The Simpsons has had a bevy of guest stars across three decades on the air, with a variety of athletes, musicians, filmmakers, performers and even politicians making appearances in the show. Cameos also extend to the comic book industry. A number of legendary comic creators popped up on the series to poke fun at their public personas while also offering encouraging words to young artists.

Let's showcase the major comics creators that have appeared in The Simpsons, and the shenanigans their cartoonish counterparts get involved in while visiting the town of Springfield.

RELATED: The Simpsons: Marge Should Have Left Homer in Season 15

Stan Lee

One of the visionary creators behind the Marvel Comics Silver Age, Stan Lee's public prominence made him one of the most recognizable faces of the comic book industry. Known for his cameos, Lee also appeared on The Simpsons multiple times, first appearing in Season 13's "I Am Furious (Yellow)." While trying to convince Comic Book Guy to buy his homemade comic, Bart gets the chance to show it to Stan Lee. Lee is quick to point out the comic isn't very good, but encourages Bart to keep striving and growing his creative voice. Later in the episode, Bart returns and discovers that Lee never left the comic shop, causing chaos in the store and later claiming he can turn into the Hulk. Lee reappeared in Season 25's "Married to the Blob," where he officiated Comic Book Guy's wedding.

Alan Moore, Aart Spiegelman & Daniel Clowes

Season 19's "Husbands and Knives" introduced a new comic book store to Springfield. Run by Milo -- originally played by Jack Black -- the store quickly attracts a great deal of attention by having Art Spiegelman (the creator of Maus), Daniel Clowes (the creator of Ghost World), and Alan Moore (one of comics' most influential writers) as guests. All three make gags at their own expense. Moore even references his problems with DC over the ownership of Watchmen, and Clowes expresses an interest in working for the "people who work at Batman." When Comic Book Guy tries to ruin the signing, the three comics creators reveal themselves to be in incredible shape. Dubbing themselves the League of Extraordinary Freelancers, they quickly beat up Comic Book Guy and save the store.

RELATED: The Simpsons: Homer's Dream To Be A Musician Is His Saddest Character Throughline

Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is a prominent character in Season 23's "The Book Job." Homer and a handful of other Springfield regulars try to group-write a novel after learning of the potential riches they could earn by writing a tween-targeted fantasy book. They end up recruiting Gaiman, who offers his services but is given no actual writing responsibility and effectively serves as the group's errand boy. However, the end of the episode reveals Gaiman stole the credit for the book. He escapes to a beach while laughing about the fact that he's "heisted" his way onto the bestseller list again, even though he doesn't know how to read. Gaiman later reappeared in The Simpsons, playing Snowball II in Season 29's "Treehouse of Horror XXVIII" during a segment parodying his story, Coraline.

Roz Chast, Alison Bechdel & Marjane Satrapi

Season 29's "Springfield Splendor" finds Lisa receiving a suggestion from therapy to sketch out her daily routine. Marge assists her, helping turn the broad drawings into a surprisingly insightful comic. Upon discovering and publishing them, Kumiko reveals that "Sad Girl" has become something of an indie-darling. Marge and Lisa get to sit down during a local convention as part of a panel lauding female comics creators hosted by famed cartoonist Roz Chast. The other guests include Alison Bechdel (the writer behind Fun Home and the originator of the Bechdel Test) and Marjane Satrapi (the creator of Persepolis). Both speak openly and frankly about the importance of finding one's voice while also allowing Bechdel to showcase a goofy video that she plays when people fail the Bechdel Test.

The Simpsons star the voices of Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Harry Shearer, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith and Hank Azaria. New episodes air Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.

KEEP READING: The Simpsons Showrunner Memorializes Co-Developer Ahead Of 700th Episode