Spider-Man is known for being Marvel's most relatable hero, as well as his equally iconic supporting cast and villains. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Spidey and even some of his more blue-collar foes embody the more down-to-Earth nature of the Marvel Universe. Something that many might not realize, however, is that Spider-Man's biggest enemy is based on his co-creator.

When creating the character J. Jonah Jameson, writer Stan Lee based the lovable curmudgeon on himself. This has been backed up by those who've worked at Marvel Comics, which is ironic given the late Stan Lee's lovable persona. Despite this, the over-the-top nature of Stan Lee and his own sense of heroism is definitely reflected in Jameson, who might not be as bad as some fans think.

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J. Jonah Jameson Is a Meaner Version of Stan Lee

J. Jonah Jameson Is A Better Ally to Marvel's Heroes Than He Is a Foe

As mentioned, Stan Lee admitted to J. Jonah Jameson being based on himself, albeit taken to a higher degree. Lee felt that he was grumpy and irascible in his own way and that Jameson was a more exaggerated version of this. The two also share a surprising resemblance, with a somewhat younger but still mustache-wearing Lee looking quite a bit like the yelling Jameson. As different as their personalities would seem, they share an immoderate, excessive way of presenting themselves. Stan Lee was the requisite businessman and hype master, speaking and acting in a way that bolsters whatever it was he was talking about.

The same goes for Jameson, who's known to give hyperbole to everything he and the Daily Bugle deal with, whether the coverage is positive or - in most cases - negative. Of course, his usual target is Spider-Man, which is somewhat strange given that he's easily Lee's most popular and successful character. This may simply be Stan Lee "acting" through his falsified equivalent, truly behaving in a way that the genuine article wouldn't. Likewise, it could reflect how Lee famously hated most teenage superheroes before Spider-Man, with Jameson thus using Spider-Man as a target to represent what had been published before in comics. Plus, starring in your own superhero comic is an exciting idea, especially if you're the one making fun of said hero.

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Jameson's Underrated Heroism Is a Reflection of Stan Lee

Stan Lee Cameo in Ant-Man and the Wasp

J. Jonah Jameson isn't exactly known for many positive traits, as he's seen as someone who'll publish anything for the sake of his glorified tabloid having a story. That's why the Daily Bugle commonly publishes negative articles about Spider-Man, despite them usually being unfounded. Stan Lee has sometimes been accused of being a similarly shrewd businessman, namely in regard to his relationship with other creators of his era. Despite that, both men definitely embody heroic qualities that are rarely appreciated.

With Jameson, the Daily Bugle is known for tackling more hard-hitting stories that others wouldn't touch, as Jameson himself does have a strong moral compass. The character's hatred of Spider-Man is based in part on his wanting other heroes such as police officers and firefighters to receive similar recognition. Likewise, he's been portrayed as a very proud and loving father to his son John, despite his usually brusque nature. Stan Lee was also a freedom fighter in his own way, using comics to tackle political subjects at a time when other publishers were content to engage in all manner of Silver age silliness.

This saw him and his colleagues introduce several minority heroes at a time when such an act was revolutionary, and it most certainly wasn't just for a cheap publicity stunt or gimmick. Thus, it's obvious that Stan Lee shares a somewhat misunderstood legacy with his Marvel Universe counterpart. Though they may share traits that are seemingly unbecoming, they're also unsung heroes in their own way. Both also made a well-known career off of Spider-Man, though their methods of doing so couldn't have been more different.