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Eye witnesses who were not there Chris Tolworthy 14 January 2019 A number of Marvel employees (and ex-employees) claim to be eye witnesses to the Lee-Kirby arrangement. Take Jim Steranko for example: Note that Steranko claims that "I was there--and observing carefully!" However, this does not mean he was there when Lee and Kirby were together: (1) The main Marvel characters were created before Steranko arrived in 1965. And Kirby left for California at the start of 1969. (2) Kirby worked from home. So did Steranko. So it is unlikely they would be in the same building at the same time. (3) Steranko only created twenty-nine comics in his whole life. Comics were not his day job: his day job was in advertising. So the idea of Steranko working in the Marvel offices, or even visiting frequently, is false. Source: Steranko interview and part 2). So when Steranko says regarding "the Lee-Kirby arrangement" that "I was there--and observing carefully!" he means that at best, he heard Lee's account of what happened. This is typical of Marvel's "eye witnesses". Historians quote from people who were "there at the time" yet merely repeat what Lee told then. Transcript of the Twitter screenshot: Jim Steranko @iamsteranko 22 Aug 2013 .@CarlShinyama @texaswingnut You guys may know a lot more than I do about Stan swindling Jack--I was only THERE at the time! 22 Aug 2013 .@CarlShinyama @texaswingnut and can unequivocally confirm that Stan diminished no one's contribution. I was there--and observing carefully! Lang Lassiter‏ @thelanglassiter 31 Aug 2013 @iamsteranko Sorry. Should be: I read that Jack created the plots and drew them and Stan did the dialogue. Is that correct? Jim Steranko @iamsteranko 31 Aug 2013 @theromra It is NOT! Stan provided synopses which the artists (including me) broke down into scenes and panels, even supplying dialogue and BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS Verified account @BRIANMBENDIS @iamsteranko i am SO happy you are addressing this. over the years we have watched this myth spiral out of control. (end of transcript) Patrick Ford Chris, Yeah Steranko would have zero idea of how meetings between Kirby and Lee went. Lee's office was small. Meetings in his office were one on one. The door was closed. No one went into Lee's office without being asked. For example. While being interviewed by Ted White Lee is alerted that Steranko is waiting outside. Keep in mind here that Gerry Conway described Lee as "unapproachable." Patrick Ford Note that even Sol Brodsky does not walk into Lee's office. He first buzzes Lee on the intercom. Also note that Lee tells Brodsky to tell Steranko it will be another 20 min. before Lee will see him. Why wouldn't Lee have Steranko come in as Lee did with Kirby and Freedland ? Also note that Lee's door locks automatically. It is impossible for anyone to enter without Lee opening the door from the inside.

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