While Stan Lee had many irers beyond the realm of comics, perhaps the most unexpected would be legendary meeting with Stan Lee and the rest of the Marvel Bullpen. Rob-e relates that Fellini arrived at the offices with an entourage and through a translator, had a conversation with Stan about comics. The two became friends after that; Fellini allowed Stan to stay at his villa the next time Stan was in Italy and when Fellini returned for his next visit to New York, he accompanied Stan to a Broadway show.
Fellini's Love of Comic Books Can Be Seen in His Films
As rob-E points out, Fellini’s life and work could have been comic books themselves, so it is no surprise that Fellini would gravitate towards them. Anyone who has seen a Fellini film knows they are full of life and color, much like the Marvel Comics of the era. Yet given Fellini's arthouse sensibilities, gravitating towards Marvel might seem, at first, an odd move, but as stated earlier, the early books were infused with pop philosophy, which pairs well with the heavy philosophical streak that runs through Fellini’s movies. With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that the two would become friends, but what is even cooler is that it was not a one-off meeting, and the two remained lifelong friends.
The Marvel Comics of the 1960s were edgy and revolutionary, and helped expand the audience like never before. One such fan was Italian auteur Federico Fellini, whose love of Marvel Comics led him to become Stan Lee’s biggest, and most unexpected, fan.
Source: rob-E
