This movie, left me very disappointed because it failed to really describe the life of this iconic figure. While it carried the name of Stan Lee, the narrative seemed to be tailored to cater to the interests of the producers or the streaming channel publishing it rather than offering an in-depth exploration of the man himself.

I had hoped the film would shed light on the lesser-known aspects of Stan Lee's life, particularly the challenges he faced due to people taking advantage of him and attempting to claim ownership of his creative work. Unfortunately, these crucial elements were glossed over or omitted entirely, leaving a significant gap in understanding the man's life.

One of the best traits of Stan Lee was his kind and forgiving nature, which often made him overlook the harsh realities of the business world. This quality, while endearing, unfortunately made him vulnerable to manipulation by those driven by greed and self-interest. The movie missed a crucial opportunity to delve into this aspect of his personality, which would have provided a deeper appreciation of his character.

Stan Lee's contributions to the world of comic books and superheroes revolutionized the entertainment industry, yet his personal struggles with deceptive individuals were equally compelling. By neglecting to portray these challenges, the movie failed to give audiences a real understanding of the man behind Marvel.

Despite the movie's shortcomings, it did manage to touch on some positive aspects of Stan Lee's life, but that's all it was.

Stan Lee had the potential to be a compelling and insightful story, but it fell short by focusing on a limited and curated narrative. The movie did not do justice to the complex and multifaceted man that Stan Lee was, and it missed an opportunity to shed light on the challenges he faced and the impact he had on the world of storytelling and imagination. While it may serve as an introduction to Stan Lee's legacy for some, it ultimately leaves much to be desired for those who sought a more comprehensive and honest portrayal of the man who deserved better recognition for his contributions.

In many ways this did not surprise. In his own words Stan the Man inflates and regurgitates his own modest history to that of superhero status. Though in many ways a progressive and forward thinking creator this only shovels more turf on the graves of his equally illustrious collaborators and only can be read as an extended advertisment for his home at Disney+.

With a cutup narration delivered awkwardly scattershot from Lee himself, here is a smoke blowing look into a lifetime of one mans aparently singlehanded endeavor to create a world beating comic book company.

Disingenous and self serving. Avoid.

See instead, 'In Search Of Steve Ditko', on YouTube, which at least allows more room for dissenting voices.

2/10.

A glossy cover without substance inside. You know how when your grandpa tells stories that as he gets older the stories get retconned so he sounds more and more like a hero? Stan Lee has been doing this since the '70s. Stuff that just happened by chance or that Ditko or Kirby came up with, Lee says came to him after some inspiration or consideration. Sure, Stan. Anyone who has seen him speak at a con knows he was all hot air and self-hagiography. Lee became a salesman in the '70s, and frankly he had to, to stay in the biz. And it was through his ruthless salemanship that comic books became as influential as they became to you and me. Did he screw over Kirby and Ditko? Most certainly. Roy Thomas is the one who says the smartest thing in this doc-that Kirby and Ditko and Lee were able to do what they did only because they worked together. But for the most part that of nuance is missing from this CBS Sunday Morning-style puff piece. The story of Lee and Marvel needs to be told alongside the story of the commercialization/corporate takeover and cheapening of the value of comic book heroes. That's the crossover event I want to see.