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Unabridged Audiobook
Runtime: 1 hour, 57 minutes
Read by Peter Reigert
With the death of Marvel writer, editor, and publisher Stan Lee came the end of an era. Known for his exuberance and his quirky movie cameos, Lee became more than just the creator of heroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men. And he recounts a lifetime of adventures in the audio edition of Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir.
The story follows the life and career of the eccentric comic writer—from his childhood love of books to his first writing jobs to his decades at Marvel. Along the way, he discusses the changes that his career—and Marvel Comics—went through. He talks about the creation of his favorite characters and his unexpected career in Marvel movies. And, of course, he tells the story of meeting, marrying, and spending 70 years with the love of his life, Joan.
Originally written as a graphic autobiography, Amazing Fantastic Incredible admittedly makes for an unlikely audiobook. Without the comic artwork, listeners have to use their imagination to turn the narration and sound effects into the kind of action and images that Stan intended. And there are some moments when it’s clear that something’s been lost to the medium. Still, it works—and anyone who’s familiar with Stan Lee’s work will be able to picture the action as it plays out.
Of course, with a runtime of just under two hours, this obviously isn’t a deep, in-depth exploration of Lee’s life. Instead of a historian’s take on his influences and motivation, it’s more of a quick overview of the highlights of the story, with plenty of anecdotes and asides to keep it entertaining. Even though the author doesn’t narrate the audiobook himself (aside from the introduction), his voice and his sense of humor certainly come through loud and clear. You’ll be able to imagine him chuckling as he tells the stories about his life, his work, and his Hollywood adventures—and you’ll often end up laughing right along with him. And, in the process, you’ll learn a little bit more about the world of Marvel superheroes through the eyes of one of their creators.
Amazing Fantastic Incredible is a short but entertaining journey through the world of Stan Lee—one that’s fittingly loaded with action and laughs. And while fans will miss his fun-loving cameos in Marvel movies, this book will at least bring him back to life for a couple of hours.
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