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Lee's personality Patrick Ford 10 September 2016 There are a number of stories which show another side of Stan Lee. Some of these stories are told by people like Al Jaffee, John Romita, and Dick Ayers, who are generally complimentary towards Lee. Some criticisms are more blunt, and some come across as half joking. What is known is that during the late '40s the Marvel bullpen was observed by Lee on a closed circuit television, and Lee was known to rule the office with an "iron hand." These descriptions of Lee are mirrored in comments made by Wally Wood (stared at me), Jack Kirby (rigid) and Steve Ditko (silent) which present a portrait of Lee which is nothing like the Smilin' Stan persona. Adele Kurtzman: "Despite his young age, or perhaps as an overcompensation for it, Stan Lee ran the Timely shop, with an iron hand. At 9:00 sharp a whistle was blown, and everyone was expected to jump into their respective tasks. One morning when Frank Giacoia was puffing a cigar and lingering over the morning paper Stan spotted him moments after the whistle. Giacoia was summarily sent home, and his pay docked for the day as an example. Stan might be perched cross-legged on a file cabinet, and employees were expected to bow to him as they entered, partly out of genuine arrogance." John Buscema: "I worked in the Timely bullpen in 1948. The thing that annoyed me was Stan Lee would walk into the room with a whip and beat the hell out of us. I just couldn't take that. He'd walk around with a beanie on his head with a propeller. I kid you not. Stan could be a real idiot at times." J David Spurlock: Where is the Adele Kurtzman quote from? Where is the cartoon from and who is it Patrick Ford Adele Kurtzman was quoted in THE ART OF HARVEY KURTZMAN and the cartoon is from the '40s and was published in the Tom Spurgeon/Jordan book. Patrick Ford: Adele Kurtzman is still alive and ought to be interviewed in depth concerning her time working as Lee's secretary. She gives the impression of not being charmed by Lee in any way and is not afraid to say so. That most likely is the reason she has never been interviewed in depth. J David Spurlock: notice how Stan put his name/initials on everything -- even in the '40s Patrick Ford: J David, Yeah the cartoon reminds me of the John Buscema quote. Buscema tries to put a somewhat humorous spin on his comment (I think) but the particulars aren't very funny. It's the same with the cartoon. The post on the wall instructing artists to grovel, the whip, the axe, the mace. The closed circuit TV, which is real and was used to keep an eye on the bullpen. Lee's name or initials splashed everywhere. So Lee saved this cartoon (It's in the collection of Lee's materials at Wyoming University), but there is truth in humor. BTW. I would guess the artist is Al Jaffee. Thoughts? Michael Hill: Blake Bell interviewed her for his book. Maybe he could do a follow-up. Patrick Ford: You're kidding right? J David Spurlock: Which of Blake's books? Ditko? Everett? Michael Hill: Blake's book was"I Have to Live with This Guy, " published by TwoMorrows. It's where I got a similar quote about the same story, but she shortened it so it sounds less tyrannical. Patrick Ford: She shortened it? I doubt that. Michael Hill: Paul Wardle, “The Two Faces of Stan Lee, ” The Comics Journal #181, October 1995... 'Harvey Kurtzman claimed that Lee would return his original art to him (strips such as Hey! Look! that Timely published in the 1940s) only after drawing a big “X” through them with a black grease pencil. He also said Lee would sit on top of a filing cabinet and force the employees to bow to him on their way to work. Stan was reportedly an “enfant terrible” in those days, having been promoted when still a teenager by publisher Martin Goodman after the departure of Simon and Kirby.' Michael Hill: Blake's Adele quote: "He would blow a whistle and everyone would have to start drawing. Frank Giacoia was busy reading The Daily News when this happened, so Stan sent him home. I guess artists were notorious goof-offs." Patrick Ford: In my opinion 99% of Comics historians would destroy any damaging evidence concerning Lee which turned up. And they would seek to guide any conversation which strayed towards Lee looking bad in a different direction. Michael Hill: Stan and Joan were the subject of one of the chapters. Patrick Ford:

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