Behold: the text of Stan Lee's "Soapbox" column, as it appeared in all Marvel comics cover-dated April 1992, just over ten years before Sam Raimi's Spider-Man was released in theaters. Bold emphasis is mine; caps or italics are all Stan; and I've added hyperlinks to explain the references that only nerds would understand.
Hi, Heroes!Remember this date -- October '91! It was one of the biggest, most important months in the halcyon history of mighty Marvel! What made it so important? Hey, I thought you'd never ask!
In previous Soapboxes I gave you a number of hints about big things happening out here in Hollywood, big things that I wasn't free to talk about until the contracts were signed and the deals were closed. Well, now it's official! The biggest movie project we've ever planned is now under way -- and if you guessed SPIDER-MAN, then award yourself a twelve-cylinder no-prize with fuel injection!
But here's the most exciting part -- guess who's gonna write, direct, and produce the first ever big-budget, feature film of the world's most famous wall-crawler? Wouldja believe James Cameron?!! That's right, Bunky, the same fabulous, super-fantastic filmmaker who bestowed upon a wildly cheering, wide-eyed world such monster hits as ALIENS, THE ABYSS and the two titanic TERMINATOR thrillers! So you can take this to the bank, Believer -- SPIDER-MAN is destined to be the biggest, boldest, baaaaadest blockbustin' bombshell of a super hero action extravaganza ever to hit the screen!
Now then, before you start bombarding us with letters and phone calls asking who's gonna star in our fabulous forthcoming flick, or who the villain will be, let me advise you that those decisions haven't yet been made. First, the story has to be structured and then a screenplay written. That will probably take months because we're all determined to make it the greatest action thriller of all. But as soon as more info comes through, even faster than you can wiggle your webs you'll get the scoop via the ol' Soapbox column as well as in the various newsletters we'll be sending to all the Wild Agents of Marvel!
And next issue, on this very same page, if Irving Forbush doesn't elope with Aunt May in the next thirty days, I'll bring you some additional exciting news about X-MEN hitting the screen! Who says this isn't the Marvel Age of Awesome Announcements?
Excelsior!
Backstory: I've been looking for this Soapbox for years, because I remembered Stan's empty promise from my misbegotten youth. I just happened across it while reading Iron Man #279, part 13 of the sprawling Operation: Galactic Storm crossover.
Cameron's treatment for his aborted Spider-Man movie was so long that it's popularly called a "scriptment," and apparently it's available online. Apparently the bad guy was Electro (but as a suit-wearing business executive rather than an accident-prone electrician). As I recall, back then they were touting Leonardo DiCaprio as Peter Parker. What a different, darker world this could have been.
X-Men of course didn't come out until July 2000. I've not found the May 1992 Bullpen Bulletin, but I will, Stan. And your lies will be exposed for all the world to see! I will have vengeance, Stan Lee! Yes I will!
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