There’s three things one should always expect out of a Marvel film. Action, the titular superhero, and a Stan Lee cameo. Every Stan Lee film cameo is a welcome surprise and a comedic relief for even the not so good Marvel films. Although Stan Lee hasn’t been in every modern Marvel film, he’s certainly been in enough to where even your grandmother knows The Man. So here’s the top 10 Stan Lee cameos.

#10 Stan “The Hero” Lee: Spider-Man

This is one of those Where’s Waldo Stan Lee cameo’s where you have to keep your eyes glued to the TV in order to catch it. Just as the Green Goblin blows up a balcony, Stan Lee pulls a little girl away just before a chunk of concrete smashes into her. A very short cameo, but a very satisfying one that (along with X-Men) established Stan Lee’s cameos as a staple work of Marvel films.

#9 Stan Saved by Murdock: Daredevil

Just like Spider-Man or X-Men, this is another early 00’s Marvel film where you can easily miss it if you don’t pay attention. Here, a young and blind Murdock saves Stan Lee from walking into a bus using his cane. ‘Nuff said.

#8 Stan “Larry King” Lee: Iron Man 2

Just like the film, there’s no way Stan Lee could top Iron Man‘s cameo. But still, seeing Stan Lee play Larry King is a worthy cameo on the list.

#7 Stan “The Wedding Crasher” Lee: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Stan Lee cameos as…Stan Lee??? Or at least a Stan Lee trying to prove he’s Stan Lee at the wedding of Mr. Fantastic and Sue Storm. Which begs the question: Who is Stan Lee in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Is he a comic book writer? And if so, does Stan Lee write Marvel characters? Or is he simply a demigod taking a walk into the universe he helped create?

#6 The Incredible Lee: The Incredible Hulk

What’s more badass than Stan Lee? Perhaps a Hulk Stan Lee. Although we don’t see it on screen, we do see Stan Lee drinking some soda contaminated with Bruce Banner’s blood. And we know what that means. Just don’t make him angry to find out for yourself.

#5 Stan “The Delivery Man” Lee: Fantastic Four

Unlike the other early 00’s Marvel films, this is the first cameo where Stan Lee has some lines to say. As well as some very important mail to deliver to Reed Richards. For the fact that this expanded Stan Lee cameos beyond Where’s Stan? and for being a solid cameo, this entry definitely earns its #5 ranking.

#4 Stan “The Librarian” Lee: The Amazing Spider-Man

The Stan Lee cameos just keep getting better and better, and this year’s The Amazing Spider-Man proves it. Peter Parker may have his one-liners, but even those can’t top Stan Lee’s impeccable timing as he naively minds his own business in the library during one hell of a fight.

#3 Stan Lee Gives Advice: Spider-Man 3

This technically isn’t the biggest Stan Lee cameo or the most impressive. It’s awesome for one reason only. In one sentence Stan Lee basically tells Peter Parker to stop being an emo bitch and go kick some ass. In fact, when it was out in theaters, my friend shouted, “You tell him Stan!”, and everyone applauded. It’s that awesome.

#2 Stan Hefner: Iron Man

There’s been a lot of memorable cameos, but this is arguably the best of the Marvel films. No major lines or screen time. Just Tony Stark mistaking Stan Lee for Hugh Hefner. And you know what? It completely works.

#1 Stan Lee: Mallrats

Weren’t expecting that, were you? Not all of Stan Lee’s cameos are in the Marvel Universe, and there’s no way this list could’ve been complete without Mallrats. Just like Spider-Man 3, Mallrats has Stan Lee giving much needed advice. But this time, there’s more lines and good old fashioned Kevin Smith humor. That’s how you do a Stan Lee cameo.

So there you go, the top 10 Stan Lee cameos. Who knows what we’ll get with the next cameos. Stan Lee the Norse God in Thor 2? Stan Lee the chemist professor in Ant-Man? Stan Lee revealing himself to be the Beyonder in the post-credits of Avengers 2? Only time will tell. But they’re certainly worth looking forward to.

Andrew Hudson
ahudson@comicattack.net
@Hudsonian