By now you?ve probably heard that Stan Lee, the legendary American comic-book creator, is transferring his costumed crime-fighter charisma overseas--and concocting his first Manga adventure with Japanese creator Hiroyuki Takei.

But last weekend at New York Comic Con, we were invited to an invitation only, press-exclusive chat with Lee and Ultimo's Japanese editor Takanori Asada, in which they revealed more details about their new joint venture.

While we had Lee in our clutches, we had to ask about his inspirations for some of Marvel?s most iconic characters, particularly the two with mega-hyped films coming out this summer! The always inspirational Lee told us his main inspiration for Iron Man was genius inventor Howard Hughes (portrayed in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator by Leonardo DiCaprio), and for The Incredible Hulk--the Frankenstein monster. So we couldn?t help but wonder, just what?s the inspiration for Ultimo?--a venture backed with enormous confidence by Lee, who feels its fame may come to rival that of Spider-Man himself (of course, it's not like ol' Stan to engage in excessive hyperbole)!

?I hope this will be so successful that we create a Japanese/American combination to produce these things,? said Lee. He continued, ?a movie that's bigger than Spider-Man?when you can't walk down the street without seeing Ultimo!"

Despite the fact that so many of Lee?s Marvel creations have been adapted to film and that this summer alone, Lee will watch two of his characters hit the big-screen in hugely-budgeted blockbusters, Lee?s only priority right now is getting the Ultimo manga off the ground and into the hands of fans.

?It's going to make an impression, I'm glad I'm not an American comics publisher because if I had to compete with this, I'd be going out for a drink right about now."

Always the charmer, Lee began the panel with, ?My name is Stan Lee. You all didn't know I was so fluent in Japanese,? getting a rise out of the crowd and himself by adding, ?and neither did I."

Asada On the Story
?The story is based on two artificial androids, Ultimo and Vice,? said Asada. ?In Japan, it's said that there's a soul in anything and everything. Based on that, we think that anything that looks like a human has a soul inside. Maybe these two figures have some difficulties--Mr. Takei and I are still discussing how the story will develop, so I can't say too much now. I don't want to give any spoilers!?

As he has in so many Marvel films, in typical Stan the Man fashion, the Marvel maestro makes a sort of cameo in Ultimo, as a villainous character which was modeled after him.

Want Ultimo? Mark Weidenbaum (Shonen Jump Magazine) Tells Us How to Get It!
?There will be a delay between [Ultimo's] publication in Japan and in the U.S., but it will be pretty close," said Mark Weidenbaum, editor of Shonen Jump magazine, in which Ultimo will be featured Stateside.

"Adding it in Shonen Jump magazine is a priority,? he continued, explaining that some issues of the magazine top out at around 400 pages. ?But it's a balancing act. The magazine is topping out, capacity-wise. We'll have to figure out which series we're currently running to bump out before we can feature Ultimo."

Weidenbaum, Lee and Asada also talked briefly about the English version of Ultimo, which should be hitting the US soon! But, if you just can?t wait that long, most local bookstores that distribute Japanese products can order you a copy of Jump SQ II, in which Ultimo runs in Japan.

Ultimo: Getting Started
"I came up with an idea for a story,? said Lee. "I was talking with my Japanese friends, and they said that it could be done much better as a manga story. The Japanese editors chose Takei-sensei--I didn't make any choices, but when I saw his artwork, I was very impressed. So I thought, 'Let's do it to prove that East and West can come together to revolutionize the comics business.'"

Lee continued, giving us a better idea of how Ultimo operations have, and will continue, to pan out. He explained that his involvement will be plentiful! ?I?d write it and have a good idea of how it would look. I wrote the concept, sent it to Japan and they altered it. It's gone back and forth so many times, I don't know whose story it is any more. I can't wait to read the translation to see how close or how far it is from my original story.?

Marvel-Man on working with a Manga-Man

?Both Takei and I tell stories, but we do it in different ways. It's a melding of two stories and styles--and it's a really fun project. I met Mr. Takei when he came out to California. We talked for a while--he's a wonderful artist. I think the end result will surprise a lot of people; pleasantly, I hope."

"I didn't want to start with anything that resembles anything that I've done before, so my collaborator in Japan would feel like he's getting something fresh and different than anything he's ever seen."

Asada On Ultimo?s Immediate Japanese Popularity
Since the first issue's release last week, Asada said the "Japanese press are already paying attention to Mr. Takei's work. New manga becomes more popular by word-of-mouth... So it's a big festival by now!"

"This could go up to 4 volumes, 10 volumes or maybe 100. I don't know. It's not up to the creator or the editor when a story ends; it's up to the characters. When the characters do all they want to do, then it ends."