Well, this is just depressing. Stan Lee, being interviewed about Marvel’s The Avengers by Moviefone:
Fans of Jack Kirby are concerned that his name appears nowhere on the credits of “The Avengers.” What’s your take on their concern?
I don’t know how to answer that because in what way would his name appear?His name isn’t mentioned anywhere in the film production as a co-creator.
Well it’s mentioned in every comic book; it says “By Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.”
But it doesn’t appear for the film itself; and his fans feel he should get that recognition, with the movie exposing his work to a whole new audience.
I know, but you’re talking to the wrong guy because I have nothing to do with the credits on the movies. I’m credited as one of the executive producers because that’s in my contract. But Jack was not an executive producer. So I don’t know what he’d be credited as.
On the one hand, not incredibly surprising. On the other, still incredibly depressing.
(Also, I’m possibly being stupid but: Does Marvel have a “Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby” credit in every Avengers comic, or is Lee talking about creator credits in books by Lee and Kirby?)
April 25th, 2012 at 10:19 am
I can’t remember ANY ‘by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’ credits since they stopped collaborating. Anybody?
April 25th, 2012 at 11:29 am
What mighty Stan is saying that even he himself is not listed in the movie credits as creator, but only as executive producer.
April 25th, 2012 at 11:42 am
Isn’t he still under contract with Marvel/Disney? If so it’s not like he can really speak his mind on these things. He may say what needs saying in private, but in public he has to tow the company line.
Stan may be “the man”, but mighty is the house of mouse controlling the house of ideas.
April 25th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
It says Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Joe Simon in the credits. I’ve had this verified by multiple folks over seas.
April 25th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/04/25/stan-lee-in-what-way-would-jack-kirbys-name-appear/
I know you just basically re post the Beat and Bleeding Cool articles all the time so I’ll save you the trouble.
April 25th, 2012 at 1:04 pm
jfc, who cares about this stuff. just enjoy the movie, ffs.
April 25th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Marvel has never/will never acknowledge Jack Kirby’s influence on their history. Who does he think he is, Mark Millar or BMB? AS IF!
April 25th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
And where’s Heidi MacDonald’s and Chris Roberson’s hyperbolic displays of self-righteous indignation and moral outrage? Nowhere, of course. It’s a MAR-VEL MOO-VEE!!
April 25th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Yeah, like Steve said, I saw the movie yesterday and Jack Kirby’s name was in the credits listed as co-creator of The Avengers. Stan was obviously mistaken. I hate that this is making news. Mostly from people who haven’t seen the movie.
April 26th, 2012 at 4:46 am
Graeme,
Any chance you’ll update the story?
SW
April 26th, 2012 at 7:54 am
Ha! Good one, Wacker!
April 26th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Not trying for a “ggod one”, but the lack of clarification is on the one hand, not incredibly surprising. On the other, still incredibly depressing.
SW
April 26th, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Yeah it would be nice if this ‘article’ or whatever it is was edited or updated to be correct. More of Graeme’s excellent work!
April 28th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
Nothing Graeme wrote requires an update due to the credit being in the movie – nothing at all.
It’s still unsurprising and incredibly depressing that Stan still doesn’t seem to get it, or care about Kirby’s legacy. It’s still clearly all business for him ‘I signed a better contact with Uncle Goodman, and am getting a credit, so what do I care?’.
His response is still sad regardless of Kirby’s credit.
I find it depressing, but not surprising, that there are fanboys and company stooges who don’t get it either.
April 30th, 2012 at 4:47 am
It needs updating because it says in the beginning that there is no Kirby credit in the movie. That’s completely false. He is listed as one of the creators in the credits. So yeah, Graeme once again sucked on this.
April 30th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
“It needs updating because it says in the beginning that there is no Kirby credit in the movie. That’s completely false. He is listed as one of the creators in the credits. So yeah, Graeme once again sucked on this.”
It says that in the article Graeme is quoting – that was the question as phrased to Stan Lee. That’s what happened.
There’s nothing for Graeme to change – if he did, he would be misquoting the source.
Even updated, it’s still quite clear Stan couldn’t give a fig about whether or not Jack get’s any credit for the film, whilst he is contracted on to be an Exec Producer and gets his cameo.