Lee to Get Big Money from Marvel

A court decision found that the comic book genius, Stan Lee, was entitled to a 10 percent take of profits from the Hollywood blockbusters that his creations spawned. Lee’s 60+ year career in comic books already earn him an excellent salary, but the recent rash of films based on his original characters have left him wanting more, and for good reason.

Part of his original contract was for a stipends of sorts, 1 million a year from publisher Marvel, for permission to use his characters in film, television and merchandising, but the 82 year old father of Spider-Man claimed an agreement signed in 1998 promised him 10% or Marvel’s total takes (in addition to cameo’s in each film). Marvel didn’t agree, but Judge Robert Sweet did and Lee will be receiving his chunk includes profit gained from the films, their massive DVD sales, toys, tunes and more.

Sadly though, this will likely mark the last of Lee’s dealings with the comic giant and very much to the artist’s dismay. His attorney related Lee’s disappointment, “He was not pleased to do it. He was saddened by the fact that things came to the point where he had to actually start a lawsuit against Marvel.”

We don’t suspect this will have an effect on the continuing torrent of comic-book based films, but with Lee’s seperation from the company that may very well owe him their livelihood, some could view it as the end of an era.