The Man!

For the proverbial icing on the cake, paste your peepers on this cataclysmic Ka-Zar masterpiece by Smiley and Big John Buscema from Astonishing Tales #9 (September 1971)!