Stan Lee's Mutants, Monsters & Marvels

If I was the Comic Book Guy on The Simpsons, I would proclaim this the "best DVD ever." "True believers" (a pet phrase of comic book legend Stan Lee) will thrill to this private audience with their hero, the creator of the Fantastic Four, Incredible Hulk, X-Men, and of course, Spider-Man. While this is mostly a "talking heads" presentation, the talk is fantastic. Director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Dogma) is for me an un-acquired taste, but the comic book aficionado (and himself a writer for DC Comics) is in his element here, asking Lee questions, offering the odd insight, but mostly sitting back and allowing Lee to spin some wonderful stories about the creation of Spidey, as well as his other classic characters. The DVD version is further animated by several extras, including: a bonus story about a never-released Fantastic Four movie; a few words with Lee's wife and business partner Joan; an audio segment in which Lee recites his poem, "God Woke"; home movies; and behind-the-scenes footage. With Spider-Man all the rage, this is sure to be a hit. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Lee Benson)