Stan Lee biographical entry in Contemporary Literary Criticism, Volume 17, 1981

This academic literary reference entry provides a scholarly assessment of Stan Lee's contributions to comic book literature. The piece analyzes Lee's revolutionary approach to superhero storytelling, particularly his creation of psychologically complex characters with real-world problems. Multiple critics examine Marvel characters like Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, and others, discussing their cultural significance and literary merit. The entry includes excerpts from various academic sources that evaluate Lee's work within the context of American popular culture, mythology, and social commentary, treating comics as a legitimate form of literary expression worthy of academic study.