The definitive biography of Marvel legend Stan Lee, now adapted for young readers.
Parents, teachers, and young adult readers have asked me to write a young reader’s edition of Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel since the book was published in 2017. With a full writing plate leading up to 2020, I never fit it into my schedule, despite the pleas I heard from teens and their parents.
That always kind of gnawed at me…it isn’t often that a writer hears so directly from fans!
Like the rest of the world, I was housebound during the Covid pandemic, so I stripped the original book down to its bones and rebuilt it. Revision is hardly the right word, since I basically rewrote the material from the adult version and added new material that expanded on Stan’s unique life story since he passed away.
Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel by Bob Batchelor, written for Young Adult Readers
When writing a definitive account of a figure that looms as large as any fictional superhero, such as Stan Lee, the chosen writer must know the subject beyond genial superlatives. … As a celebrated historian and author, Bob Batchelor expertly delves into the canvas of Stan Lee’s creations as well as the creator himself in a discourse that is matchless, an exemplary biography with heart that shares how Stan Lee helped to shape the comic book medium’s landscape as well as our contemporary understanding of the power of the individual.”
— Brian Hawkins, writer, Black Cotton, Devil’s Dominion, Van Helsing: Black Annis, Van Helsing: Beast of Exmoor
The team at Rowman & Littlefield and I decided that we wanted to give the book some special touches designed especially for teen readers. After searching the globe for the best partner, we brought in Jason Piperberg to create the cover for the YA bio, as well as its adult trade sibling, Stan Lee: A Life. Working with Rowman’s designers, editor Christen Karniski, and I, Jason illustrated nine key scenes from Stan’s life, using the same kind of imaginative spirit that Lee would have loved.
Stan Lee writing his first story "Captain American Foils the Traitor's Revenge," illustrated by comic book illustrator Jason Piperberg
We also increased the number of photographs in the book versus the original, drawing from important parts of Stan’s life, including comic book covers, photos of him in the Army, and images from his life as the iconic Stan the world grew to love.
To top off the YA-inspired aspects of the book, Tom DeLonge graciously agreed to write the Foreword for the book, bringing his interesting, insightful, and hilarious understanding of YA readers to the biography. In addition to being a world-renowned rock star (Angels & Airwaves and Blink-182) and founder of To The Stars* multimedia company, Tom has created his own YA character — Poet Anderson — a star of novels and graphic novels. DeLonge is also the executive producer of the animated series “Breaking Bear,” which will air on Tubi. His film Monsters of CA, which he directed and co-wrote, will also be released soon.
As a result, according to columnist and podcast host of The History Author Show Dean Karayanis: “Bob Batchelor captures his amazin’ tale, ensuring that Stan the Man will continue to inspire, guide, and entertain for generation to come.”
Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel offers offers an in-depth and complete look at Lee as one of America’s great iconic visionaries. Focusing on his writing, editing, and business acumen over decades, I explore the context of Lee’s era and American history writ large to demonstrate how his life could be viewed as a lens for examining the American Dream.
Batchelor’s young adult edition of Stan Lee: The Man Behind Marvel vividly depicts the verve of Stan ‘The Man’ as well as the popular culture of the eras in which he flourished. A great next-step bio for kids who grew up with the Meltzer and Eliopoulos ‘Ordinary People Change the World’ series
— Jeff Massey, writer, Warlord of Oz, Reign of the Witch Queen, Grimm Fairy Tales
What we have heard so far from librarians and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive. They are looking forward to getting this young adult biography into the hands of readers.