Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Stan Lee was known for bestowing humorous nicknames on himself, as well as Marvel's other creators, members of the "Bullpen," and various staff members (i.e.., "Marveldom Assembled"). Later editors-in-chief like Roy Thomas and Archie Goodwin continued the tradition, until Jim Shooter discontinued the practice in the 1980s. It was re-established by Mark Gruenwald when he started editing "Bullpen Bulletins" in the late 1980s. The convention was inspired, at least in part, by a Hollywood tradition, where character actors in particular were given colorful nicknames to aid in their name recognition.[1]
Monikers like Stan "The Man" Lee and Jack "King" Kirby permeated into mass culture. This is a list of those nicknames.
| Name | Area | Nickname | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | |||
| Penciler, Inker | "Dandy" Dan Adkins[2] | ||
| Penciler, Inker | "Awesome" Alfredo Alcala[3] | ||
| Artist | "Vulcanizin'" Vicente Alcazar | ||
| Artist | "Amazing" Art Adams[4] | ||
| Artist | "Nefarious" Neal Adams | ||
| Inker | "Wild" Bill Anderson | ||
| Editor | "Credible" Craig Anderson | ||
| Artist | Ross "Boss" Andru[5] | ||
| Artist | "Artistic" Adam Austin | ||
| Inker | "Timorous" Terry Austin "Terrific" Terry Austin[6] Terry "Cloak Dagger" Austin | ||
| Inker | "Darlin'" Dick Ayers | ||
| B | |||
| Assistant editor | "Gallant" Gary Barnum | ||
| Operations assistant | "Nimble" Naomi Basner | ||
| Artist | "Humble" Howard Bender[7] | ||
| Editorial assistant, Colorist | "Mellow" Mary Ellen Beveridge | ||
| Editorial assistant, Letterer | "Beaming" Beth Bleckley | ||
| Penciller, Inker | Bret "Dark Crystal" Blevins | ||
| Artist | "Duke" Wayne Boring | ||
| Editor | "Titanic" Tom Brevoort | ||
| Production manager, Vice president, operations | Sol "Who's He?" Brodsky "Jolly" Solly Brodsky | ||
| Artist | "Battlin'" Bob Brown[8] | ||
| Artist, assistant editor | Eliot "Mr. Technical" Brown[9] | ||
| Artist | "Far Out'" Frank Brunner | ||
| Artist | "Roarin'" Rich Buckler "Riotous" Rich Buckler | ||
| Writer, artist | "Bouncing" Bob Budiansky | ||
| Artist | "Big" John Buscema[10] "Jovial" John Buscema[11] | ||
| Artist | "Our Pal" Sal Buscema[12] [13] | ||
| Artist | "Jocular" John Byrne "Corruscatin' Canajan"[14] | ||
| C | |||
| Editor | "Jolly" Joey Cavalieri[15] | ||
| Mailroom supervisor | "Titanic" Tony Cerniglia[16] | ||
| Ernie Chan's daughter | "Captivatin'" Cleo | ||
| Artist | "Earnest" Ernie Chan[17] | ||
| Editor | "Battling" Bobbie Chase "Breathtaking" Bobbie Chase | ||
| Artist | "Wholesome" Howie Chaykin[18] | ||
| Editor, Writer | "Daring" Dan Chichester[19] | ||
| Writer | "Cheerful" Chris Claremont[20] "Charismatic" Chris Claremont "Clever" Chris Claremont | ||
| Artist | "Dynamic" Dave Cockrum[21] "Daring" Dave Cockrum "Delightful" Dave Cockrum | ||
| Production staffer | "Peerless" Paty "Pulchritudinous" Paty | ||
| Dave Cohen | Assistant production manager | "Dependable" Dave Cohen | |
| Artist | Gene "The Dean" Colan "Gentleman" Gene Colan[22] "Genial" Gene Colan | ||
| Inker | Vince "The Prince" Colletta "Valiant" Vince Colletta[23] | ||
| Artist | "Ever-Ready" Ernie Colon | ||
| Writer | "Merry" Gerry Conway[24] "Gallopin'" Gerry Conway[25] | ||
| Martha Conway | Secretary | "Memorable" Martha Conway | |
| Letterer, Assistant production manager | "Dubious" Danny Crespi | ||
| Assistant editor | "Delirious" Dan Cuddy | ||
| D | |||
| Inker | "Mirthful" Mick Demeo | ||
| Art production staffer | "Devastating" Davida Dale | ||
| Editor-in-chief | "Two-Fisted" Tom DeFalco[26] "Titanic" Tom DeFalco[27] | ||
| Assistant editor | "Sizzling" Suzanne Dell'Orto | ||
| Artist | "Temendously-Talented" Tony DeZuniga[28] "Trailblazin'" Tony DeZuniga | ||
| Assistant editor | "Joshing" James DiGiovanni[29] "Slim" Jim DiGiovanni | ||
| Artist | "Shy" Steve Ditko[30] "Sturdy" Steve Ditko[31] | ||
| Letterer | "Kuddly" Karen Dougherty[32] | ||
| Writer | "Artful" Arnold Drake[33] | ||
| Editorial assistant, Writer, Editor | "Gentle" Jo Duffy "Mannerly" Mary Jo Duffy[34] | ||
| Assistant editor | "Big" Barry Dutter | ||
| E | |||
| Assistant editor | "Sparkling" Scott Edelman | ||
| Writer | "Stainless" Steve Englehart "The Stainless One" "Stalwart" Steve Englehart[35] "Sturdy" Steve Englehart | ||
| Penciler, Inker | "Mighty" Mike Esposito | ||
| Artist | "Wild" Bill Everett | ||
| F | |||
| Assistant editor | "Exuberant" Eric Fein | ||
| Editor | "Dandy" Danny Fingeroth "Uncanny" Danny Fingeroth | ||
| Writer | "Macabre" Michael Fleisher[36] | ||
| "World's most famous non-entity" | "Honest" Irving Forbush | ||
| Writer | "Groovy" Gary Friedrich[37] | ||
| Writer | "Mischievous" Mike Friedrich | ||
| G | |||
| Colorist | Carl "The Gaff" Gafford | ||
| Mailroom employee | "Hopalong" John Galvin | ||
| Artist | "Startling" Steve Gan "Socko" Steve Gan "Smashing" Steve Gan | ||
| Writer, consulting editor | Steve "Baby" Gerber | ||
| Inker | "Fearless" Frank Giacoia | ||
| Artist | "Magical" Mike Golden | ||
| Editor | "Amiable" Archie Goodwin "Artful" Archie Goodwin "Affable" Archie Goodwin | ||
| Marvel merchandising manager | "Cheerful" Chip Goodwin[38] | ||
| Publisher | "Merry" Marty Goodman | ||
| Inker | "Able" Al Gordon | ||
| Penciller, Inker | "Irreverent" Billy Graham | ||
| Production Chief | "Liltin'" Lenny Grow | ||
| Editor | "Masterful" Mark Gruenwald "Madcap" Mark Gruenwald | ||
| Penciler | "Peerless" Paul Gulacy | ||
| H | |||
| Writer, Editor | "Beaming" Bob Hall[39] "Battlin'" Bob Hall[40] "Broadway" Bob Hall | ||
| Artist | "Lethal" Larry Hama[41] "Lucky" Larry Hama | ||
| Penciller, writer, assistant editor | "Edwardian" Ed Hannigan[42] "Energetic" Ed Hannigan "Edifying" Ed Hannigan | ||
| Editor | "Big" Jim Harmon | ||
| Business manager, Circulation director | "Genial" Johnny Hayes | ||
| Penciler, Inker | "Dashing" Don Heck[43] "Dazzling" Don Heck | ||
| Penciler | Mark "Hut-Hut" Heike | ||
| Letterer | "Marvelous" Mike Heisler | ||
| Assistant editor | "Gargantuan" Glenn Herdling | ||
| Penciler | "Creative" Carmine Infantino[44] | ||
| I | |||
| Production assistant | "Shimmering" Sharon Ing[45] | ||
| Writer, editor | Tony "The Tiger" Isabella | ||
| Inker | "Jubilant" Geof Isherwood | ||
| J | |||
| Editor | "Scintillating" Sid Jacobson | ||
| Letterer | "Dazzling" Debra James | ||
| Inker | "Santa" Klaus Janson | ||
| "Defender of the faith" | "Admirable" Arthur Jeffrey | ||
| Secretary | "Cute" Carla Joseph | ||
| K | |||
| Penciler | Gil "Sugar" Kane[46] Gil "Sugar Lips" Kane[47] "Garrulous" Gil Kane[48] | ||
| Assistant editor | "Heavenly" Hellen Katz | ||
| Penciler, writer | Jack "King" Kirby "Jolly" Jack Kirby[49] "The Jolly One" "Jumpin'" Jack Kirby | ||
| Writer | Dave "The Dude" Kraft | ||
| Mailroom employee | Mike "Great K" Kudzinowski | ||
| Artist | "Audacious" Alan Kupperberg | ||
| Writer, Production dept. staffer | "Affable" Al Kurzrok[50] | ||
| L | |||
| Editor | "Possessed" Paul Laikin | ||
| Artist | "Battlin'" Bob Larkin[51] | ||
| Penciller | Jim "Don't Call Me Happy" Lee[52] | ||
| Publisher, editor-in-chief, Writer, Editor | Stan "The Man" Lee[53] "Smilin'" Stan Lee | ||
| Artist | "Surfer'" Steve Leialoha[54] Steve "Coyote" Leialoha | ||
| Writer | "Laughin'" Larry Lieber "Larrupin'" Larry Lieber | ||
| Mailroom employee | Daniel "Poppy" Locario | ||
| M | |||
| Editor | "Reliable" Ralph Macchio | ||
| Penciller, Inker | Tom "New Mutants" Mandrake[55] | ||
| Writer | "Brave-Hearted" Bill Mantlo[56] "Mantlo-Man" "Boisterous" Bill Mantlo[57] "The Boisterous One" | ||
| Letterer | "Karefree" Karen Mantlo "Kittenish" Karen Mantlo[58] | ||
| Inker | "Prolific" Pablo Marcos | ||
| Editor | "Rakish" Rick Marschall | ||
| Writer/Editor | "Daring" Dwayne McDuffie[59] | ||
| Writer/Artist | "Tumultuous" Todd McFarlane[60] | ||
| Writer | "Dauntless" Don McGregor "Dutiful" Don McGregor | ||
| Proofreader | "Dazzling" Dickie McKenzie[61] | ||
| Writer | "Rebel" Roger McKenzie "Ramblin'" Roger McKenzie[62] | ||
| Managing editor | "Mad" Marcus McLaurin | ||
| Writer | "The Deliberate One" "Deliberate" Dave | ||
| Artist | "Amiable" Al Milgrom[63] "Affable" Al Milgrom "Mighty" Al Milgrom[64] "Big" Al Milgrom | ||
| Artist | "Lanky" Frank Miller | ||
| Writer | "Devil-May-Care" Doug Moench | ||
| Penciler, Inker | "Gentleman" Jim Mooney "Jaunty" Jim Mooney[65] Jim "Madman" Mooney | ||
| Subscription manager | "Nifty" Nancy Murphy | ||
| N | |||
| Assistant editor | "Merry" Mindy Newell | ||
| Artist | "Active" Alex Niño | ||
| Artist | "Earnest" Earl Norem | ||
| Letterer | "Diamond" Jim Novak | ||
| O | |||
| Colorist | "Gracious" Glynis Oliver | ||
| Writer | "Dandy" Denny O'Neil[66] | ||
| Letterer | "Titanic" Tom Orzechowski "Terrific" Tom Orzechowski "Tough" Tom Orzechowski | ||
| P | |||
| Inker | "Terrific" Tom Palmer[67] | ||
| Inker | "Brash" Bruce Patterson | ||
| Artist | George "Pacesetter" Pérez "Gorgeous" George Pérez | ||
| Artist | "Dutiful" Don Perlin[68] "Whirlin'" Don Perlin "Dapper" Don Perlin | ||
| Andrew Perry | Assistant editor | "Agonizing" Andrew Perry | |
| Artist | "Madcap" Mike Ploog[69] "Maniacal" Mike Ploog | ||
| Penciller | "Punch 'Em Up" Keith Pollard[70] "Klobbering" Keith Pollard "Creative" Keith Pollard | ||
| R | |||
| Artist | "Roisterous" Ralph Reese | ||
| Artist | "Free-Wheelin'" Frank Robbins[71] | ||
| Subscriptions dept. assistant | "Dimply" Diane Rodrigo | ||
| Penciller | "Jet-propelled" John Jr. "Jubilant" John Romita, Jr. | ||
| Artist | Johnny "Ring-A-Ding" Romita[72] "Jaunty" Johnny Romita[73] "Jazzy" John(ny) Romita[74] "The Jazzy One"[75] | ||
| Letterer | "Swingin'" Sammy Rosen Sammy "Dosin'" Rosen | ||
| Artist | "Wondrous" Werner Roth | ||
| Colorist | "Genuine" George Roussos | ||
| Inker | "Madman" Mike Royer[76] | ||
| Inker | Joe "The Rube" Rubinstein | ||
| S | |||
| Editor | "Slim" Jim Salicrup "Arachnerd" Jim Salicrup | ||
| Production staffer | "Dandy" Michael Sandy | ||
| Writer | "Sturdy" Stu Schwartzberg[77] | ||
| Artist | "Jovial" John Severin[78] "Long" John Severin | ||
| Artist | "Mirthful" Marie Severin "Magnificent" Marie Severin[79] "Madcap" Marie Severin[80] Marie "the She" Severin[81] "Marvel-ous" Marie Severin[82] | ||
| Letterer | Dave "The Lettering Guy" Sharpe[83] | ||
| Writer, Editor-in-Chief | Big Jim[84] Jim "Trouble" Shooter[85] "Gigantic" Jim Shooter "Jaunty Jimmy" Shooter[86] Jim "Straight" Shooter[87] | ||
| Writer, Artist | "Red" Sonja Skarstedt | ||
| Bookkeeper | "Delicious" Doris Siegler | ||
| Letterer | "Adorable" Artie Simek[88] Artie "The Smartie" Simek | ||
| Inker | "Joltin'" Joe Sinnott "Jolly" Joe Sinnott[89] | ||
| Editor | "Evanescent" Evan Skolnick | ||
| Artist | "Fearless" Frank Springer[90] "Fancy" Frank Springer | ||
| Artist | "Judo" Jim Starlin | ||
| Corresponding secretary | "Fabulous" Flo Steinberg | ||
| Writer, artist | "Jaunty" Jim Steranko[91] The Jaunty One[92] | ||
| Assistant editor, writer | Roger "Sterno" Stern "Sterno" | ||
| President | "Merry" Terry Stewart[93] | ||
| Inker | Chic "Magnet" Stone[94] | ", Fantastic Four #37 (Marvel Comics, Apr. 1965). "Cheerful" Chic Stone | |
| Production staffer | "Wandering" Warren Storob | ||
| T | |||
| Artist, Production staffer | "Jumping" John Tartaglione | ||
| Administrative assistant | "Lilting" Linda Taxel | ||
| Editor, Writer | "Rascally" Roy Thomas[95] | ||
| Artist | "Fightin'" Frank Thorne | ||
| Artist | "Happy" Herb Trimpe "Howlin'" Herb Trimpe | ||
| Inker | "Madcap" Mike Trimpe | ||
| Penciler | "Slammin'" Sonny Trinidad | ||
| Editor, writer | "Lovely'" Lisa Trusiani | ||
| Assistant editor | "Sassy" Sara Tuchinsky | ||
| Artist | "Gorgeous" George Tuska | ||
| V | |||
| Colorist | Brad "I'm Gonna Have Fun With This One" Vancata | ||
| Colorist, Reprint production manager | "Impish" Irene Vartanoff | ||
| Production manager | "Jumbo" John Verpoorten | ||
| Artist | "Meticulous" Mike Vosburg | ||
| W | |||
| Colorist | "Dashing" Don Warfield | ||
| Editor, Writer | "Joltin'" John Warner[96] "Joyful" John Warner | ||
| Writer | "Live-It-Up" Len Wein "Lively" Len Wein "The Lively One" | ||
| Artist | "Dashing" Dave Wenzel | ||
| Inker | "Bumptious" Bob Wiacek | ||
| Colorist | "Bashful" Bonnie Wilford | ||
| Penciler | "Rampaging" Ron Wilson | ||
| Artist | "Bashful" Barry Smith[97] | ||
| Writer, Editor | "Marvelous" Marv Wolfman "The Marvelous One"[98] "The Wandering Wolfman"[99] | ||
| Colorist | "Meticulous" Michele Wolfman[100] | ||
| Artist | "Wandering" Wally Wood[101] | ||
| Editor | "Grouchy" Gregory Wright | ||
| Artist | "Bashful" Bernie Wrightson[102] | ||
| Y | |||
| Colorist | "Handy" Andy Yanchus | ||
| Colorist | "'Nuff Said" Nelson Yomtov Nel "Why Does My Last Name Sound Like Something Out of Starblazers?" Yomtov | ||
| Z | |||
| Artist | "Miraculous" Mike Zeck | ||
| Assistant editor | "Diligent" Dwight Jon Zimmerman | ||