Rating: 
Summary: A fun read...
Review: This is not an in-depth self analysis of the man and mind behind Marvel Comics. Rather, it is a light and fun journey through the life and times of one Mr. Stan 'The Man' Lee. I enjoyed it quite a bit. And I think most people who grew up on Marvel Comics, who also don't expect loads of controversial dialogue and introspection, will dig it too!
Rating:
Summary: A fun read...
Review: This is not an in-depth self analysis of the man and mind behind Marvel Comics. Rather, it is a light and fun journey through the life and times of one Mr. Stan 'The Man' Lee. I enjoyed it quite a bit. And I think most people who grew up on Marvel Comics, who also don't expect loads of controversial dialogue and introspection, will dig it too!
Rating:
Summary: As Good As We'll Get?
Review: While this isn't an autobiography as such, Stan Lee does write the vast majority of the book and leaves his collaborator (George Mair) to fill in the gaps or provide continuity. There is some discussion of his personal life and his career, with a fair amount devoted to the creation of Marvel's glory days. For those who can remember, it is written in the 'Stan's Soapbox' style.Most of the information found here won't be new to Stan's fans, as it is available in other interviews and articles. He admits to a terrible memory (all of his life, and he's now 80) so it is difficult to know whether the stories behind his famous creations are all that complete. Plus, there is not much more than can be found in his 'Origins of Marvel Comics' books. There are also significant gaps - why, for example, does he not mention Marvel's failed attempt to reintroduce super-heroes in the 1950s? Yet, despite the quibbles, this is the best insight you'll get into the real Stan Lee. Forget any second-hand stories or biographies filled with speculation and guesswork - go straight to the source. He may not address things as precisely as you'd like, but there are interesting nuggets of information and a lot of gentle humour. Don't throw away your other references though, as he has addressed many topics in past interviews that simply don't get a mention here.
Rating:
Summary: As Good As We'll Get?
Review: While this isn't an autobiography as such, Stan Lee does write the vast majority of the book and leaves his collaborator (George Mair) to fill in the gaps or provide continuity. There is some discussion of his personal life and his career, with a fair amount devoted to the creation of Marvel's glory days. For those who can remember, it is written in the 'Stan's Soapbox' style. Most of the information found here won't be new to Stan's fans, as it is available in other interviews and articles. He admits to a terrible memory (all of his life, and he's now 80) so it is difficult to know whether the stories behind his famous creations are all that complete. Plus, there is not much more than can be found in his 'Origins of Marvel Comics' books. There are also significant gaps - why, for example, does he not mention Marvel's failed attempt to reintroduce super-heroes in the 1950s? Yet, despite the quibbles, this is the best insight you'll get into the real Stan Lee. Forget any second-hand stories or biographies filled with speculation and guesswork - go straight to the source. He may not address things as precisely as you'd like, but there are interesting nuggets of information and a lot of gentle humour. Don't throw away your other references though, as he has addressed many topics in past interviews that simply don't get a mention here.
Rating: 
Summary: Sadly Superficial Stan
Review: Yep, I'm a big fan of Silver Age Marvel comics and yep, I'm a big fan of Stan himself - his liberal humanist philosophy, his corny sense of humour and his frequent self-deprecation. However, the problem with this autobiography is that it doesn't shed any further light on Stan beyond what you knew from reading his Soapbox. He's just the kind of guy you expected him to be, but he's giving away scant insight into his life beyond the bare facts. There's little self-examination in these 200 pages and what little there is reads like Peter Parker thought bubbles. The "amazing" ups and downs of Stan's life seem to have caused no mental struggle or anguish and the rumours of feuds with Kirby and Ditko are dismissed in a couple of paragraphs. Apparently Stan didn't know they were upset! All in all, more a coffee table book or an extended self-promotional essay rather than a genuine autobiography.
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