Spiderman creator Stan Lee gets pacemaker

Spider-Man creator Stan Lee. AFP

LOS ANGELES—Spiderman creator Stan Lee, whose Marvel comic book heroes have dominated US culture for more than half a century, has been fitted with a heart pacemaker at the age of 89, he announced Friday.

In a typically colorful statement, Lee—whose characters include the Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, who teamed up in this year’s big screen blockbuster “The Avengers”—said he plans to live for another 90 years.

“This is a dispatch sent from your beloved Generalissimo, directly from the center of Hollywood’s combat zone!” he said in the statement, reporting that he was recovering after having the device fitted last week.

“Now hear this! Your leader hath not deserted thee! I have had an electronic pacemaker placed near my heart to ensure that I’ll be able to lead thee for another 90 years,” he added through his Pow! Entertainment company.

Lee’s fertile imagination has also spawned such superheroes as “The Fantastic Four,” and the “X-Men,” all creations and franchises belonging to Marvel Comics.