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