As Luck Would Have It

Further insights into the wonderful world of Stan Lee

Costume Conundrum Wondering why there’s never been a comic book character with super-charged luck? Stan Lee has a theory: “As far as not using it in a comic book, the funny thing is all the superheroes have some sort of a costume. Nobody knows what kind of costume to give somebody whose power is luck! Nobody’s been able to figure that out, so we never made it in comics. As far as movies and TV, it’s just something nobody else thought of.”

Lucky stan If Stan Lee had the power to control his own luck, what would he use it for? “Oh man, if I were younger and single I’d use it to be very successful with females, I’d use it to make as much money as I could, I’d go to the track and bet on the winning horse and then once I had pockets full of money I’d see how much good I could do with it, to help other people. Of course I come first!”

Guest Who Stan has a cameo in Lucky Man, one which inadvertently brought a London comic shop to a standstill, but it’s not his favourite. “My favourite one is Age Of Ultron, where I’m talking to Thor, and he’s drinking a very strong drink and I ask for a sip. So I take a drink and in the very next scene I’m being led out. I thought that was funny.” As for the many movies and shows based on Stan’s characters, he is, as ever, diplomatic. “I love everything that Marvel does, and since I created most of those characters I’m very thrilled with them.”

Ka-pow! Stan runs POW! Entertainment with Gill Champion, who talks us through the production company’s varied slate of upcoming projects. “We’re creating a new cadre of IP that are either being developed by Stan or third parties,” Champion says. “We’re working on our first Chinese superhero film, we announced another film called Arch Alien that’s a combination sci-fi superhero film, we’re working on a live show that actually going to be under a dome, and there’s a number of other projects. We try to keep Stan busy so he doesn’t get bored.”