Two-Bite Interview: Comics legend Stan Lee

Comic book legend Stan Lee, who has created heroes ranging from Spiderman to the X-Men to Pamela Anderson's Stripperella, has long been a champion of diversity, truth and understanding. In the days leading up to the premiere of the second season of Lee's Who Wants to Be a Superhero? reality show (which, like last season, features a gay contestant, Parthenon), we had the chance to talk to the icon-maker about how gays fit into the superhero community.

AfterElton.com: I have to confess that after Levity was booted in the first season premiere, I might not have watched Who Wants to be a Superhero if not for my partner who insisted we watch. I'm glad I did because I came to see how sincere the characters were about the values they preached -- and tolerance was one of those values. Was it important to you that the show included a gay contestant?
Stan Lee: Frankly, we didn’t plan to have anyone who was gay, or who wasn’t gay. We simply wanted the most interesting, colorful, articulate contestants we could find, and of course variety is always desirable. If one turned out to be gay, or black, or Latino, or tall, or short, or red-haired or whatever, so be it. We try to be color blind, racial blind and sexual orientation blind.

AE: This year there are two gay contestants. Again, was that intentional or did it just work out that way?
SL: Frankly, it just worked out that way. Nine times out of ten we don’t even know a contestant’s sexual orientation until after he or she has been selected.

AE: Superheroes have often provided young gay men with a means of escape. At what point did you become aware of that aspect to your work? Did it surprise you?
SL: Wouldja believe this is the first I’ve heard of it in reference to gays. I know that superhero stories, in fact almost all fantasy tales, provide most readers, whether gay or straight, with a means of escape. People often feel prejudiced against because of race, nationality, physical looks, poverty, afflictions, whatever. Almost everyone has his and her insecurities and hang-ups. Superhero tales help give all of us some hope to cling to.

AE: You debated Andrea Lafferty about The Rawhide Kid on CNN back in 2002 and it was very clear how gay positive you are. Is that because of how you were raised, or did you know someone gay, or is it something else entirely?
SL: Of course I know gay people. Some I like more than others, but it has nothing to do with their “gayness.” I was raised in the belief that we’re all God’s children and I’ve never found any reason to believe that God plays favorites.

AE: What can fans of Who Wants to be a Superhero expect differently this time around?
SL: We’re hoping to provide many surprises, much human interest and good, clean family entertainment. Naturally, we try to build on what we learned from the first season’s episodes in the hope this our second season will be even better.

AE: Do you think Marvel Comics could now or in the near future have a successful franchise based on a gay character? Has the success of Midnighter over at DC been an encouragement to develop a competing gay lead hero?
SL: Actually, I’ve been away from comicbooks for quite a while and am not familiar with Midnighter. But, to answer your question, I can see no reason why a gay character couldn’t provide a successful franchise if the stories were exciting and the characters were interesting and believable. Years ago I created a series called Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos. It featured a platoon consisting of a Black, a Jew, an Italian and later a gay, among other different ethnic types. I was told the comic wouldn’t sell in the South, or in the Midwest, or practically anywhere because of bigotry. It turned out to be one of our best-selling titles and lasted for many years. It also gave me great respect for the general public.

(Bottom image is of this season's male gay contestant, Parthenon) -- check back later this week for more on him!