10 Best Marvel Characters Created By Stan Lee, Ranked

Stan Lee’s impact on Marvel Comics and the superhero genre is impossible to overstate. By co-creating characters who were flawed and relatable, Lee redefined what comic book heroes could be. Lee’s collaborations with artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko brought depth to a medium that had often been dismissed as disposable entertainment.

Throughout his lengthy career, Stan Lee helped introduce a staggering roster of icons. Characters like Thor, the Silver Surfer, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the Inhumans all expanded Marvel’s universe with bold concepts. Even supporting players and cosmic entities bore his signature style. Yet while Lee’s legacy spans dozens of creations, there are a few Marvel characters who are undeniably some of the most game-changing figures in comic book history.

10

Scarlet Witch

X-Men #4 (1964); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Jack Kirby

First appearing as a villain alongside her brother Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch has been burdened by moral conflict from the very beginning, which makes her more than a simple magical hero. Wanda Maximoff’s extremely versatile powers have also helped her stand apart from most superheroes. Scarlet Witch’s climb to A-list status progressed gradually, but she has certainly become one of Marvel’s most iconic characters.

After her 1964 introduction, Scarlet Witch’s heritage and ties to Magneto have added extra layers to her character. Likewise, Wanda’s immense power often forces her to toe the line between hero and villain. Stories like House of M highlight Wanda’s struggle to fit in, as she’s powerful enough to reshape reality, but she still hasn’t been able to outrun tragedy.

9

Daredevil

Daredevil #1 (1964); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Bill Everett

Since 1964, Daredevil has stood out as a hero whose disability is his greatest strength. Matt Murdock’s Catholic faith has also made him one of Marvel’s most thematically rich characters, burdened by guilt and morality in ways few heroes are. Combined with his street-level focus, Daredevil has represented the grounded, human side of Marvel’s universe.

Over the years, Daredevil has evolved into one of Marvel’s most consistently acclaimed characters, with storylines that dive deep into his beliefs and his moral struggles. Frank Miller’s run reshaped him into a gritty urban vigilante, while Born Again by Miller and David Mazzucchelli deconstructed his life through betrayal and resilience. Later works like Brian Michael Bendis’ and Ed Brubaker’s runs expanded Daredevil’s lore with layers of noir intrigue.

8

Magneto

X-Men #1 (1963); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Jack Kirby

Unlike many early antagonists driven purely by greed or domination, Magneto embodies ideals that are noble at their core yet radical in their execution. Magneto’s immense mutant power makes him a formidable antagonist, but it’s his conviction that mutants are justified in defending themselves at any cost that cements him as a top-tier villain. Magneto is the living ideological counterpoint to the X-Men’s existence.

Over the years, countless writers have added nuance to Magneto’s philosophy and backstory. Magneto’s Holocaust origins reframed his militancy as trauma-driven. Many storylines and adaptations have continually explored Magneto’s duality, as he alternates between nemesis and ally to the X-Men. This cycle of opposition and reluctant collaboration illustrates how Magneto is defined by his righteous pain.

7

Iron Man

Tales of Suspense #39(1962); Written by Stan Lee & Larry Lieber; Art by Don Heck & Stan Goldberg

Iron Man was a strikingly bold creation for Marvel in 1962. Stan Lee crafted Tony Stark as a billionaire weapons manufacturer during the height of the Cold War, but instead of presenting him as a one-dimensional capitalist hero, Lee injected vulnerability through Stark’s damaged heart and personal flaws. This balance of genius and fragility makes Iron Man a symbol of technological progress weighed down by human imperfection.

Since 1962, Iron Man has evolved into one of Marvel’s most dynamic characters, with writers digging deeply into his ethics. Storylines like Demon in a Bottle, Extremis, and Superior Iron Man confront Tony Stark’s battles with different kinds of addiction. Iron Man remains a cautionary tale for heroes, as he embodies both the promise and the peril of unchecked innovation.

6

Mister Fantastic

Fantastic Four #1 (1961); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Jack Kirby

All four members of the Fantastic Four deserve equal recognition for shaping Marvel’s First Family, but Reed Richards stands as the connective tissue binding the team together. Mister Fantastic’s genius not only fuels the Fantastic Four’s adventures but also frames their role as explorers of the unknown. Unlike other leaders defined by power, Reed leads with genuine curiosity.

Over the years, Reed Richards has evolved into Marvel’s definitive scientific mind, but writers have also emphasized the human costs of his brilliance. Reed’s constant struggle to balance family with responsibility adds texture beyond his intellect. Storylines such as Secret Wars highlight how Reed’s pragmatism can strain relationships, even with loved ones. More recently, the Maker has shown Reed Richards’ dark side from a unique perspective.

5

Doctor Strange

Strange Tales #110 (1963); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Steve Ditko

Although magic in comics was nothing new at the time of his debut, Doctor Strange’s stories delved into psychedelic realms that gave him a distinctly otherworldly edge. Since his 1963 introduction, Doctor Strange has dived into themes of perception, philosophy, reality, and mysticism, among countless metaphysical concepts. For decades, Strange has been the face of the unknown in the Marvel multiverse.

Doctor Strange has only grown richer as writers expanded Marvel’s magical mythos. From The Oath to The Last Days of Magic, Doctor Strange’s stories explore the cost of wielding immense mystical power while constantly protecting realities beyond comprehension. The vast popularity of the MCU’s Doctor Strange has only cemented the sorcerer as a pop-culture icon on a similar level to each of the core Avengers.

4

Black Panther

Fantastic Four #52 (1966); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Jack Kirby

Black Panther is a cultural phenomenon in the twenty-first century as much as he was in the 1960s, introduced at a time when representation in superhero comics was virtually nonexistent. As king of Wakanda, T’Challa’s debut in Fantastic Four #52 signaled a bold step forward for Marvel. Since then, Black Panther has been just as iconic as Marvel’s flagship characters, and Wakanda’s lore remains one of the richest in the medium.

Decades later, Black Panther’s cultural and historical significance has only increased. T’Challa’s MCU adaptation led to one of the most successful superhero films of all time. Ryan Coogler’s 2018 Black Panther movie celebrated African heritage and boosted the hero’s popularity in the comics. Writers like Christopher Priest and Ta-Nehisi Coates have explored the intricacies of Black Panther’s political and personal drama.

3

Hulk

Incredible Hulk #1 (1962); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Jack Kirby

The Hulk’s creation perfectly reflects the anxieties of his time. In an era defined by nuclear paranoia and military escalation, Bruce Banner’s transformation into a destructive giant after a gamma bomb accident embodied both the fear and fascination with atomic power. Drawing inspiration from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Frankenstein’s Monster, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created a hero who was as much a tragic figure as a powerhouse.

Hulk’s mythology has doubled down on themes of persecution and psychological duality. Peter David’s Hulk run dissected the fractured layers of Banner’s mind, while Al Ewing’s The Immortal Hulk embraced cosmic and body horror, presenting the Hulk as a mystical creature tied to dark supernatural forces. These storylines emphasize Stan Lee’s original ideas for the Hulk and cement him as one of Marvel’s most popular heroes.

2

Doctor Doom

Fantastic Four #5 (1962); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Jack Kirby

From the moment of his introduction, Doctor Doom set the standard for what a comic book villain could be. A fusion of unmatched scientific genius, sorcery, and political power, Doom is the ultimate embodiment of the “evil emperor” archetype. Doctor Doom’s iron mask has become the defining image of villainy, influencing countless characters across pop culture. Yet Doom is incredibly captivating, as his arrogance makes him magnetic to read.

Remarkably, Doom’s stature has only grown across the decades as new writers build upon the strength of the foundations Stan Lee and Jack Kirby built. From reshaping reality itself in Secret Wars to taking over Earth in One World Under Doom, Victor Von Doom has repeatedly stood at the center of Marvel’s greatest conflicts. Doom’s A-list status is testament to his timeless resonance.

1

Spider-Man

Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962); Written by Stan Lee; Art by Steve Ditko

From the very beginning of Spider-Man’s origin in Amazing Fantasy #15, readers immediately connected with Peter Parker’s mundane struggles. The introduction of a superhero balancing school, financial problems, romance, and grief while carrying the burden of being a hero divided comic book history in two. It only took a couple of pages to cement “with great power comes great responsibility” as Spider-Man’s moral anchor.

Spider-Man was already a household name long before his first big-budget movie. Add the success of Sony’s movies, the MCU, the Spider-Verse films, and decades of comics, beloved cartoons, and merchandise, and there’s zero doubt that Spider-Man is one of, if not the most important superhero of all time. All this thanks to the creative genius of Stan Lee’s imagination and Steve Ditko’s artistry.