Speaker1:
At the Lucca Comics Festival, with the help of Max Bunker and comic artist Sergio Trinchero, we finally tracked down the legendary Stan Lee, surrounded by a crowd of fans. Tall, cheerful, and every bit the quintessential American. The mastermind behind the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and countless other superheroes. Come on, Stan, hit us with something amazing—your turn to shine!
Stan Lee:
Me? I’m Stan Lee, and I came all the way from America to talk to you about our comics and my superheroes. But honestly, it’s impossible—there are millions of people here waiting to meet the world’s greatest comic book creator!
Sergio Trinchero:
It’s impossible, believe me. There are millions of people here, all waiting for the greatest comic book creator and his characters. You just can’t keep up!
Stan Lee:
Exactly. As you know, our heroes almost always have two identities—one is the shy, awkward guy, like I was just a moment ago. The other is the one I’m stepping into now: a different Stan Lee, a superhero here to introduce you to my incredible characters. So let me just say, I’m thrilled to be here with all of you, and our superheroes absolutely adore you!
Sergio Trinchero:
In short, just a little more…
Stan Lee:
I really hope you enjoy our comics! If you do, my team and I will keep writing and drawing tons of new adventures just for you. You’ll love them, and we’ll print even more. The more you read and enjoy them, the more we’ll create, and we’ll all be happy. And of course, I’ll be thrilled too, because your support lets me keep making comics. Thank you so much!
Luciano:
Stan, everyone knows that superheroes went into hibernation in the fifties. What made you decide to bring them back to life?
Stan Lee:
I think I understand, so here’s my answer. For a couple of decades, comics were pretty predictable—the hero always won, and the villain always lost. Heroes were perfect: fearless, flawless, and untouchable. Nothing ever fazed them. Then I thought, why not flip the script? I started making our superheroes more human, giving them the worries and problems of ordinary people. Maybe they’d get sick or run away in the middle of a fight. Even if they’re smarter or stronger than others, why shouldn’t they have to earn a living or deal with the risk of being disliked? Readers noticed the difference right away and fell in love with this new kind of storytelling.
Luciano:
Yes, Stan, you’re known for writing superhero stories, but we’d love to hear about the artists who bring them to life.
Stan Lee:
For example, we have pencilers who create the initial drawings with a pencil, and inkers who go over those drawings with ink. Then there are colorists, proofreaders who check the text and artwork, and many others involved in the process. Altogether, we have about fifty incredibly talented people. Some are young and new to the profession but already very skilled, while others are veterans with over twenty years of experience. They come from all over the world, and many have Italian roots—like John Romita, the Buscema brothers, Frank Giacoia, Dick Giordano, and several others. Even my secretary, Fran Palozzi, is Italian. I’m terrible at remembering last names, so I just call her Fran!
Sergio Trinchero:
Stan, most superheroes, like Superman, have dual identities. But your Fantastic Four doesn’t seem to follow that trend. Why is that?
Stan Lee:
It might sound strange, but we don’t focus too much on whether our superheroes have dual identities or not. Some do, and some don’t. Take the Fantastic Four, for instance—their identities are public. They don’t need a phone booth to change into their costumes. For other heroes, though, having a secret identity is absolutely essential.
Sergio Trinchero:
Good point—what happens if the booth is already occupied? I guess even superheroes would have to wait their turn!
Stan Lee:
If the booth is occupied, the superhero can’t change in time, and the world might not get saved. It’s a risky business relying on phone booths!
Sergio Trinchero:
Alright, here’s a tricky one for you: how would you have written a story where your heroes find themselves in an ancient medieval city like this?
Stan Lee:
Let me think for a moment… Alright, here’s how we can start. One day, Dr. Doom, the most fearsome and dangerous criminal on Earth, hatches the most colossal scheme in the history of mankind. But this time, it’s not about robbing banks or jewelry stores, nor is it a plan to kidnap an entire nation. No, this time, Dr. Doom sets his sights on something even bigger—he decides to take over Italy itself. Fortunately for you, Spider-Man catches wind of Doom’s plan. But he quickly realizes he can’t handle it on his own, so he turns to the Fantastic Four for help. As luck would have it, they just happen to be vacationing in Lucca!
Speaker 1:
So, as Stan Lee—smiling and ever the fantastic genius—kept spinning tales of Italy being stolen and saved by his superheroes, we slowly walked away, a little bewildered. We left him in the Lucca city square, gesturing wildly and brainstorming for the perfect, though highly improbable, ending to his Italian adventure.
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