#marvel method

Fantastic Four (1961)

Created to match DC Comics' reinvigorated Justice League after a gold course discussion between DC publisher Jack Liebowitz + Marvel owner Martin Goodman, Lee, along with frequent collaborator Jack Kirby (with varying accounts of who really came up with the ideas), created a flawed but fantastic foursome whose exposure to cosmic rays endowed them with superhuman abilities and whose decision to not conceal their identities was a rare exception at the time. Comprised of super-elastic genius Mister Fantastic, invisibility-field generating Invisible Woman (first heroine created in the Silver Age of Comic Books (1956-1970)), fire-wielding Human Torch and orange rock-skinned strong/durable Thing, the inaugural issue's unexpected sales success resuscitated Lee's then-waning interest in remaining in comics.

Notable Lee Fantastic Four villains: arrogant masked genius Doctor Doom, extrasensory dwarf Mole Man, psionic clay constructing Puppet Master, time-traveling technological genius Kang The Conqueror, molecular manipulating Impossible Man, sound manipulator Klaw.

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Spider-Man (1962)

Influenced by pulp-magazine The Spider, Lee, along with artist Steve Ditko (though Kirby claims he + Joe Simon conceived the "Silver Spider" design that was rejected by Lee), wanted a character with whom the blooming teen demographic could identify. Initially débuting in the floundering Amazing Fantasy, his subsequent solo series presented the photog bitten by a radioactive spider as a lonely teenager with death of a family member, adolescent angst + money challenges that made him a cultural icon. Instead of foiling villains every week, Spider-Man was written to tackle personality flaws as well. After publishing an anti-drug Spider-Man storyline per the Nixon administration's request that was unauthorized by the Comics Code, the success of the issues prompted a revision of the Code. Lee also created Spider-Man's two great loves: Gwen Stacy + Mary Jane Watson.

Notable Lee Spider-Man villains: mechanical-appendaged genius Doctor Octopus, superstrong/agile/durable/healing genius Lizard, electricity master Electro, master of illusion Mysterio, shapeshifting superspy Chameleon, superstrong/agile/durable weapons genius Green Goblin + his successor/son Harry Osborn, bulky crimelord genius Kingpin.

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X-Men (1963)

Based on the success of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and his other Marvel characters, Lee created a ragtag team of evolved human teenagers with superpowers (his initial proposal for "The Mutants" was rejected because the name was too esoteric at the time) that, while initially questionably successful, became one of the most popular titles in Marvel's canon. Focusing on the perennial human struggle with those that are born different, the wheelchair-bound psionic headmaster Professor X's peaceful pursuit of mutant rights was inspired by the social justice work of Martin Luther King, Jr. The X-Men began as a quintet of neophytes comprised of "slim" consummate optic blasting leader Cyclops, ice manipulating goofball Iceman, winged playboy Angel, superstrong/agile animal-like genius Beast and telekinetic sole female member Jean Grey.

Notable Lee X-Men villains: master of magnetism antihero Magneto, mutant-hunting robots Sentinels, Professor X's mystically-empowered superstrong/durable half-brother Juggernaut, speedster Quicksilver + probability manipulator Scarlet Witch (both later Avengers), illusion caster Mastermind.

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Avengers (1963)

Hulk (1962)

Lee combined the dissociative identity disorder of Dr. Jekyll + Mr. Hyde and the misunderstood monster from Frankenstein (and mute anthropomorphic brainless monster golem of Jewish folklore) to form the genius scientist Bruce Banner who becomes the gray (later green) gamma-irradiated superstrong/durable when agitated. Despite his (cult) popularity, the Hulk's solo series was cancelled after six issues but he was later a founding member of the Avengers.

Thor (1962)

Eschewing the Greek/Roman gods for a character of the same name from the less familiar Norse mythology, Lee, Kirby and Lee's scripter brother Larry Lieber selected the mystical hammer-wielding son of Odin to headline the return of Journey Into Mystery. In addition to creating Thor, Lee + Kirby created Asgardian leader Odin, Thor's magician/trickster half-brother Loki and much of the rest of Asgard. Lee + Kirby included Thor as one of the founding Avengers.

Iron Man (1963)

Inspired by the Cold War, Lee, Kirby, Lieber and artist Don Heck crafted the "quintessential capitalist" to contrast with the times + readers. Modeled after the playboy looks + personality of Howard Hughes, Lieber fleshed out Iron Man's story as a wealthy weapons manufacturer with a literally-broken heart that portrayed the American technology + business roles in the anti-communist times, particularly against Vietnamese adversaries early in Iron Man's publication history (a stance Lee later regretted). After launching the character in Tales of Suspense, Lee + Kirby also included the iron-suited genius as a founding member of the Avengers.

Black Panther (1966)

Predating the militant political party of the same name, the first non-caricatured black (and African, as opposed to African American) superhero in mainstream comics initially appeared in Fantastic Four + Captain America as an superstrong/fast/durable genius ruler of fictional African country Wakanda. Briefly changing his name to "Black Leopard" to avoid connections to the Black Panther party in 1972, Panther would join the Avengers in the late 1960s. Lee also created the first African American superhero, Captain America's winged sidekick The Falcon.

Other notable Lee Avengers: size manipulating genius Ant-Man, size manipulating energy blaster Wasp, superspy Black Widow, master archer Hawkeye, ionic energy-empowered Wonder Man, gamma-irradiated superstrong/durable She-Hulk.

Other notable Lee Avengers villains: terrorist organization HYDRA + its hand-to-hand combatant/strategist/spy Satan Claw-wielding leader Baron Strucker, hand-to-hand combatant/strategist Nazi leader Baron Zemo, radiation manipulator Radioactive Man.

Aliens

Skrull (1962)

A formidable race of shapeshifting reptilian alien warriors whose militaristic attitude against another Lee alien empire, the Kree, prompted invasion attempts (both overt + secret) of strategically-advantageous Earth. With the creation of these two races, Lee would greatly expand the fictional Marvel cosmos.

Galactus (1966)

Born of a desire by Lee + Kirby to break the supervillain mold by creating a god-like cosmic character, the omnipotent, omniscient Devourer of Worlds is beyond good + evil and only hungers for/requires the life-energy of living planets. Despite Kirby intending to maintain his mystique by limiting his appearance to three issues of Fantastic Four, positive fan reaction prompted Lee to request more Galactus.

Silver Surfer (1966)