July 19 (UPI) — Comic book legend Stan Lee said he was “thrilled” and “overwhelmed” to have his handprints and footprints immortalized in front of Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre on Monday.
The 94-year-old Marvel comics co-creator got his hands a little dirty as his own slab of concrete joined the likes of Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne and Marilyn Monroe outside of the iconic theater.
“If I had known I was so good, I’d have asked for a raise,” Lee said. “I can’t tell you what it means to me. I’m thrilled, I’m overwhelmed.”
Lee is the name behind countless comic book characters, a source that has been mined for dozens of movies and television shows, including the recently released “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.” He has appeared in cameos in most of the feature films.
Marvel Cinematic Universe president and producer Kevin Feige, “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” star Clark Gregg and “Guardians of the Galaxy” writer James Gunn were on hand at the ceremony.
Boseman lauded Lee for his creation of one of the first black comic book characters in the midst of the civil rights movement.
“You have to think about it’s beyond civil rights. It’s black empowerment. We as African Americans, we’re not just victims. We’re not just the colonized. We’re not just slaves. We were kings and queens. We’re advanced in an advanced scientific nation … we had abilities beyond what other people knew,” Boseman said.
Director and comic book-lover Kevin Smith emceed the event.
“Stan Lee is a deep part of my DNA and genetics and it’s an honor to be here,” Smith said. “He didn’t teach me to read, but he taught me to enjoy reading. He didn’t teach me to dream, but he gave me so many things to dream about.”
Less than two weeks after the death of Joan Lee, Lee said he wished his wife could have been there to witness the moment.
The next Lee-inspired movies scheduled to hit theaters are “Thor: Ragnorakon” Nov. 3, “Black Panther” on Feb. 16, “Avengers: Infinity War” on May 4, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” on July 6, 2018, and “Captain Marvel” on March 8, 2019.
