Review by anonymous
June 21, 2026 certified reviewerWhat I liked
An excellent cast carries this 90-minute play to excelsior. Leif Gantvoort as Stan Lee is impressive, realizing an idol in his glory. Cliff Weissman owns the big time publisher Martin Goodman with confidence and swagger. Elle Shaheen is delightfully aggressive as Joan Lee. Reid Emmons delivers striking, singular performances in every character he portrays, especially Steve Ditko. Kristina Miller-Weston is a hard edge you don’t want to mess with. And Alex Vaughan brings an energy that will wake you up. But Bryan McKinley as Jack Kirby is the heart of the piece. He encapsulates the strength in the underdog, bringing charm and vulnerability as his gruff exterior, carved from years of rejection and exploitation, slowly melts away – a transformation which, though the play ends with Stan Lee, seems to be the core message: what it means to be an artist in an industry run by self-serving executives.
What I didn't like
The first half hour or so feels a bit like a hard-to-follow history lesson with too many names and turns to really let them land. The show doesn’t lock in until Stan and Jack are working together, and we finally get to sit with the characters and hear the story. The inclusion of Joan and Roz is an interesting twist, but they feel like token inclusions rather than purposeful players. The writer could elevate them to three-dimensional characters if he gives them more to discuss than kids and shopping. It has the potential to be great with a bit more development.
My overall impression
A funny and touching retelling of the rise of Stan Lee on the shoulders of Jack Kirby.
