True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee

True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee by Abraham Riesman is a meticulously researched and compelling biography of Stan Lee, the enigmatic figure who revolutionised the comic book industry and left an indelible mark on global pop culture. This book delves into the life of the man who became synonymous with Marvel Comics and explores both his monumental achievements and the personal costs that came with them.

Stan Lee, known for his vibrant persona and creative genius, was the driving force behind a plethora of iconic characters such as Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men, Black Panther, and the Incredible Hulk. His storytelling and unparalleled marketing skills not only saved the comic-book industry during its darkest times but also elevated superhero fiction to unprecedented heights. With his engaging cameos in Marvel movies, Lee charmed audiences across the globe, solidifying his status as a cultural icon. At the time of his death in 2018, tributes poured in worldwide, highlighting the profound impact he had made.

However, True Believer raises provocative questions about the true nature of Stan Lee's legacy. Was he truly the sole creator of the characters he became famous for, or was his role more of a figurehead and marketer? Did he engage in financial malfeasance in his later years? Riesman’s investigation sheds light on the myriad complexities surrounding Lee's life, including the dubious influences of those in his inner circle towards the end of his days.

Abraham Riesman, through rigorous research including over 150 interviews and thousands of pages of private documents, uncovers revelations about Lee that have never been published before. This biography examines Lee's tremendous success, his relentless self-promotion, and the often overlooked challenges he faced, including the critical ethical dilemmas and personal failures.

Hailed as a pivotal work, True Believer does not shy away from examining Lee's flaws, transgressions, accomplishments, and his enduring legacy. It asks the thought-provoking question: What drove Stan Lee to seek constant acclaim and yet feel the need to exaggerate his triumphs? This book offers an audacious, clear-eyed view of Stan Lee, making it the biography he truly deserves.

True Believer: The Rise and Fall of Stan Lee is a Hugo Award finalist and Eisner Award nominee. As Robert Kolker, author of Hidden Valley Road, says, "True Believer is in every imaginable way the biography that Stan Lee deserves—ambitious, audacious, daring, and unflinchingly clear-eyed about the man's significance, his shortcomings, his transgressions, his accomplishments, and his astonishing legacy."