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: Homecomingand 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. Director and comic book-lover Kevin Smith emceed the event.
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: Ragnorak on November 3rd, Black Panther on February 16, 2018, Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018, Ant-Man and the Wasp on July 6, 2018, and Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019.
The event was the latest in a whirlwind week for Lee. He was honored as a Disney Legend on July 14th, and is set to be honored Friday with a panel at San Diego Comic-Con.