Twenty years ago: James Cameron submits his treatment for the Spider-Man film to Marvel. “I look forward to working with you to realize this very special motion picture.”

Ten pages of the treatment are here.

MARVEL COMICS, 1962

“Stan Lee is introducing a new character in TALES OF SUSPENSE—Iron Man! This goes on sale Dec. 10th. Watch for it.

Also on sale Dec. 10th—an entire mag devoted to THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN! You won’t want to miss this one.

Stan also has a new war mag in the making—SERGEANT FURY AND HIS HOWLING COMMANDOES. This one won’t be out until March 5th, but don’t you forget it!

Starting with issue #91 of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, Joe Sinnott (who inked FANTASTIC FOUR #5) will be drawing The Mighty Thor. I think you are going to like his work.”

Judy Walsh sure had the inside track at Marvel Comics.

In 1974, Stan Lee inquired about the American rights to Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima’s gekiga LONE WOLF AND CUB.

The series would not be published in America until 1987.

midtowncomics:

A recent letter from Steve Ditko to one of our customers. He asked Steve what he remembered about designing Spidey’s costume. #ditko #spiderman (at Midtown Comics)

Steve Ditko on Spider-Man: “It was just another comic book art job.”

What do Archie Bunker and H.P. Lovecraft have in common?

They’re both covered in this memo from Roy Thomas to Stan Lee, from 1972. There’s a note in Stan Lee’s writing: “I’ll ask M.G.”—since Stan Lee replaced Martin Goodman as publisher by May, this must have been written only weeks before Goodman’s departure.

Crowdsourcing the Latest Lingo, the Merry Marvel Way!

Letter from Stan Lee to Jack Kirby, January 25, 1977:

“Dear Jack,

Just a line to tell you how much I enjoyed seeing you in Los Angeles—and I am sure Jim did, too.

I am sorry we didn’t have more time to spend together, but at least we did have a chance to talk awhile.

I hope everything we discussed is clear and agreeable with you and that all will work out well. Keep rolling along on the SURFER—it is bound to be the “All the President’s Men” of 1977!

With all best wishes to you, Roz, and the family.

Cordially,

Stan

From a 1969 X-MEN letters column, here’s a revelatory glimpse into who was coloring the artwork in Marvel’s comics.

Letter from Stan Lee’s secretary to a young Oliver Stone.

And so Sgt. Fury and His Howling Platoon never got off the ground…

“The first issue of BB wasn’t the greatest comic book I’ve ever seen, but it was the best stuff to come from your company.” —A young George R.R. Martin damns Charlton Comics with faint praise, Blue Beetle Comics #3, 1964.

Harvey Kurtzman to Stan Lee, 1972: “If you truly want me to create a magazine, you have to allow me to set my own standards.”

Letter from Ray Bradbury to Stan Lee, 1980.

James Wolcott, Q.N.S. (Quite ‘Nuff Sayer)

Wolcott reflects on his letter-writing days:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/wolcott/2010/07/the-greatest-archeological-find-of-the-century