Stan Lee’s Debut Comic Still Holds Up 85 Years On

Stan Lee’s first comic work quickly showed Marvel what he could become

Stan Lee’s very first published comic story was an early sign that Marvel had found a future legend. Marvel itself was built by a range of influential creators who helped define the modern mythology of the Marvel Universe. Jack Kirby gave the line its energetic world-building, Steve Ditko brought his distinctive style to Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, and John Romita Sr. helped shape key parts of Spider-Man’s lore. Later, Chris Claremont reshaped superhero storytelling with his take on the X-Men, Jim Starlin introduced Thanos and the Infinity Gems, and Peter David delivered celebrated runs on The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, and Spider-Man 2099.

Those creators largely stayed in the background, unlike Stan Lee, who became a uniquely visible cultural figure in comics. He did more than help build Marvel’s universe: he also emerged as a public-facing champion for comics as a medium. His cameos in animated and live-action Marvel projects, along with appearances in non-Marvel productions, matched the way he connected with fans both on the page and in person.

Lee still had to earn his place in Marvel history, but that process began almost immediately after he started writing for Timely Comics.

Stan Lee’s first Marvel story showed how little Captain America had changed

His first attempt at writing Cap was already on target

Captain America Comics #3 introduced a two-page prose story called “Captain America Foils the Traitor’s Revenge,” which marked the comic-book debut of Stanley Lieber, writing under the name Stan Lee. At the time, he had been hired as a gofer by Timely Comics editor Joe Simon and artist Jack Kirby. The assignment came his way partly because comic magazines needed text pages to satisfy U.S. postal rules and qualify for lower second-class mailing rates. The story follows Steve and Bucky as they uncover a betrayal plot in which Captain Curtis tries to assassinate his commanding officer.

Even after all these decades, “Captain America Foils the Traitor’s Revenge” still reads like a classic World War II Captain America story that could fit into a modern comic run. It includes some old-fashioned 1940s phrasing and period details, but it already shows Lee understanding Steve Rogers’ moral code and his duty to protect the soldiers around him. More importantly, the modest text story proved that Lee could tell a strong comic tale without relying on panel art. In his very first comic effort, he helped define Cap’s physical and emotional heroism before Timely Comics became Marvel.

Stan Lee understood what comics needed at a turning point

Marvel’s true golden era followed the first golden age

After his debut, Lee rose through the ranks at Timely Comics and became editor-in-chief at just 19. As the market weakened after World War II and Timely evolved into Atlas Comics, the industry entered a creatively stagnant phase under strict censorship rules. The major shift came in 1961, when Lee, close to leaving comics altogether, partnered with Jack Kirby to launch The Fantastic Four #1. Working with Kirby on major titles such as The Avengers, The X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor, and with Steve Ditko on The Amazing Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, Lee helped spark the Marvel Age of Comics.

Lee’s legend grew out of storytelling and editorial choices that changed the industry’s expectations. Rather than writing perfect, distant heroes, he made them more human through Peter Parker’s money problems, Ben Grimm’s loneliness, and the Avengers’ ongoing tensions. He also helped popularize the “Marvel Method,” in which artists received plot outlines first so they could stage the action before Lee added dialogue to the finished pages. Outside the stories, Lee built a closer bond with readers through his “Stan’s Soapbox” column, credited full creative teams on title pages, and reinforced Marvel’s identity with catchphrases such as “Excelsior!”

Which Stan Lee comic is your favorite?

Birthdate

December 28, 1922

Birthplace

New York, New York, USA

Notable Projects

The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Iron Man

Height

5 feet 11 inches

Professions

Writer, Editor, Publisher, Producer, Actor

Learn more about Stan Lee’s filmography and career, including his work on Spider-Man and The Avengers.