STAN LEE

There are few people alive today who have had as big of an impact on popular culture as Stan Lee. The writer, editor, publisher, and former president and chairman of Marvel Comics created or co-created some of the most enduring comic book characters — and biggest box office draws — in history, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, Thor, Daredevil, Dr. Strange, the Avengers, and the X-Men.

Still going strong at the stately age of 88, Lee continues to create new comic book characters, when he's not hosting his own superhero-themed TV shows (Who Wants to Be a Superhero?, Stan Lee's Superhumans) or cameoing in movies based on Marvel Comics characters. Lee has appeared in Daredevil; both Fantastic Four, Hulk, and Iron Man movies; two of the original trilogy of X-Men movies; and all three of the Spider-Man movies. Most recently, Lee had a hilarious cameo in Thor.

A prolific Tweeter and the self-declared "Generalissimo" of a veritable army of fans from around the world, Lee recently used his Twitter account to reveal that he will not be appearing in X-Men: First Class, but he will be appearing in two other upcoming Marvel movies, with plans to appear in Marvel's most ambitious movie to date.