Mar 31 2025 19 mins
Listen to hear how Stan Lee’s bold decision-making and trust in his instincts turned Spider-Man into a global icon, and what you can learn for your next big idea.
In episode 243 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark shares a story from the early 1960s about comic book legend Stan Lee and the creation of Spider-Man.
The story about how Lee’s now-iconic superhero almost never made it to print explores the power of persistence and knowing whose advice to follow.
Mark and Shawn further discuss how stories help create emotional resonance, make points memorable and drive behaviour change.
This episode is perfect for leaders, innovators, and anyone facing resistance to a new idea. Learn why trusting your instincts can make all the difference.
Learn more about our public programs here.
For your story bank
Tags: Storytelling, Leadership, Decision-Making, Innovation, Ideas, Creativity
This story starts at 5:17
In the early 1960s, Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee had already created a string of superheroes like the Fantastic Four. One day, his publisher asked him to come up with a new superhero. That evening, while at home thinking, Stan spotted a fly crawling up a wall. That simple image sparked an idea—what if a person had the ability to crawl walls? That would be their power.
He began working on the character. For the name, he toyed with “Fly-Man” and “Mosquito-Man” before settling on “Spider-Man.” But he didn’t stop there—he decided to make Spider-Man a teenager, which was unheard of for a lead superhero at the time. And, in a bold move, he gave him personal problems. Stan was excited. This character was different, layered, and relatable.
The next day, he pitched the idea to his publisher. The reaction? “Stan, that is the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” The publisher scoffed—people hate spiders, teenagers can’t be superheroes, only sidekicks, and superheroes definitely don’t have personal problems.
Disappointed but undeterred, Stan couldn’t shake the idea. Then an opportunity came up: a comic series called Amazing Fantasy was about to be discontinued due to poor sales. With nothing to lose, Stan decided to feature Spider-Man in its final issue. He put him on the cover, wrote the story, and felt a sense of closure—he’d at least brought the character to life.
A month later, the sales numbers came in. Amazing Fantasy had outsold every other Marvel title. The same publisher who’d dismissed the idea burst into Stan’s office, exclaiming, “Stan! Remember that character we both loved? Let’s do a series!”
That issue became the launchpad for one of the most successful superheroes in history. Stan later shared this story in a university speech, finishing with a powerful point: “If you have an idea you genuinely think is good, don’t let some idiot talk you out of it.”
In episode 243 of Anecdotally Speaking, Mark shares a story from the early 1960s about comic book legend Stan Lee and the creation of Spider-Man.
The story about how Lee’s now-iconic superhero almost never made it to print explores the power of persistence and knowing whose advice to follow.
Mark and Shawn further discuss how stories help create emotional resonance, make points memorable and drive behaviour change.
This episode is perfect for leaders, innovators, and anyone facing resistance to a new idea. Learn why trusting your instincts can make all the difference.
Learn more about our public programs here.
For your story bank
Tags: Storytelling, Leadership, Decision-Making, Innovation, Ideas, Creativity
This story starts at 5:17
In the early 1960s, Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee had already created a string of superheroes like the Fantastic Four. One day, his publisher asked him to come up with a new superhero. That evening, while at home thinking, Stan spotted a fly crawling up a wall. That simple image sparked an idea—what if a person had the ability to crawl walls? That would be their power.
He began working on the character. For the name, he toyed with “Fly-Man” and “Mosquito-Man” before settling on “Spider-Man.” But he didn’t stop there—he decided to make Spider-Man a teenager, which was unheard of for a lead superhero at the time. And, in a bold move, he gave him personal problems. Stan was excited. This character was different, layered, and relatable.
The next day, he pitched the idea to his publisher. The reaction? “Stan, that is the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” The publisher scoffed—people hate spiders, teenagers can’t be superheroes, only sidekicks, and superheroes definitely don’t have personal problems.
Disappointed but undeterred, Stan couldn’t shake the idea. Then an opportunity came up: a comic series called Amazing Fantasy was about to be discontinued due to poor sales. With nothing to lose, Stan decided to feature Spider-Man in its final issue. He put him on the cover, wrote the story, and felt a sense of closure—he’d at least brought the character to life.
A month later, the sales numbers came in. Amazing Fantasy had outsold every other Marvel title. The same publisher who’d dismissed the idea burst into Stan’s office, exclaiming, “Stan! Remember that character we both loved? Let’s do a series!”
That issue became the launchpad for one of the most successful superheroes in history. Stan later shared this story in a university speech, finishing with a powerful point: “If you have an idea you genuinely think is good, don’t let some idiot talk you out of it.”