Vice President of Stan Lee Universe to Give Lecture Oct. 8 at UW

Jon Ollwerther, executive vice president of Stan Lee Universe and Kartoon Studios, will speak at the University of Wyoming's American Heritage Center (AHC) Tuesday, Oct. 8.

Ollwerther will discuss "Stan Lee, The Real Super Hero" at 5:15 p.m. in the AHC's Stockgrowers Room. His talk is free and open to the public.

The talk will contend that Lee's creative genius was a true superpower. Moving across the Marvel creator's career, Ollwerther's remarks will touch on Lee's time in the military, the creation of Marvel characters and his support of important social causes. Ollwerther also will discuss Marvel's success in the film world and the development of the Stan Lee Universe and its new characters.

"What if the greatest superhero he ever created wasn't Spider-Man, Black Panther or even Iron Man? Instead, what if the greatest superhero that Stan ever created was Stan Lee himself?" Ollwerther asks. "Stan Lee was more than just a storyteller; he was a real-life superhero."

Paul Flesher, UW AHC director, expresses his enthusiasm for Ollwerther's lecture.

"We are excited to have a person with Jon's depth of involvement in the worlds created by Stan Lee," Flesher says. "He can speak from firsthand knowledge about Stan Lee himself, to the Marvel comic and film worlds, and to the Stan Lee Universe and its continuing production of never-before-seen characters created by Lee."

The AHC holds the only archival collection of materials created by Lee. For 30 years, Lee donated documents, photographs and other materials. The collection consists of more than 125 cubic feet of materials in the AHC. The center currently is hosting "Stan Lee: Beyond the Book," an exhibition based on the AHC's collection that runs through October.

"Come early before the lecture, and view the Stan Lee exhibit," Flesher says.

For more information, email the AHC at [email protected].