Marvel ordered to pay comics legend
By Larry McShane
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Stan Lee, the legendary cartoon-hero creator who gifted Spider-Man with the powerful "spidey-sense," is feeling a tingling of his own — in his wallet.
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A Manhattan federal judge ruled that Lee is entitled to a potential multimillion payday from Marvel Enterprises of profits generated by the company's television and movie productions — particularly the box-office smash "Spider-Man," which earned more than $800 million worldwide, and its hugely successful sequel.
Stan Lee, left, creator of such comic heroes as Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk, poses with Lou Ferrigno, star of the "Hulk" television series. Lee won a partial judgment in a suit against Marvel yesterday.
"It could be tens of millions of dollars," Howard Graff, attorney for Lee, said yesterday. "That's no exaggeration."
The Monday ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Robert W. Sweet found that Lee was entitled to a 10 percent share of the profits generated since November 1998 by Marvel productions involving the company's characters, including those created by the prolific cartoonist.
Sweet's decision didn't mention a dollar figure, although Graff was anticipating a windfall because the ruling also included DVD sales and certain merchandise.
"The court essentially ruled in our favor virtually across the board," Graff said. "This is a sweeping victory for Mr. Lee."
John Turitzin, general counsel for Marvel, promised an appeal. Turitzin noted that Sweet ruled Lee was not entitled to money from certain movie-based merchandise, and that the judge withheld judgment on money from joint-venture merchandise sales linked to the Spider-Man and Incredible Hulk movies.
