which are the best Marvel writers in history?

[Dreaded Porcupine]

Stan Lee
Mark Gruenwald
Roy Thomas
Chris Claremont
Kurt Busiek

[Electricmastro]

In light of many people here mentioning Stan Lee, I felt like asking this question: which of his stories do you prefer more, Amazing Spider-Man or Fantastic Four?

For me, it's Amazing Spider-Man.

[strathcona]

In light of many people here mentioning Stan Lee, I felt like asking this question: which of his stories do you prefer more, Amazing Spider-Man or Fantastic Four?

For me, it's Amazing Spider-Man.

About 10 years ago I got my hands on the first 6 or 7 Spider-Man Essentials and it was the first time I had ever read those old stories. I remember afyer finishing vol. 2 or 3 that I could now understand how Spidey was some reader's favourite character. Those Stan Lee Spider-Man stories were great. While I appreciate the world building he did in FF, it was the character building in ASM that wowed me.

[DrNewGod]

1. Jack Kirby
2. Steve Ditko
3. Roy Thomas
4. Roger Stern

For number 5, I'm savagely torn between Kurt Busiek and Steve Englehart.

Stan Lee gets an honorable mention because (love him tho i do) he was more an editorial collaborator than a writer.

[Shadowcat]

Chris Claremont
Steve Englehart
Roy Thomas
Jim Starlin
Roger Stern
Jim Shooter
John Byrne

[PeterParked]

Matt Fraction
Kieron Gillen
Garth Ennis
Warren Ellis
Ryan North

Are my favorites

[Batman Begins 2005]

In light of many people here mentioning Stan Lee, I felt like asking this question: which of his stories do you prefer more, Amazing Spider-Man or Fantastic Four?

For me, it's Amazing Spider-Man.

Spider-Man.

[Paradox_Nihil]

Stan Lee gets an honorable mention because (love him tho i do) he was more an editorial collaborator than a writer.

That is true. What's with all these posters who talk about Stan Lee's Spider-Man stories? Steve Ditko plotted them, usually. It's even acknowledged in the credits of the later issues. Not plotted "by Ditko AND Lee", only Ditko. If there had been a chance to sneak his name in, Stan would have grabbed it. And, after Ditko, it was Romita Senior in the similar role. It's known. Romance stories by a romance artist.

On the other hand, Lee was probably responsible for much of the characterization in those stories, through dialogue alone. (And monologue, of course.)

But it's very problematic and symptomatic of this day and age that people generally cannot understand a different production model than the one fed to them by the media. You know, about that Cult of the Writer (in comics).

[Superfly Frankenstein]

If we are going with a top five, it would be hard to include many current day writers.

1. Stan Lee. He was the originator of all things Marvel.
2. Chris Claremont. He MADE the X-Men a must read for a long long time. It was because of his stories the XMen became what they did.
3. John Byrne. Avengers. Fantastic Four. Alpha Flight. Sensational SheHulk. This guy was “modern Marvel in the 80s.
4. Mark Gruenwald (I know I misspelled it). His Captain America and Squadron Supreme was bar none excellent. Great writing style.
5. Kurt Busiek. He took a broken franchise with The Avengers and brought it back to greatness.

Honorable mentions: Roger Stern. Alan Davis. Fabian Nicieza(his New Warriors were excellent).

[CaptainLiberty76]

For me the Top 5 Writers are as follows:
1. Roy Thomas: Roy was responsible for so very many ideas that are still being mined today. I enjoyed Roy's writing style the most back in the day.
2. Stand Lee: Stan laid the foundation along with Kirby and Ditko.
3. Gerry Conway: Such a great writer who followed and filled some pretty big shoes.
4. Doug Monech: MoKF is STILL an excellent read even today.
5. Bill Mantlo: Outstanding writer who was underrated.

[HaveAtThee]

Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, Jim Starlin, Walt Simonson, Kurt Busiek, John Byrne and Roger Stern off the top of my head. Claremont and Conway were also great.

[616MarvelYear is LeapYear]

Chris Claremont is the only Marvel writer I know who wrote for marvel comics for 17 years! That to me is historic!

[Zero Hunter]

Chris Claremont is the only Marvel writer I know who wrote for marvel comics for 17 years! That to me is historic!

Peter David. He did 12 years on Hulk, 5 years on Captain Marvel, and nearly 12 years on X-Factor.