Like a lot of kids who grew up reading comic books, I wanted to be Stan Lee. I had no interest, however, in following in the footsteps of Spider-Man or the Hulk or the X-Men or anybody else in his roster of legendary action heroes. Their form-fitting costumes and commitment to aerobic exercise just didn’t jibe with my prepubescent ambitions. But Stan “The Man” Lee had the kind of awesome-within-reason power that a kid could strive for. For one thing, his nickname was “The Man,” which isn’t a moniker that somebody can just give himself. You can’t walk up to your friends and announce, “Hey guys, whaddaya say you start calling me ‘The Man’ from now on? You know, ’cause it rhymes with ‘Stan’?” It has to be bestowed upon you. In hindsight, it’s actually remarkable that Lee got an entire generation of comic-book readers to notice him at all. Even the most brilliant architects of youthful fantasies don’t usually get top billing. Plenty of young boys had daydreams of being Boba Fett or Han Solo. But being George Lucas? Not so much.

“The Man” is now 88, and shows no sign of slowing down. I don’t mean that in the same way your mother might talk about your grandfather, in that he’s the fun one at his retirement community and doesn’t have any obvious symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Stan Lee, the former president and C.E.O. of Marvel Comics and current founder and C.E.O. of POW! Entertainment, is more productive and enterprising than most 30-year-olds. I called Lee at his Los Angeles office, and he didn’t waste a moment before cracking jokes with an energy you don’t usually see in guys on the downslide to 90.Eric Spitznagel: There’s a part of me that’s a little disappointed you didn’t pick up the phone and say, “Excelsior!”

Stan Lee: If you want me to. Excelsior! I usually end that way, you see, instead of “good-bye.” But that’s O.K., I don’t mind saying it at any point.

Are you quoting your own superhero catchphrases all the time? In a private, intimate moment with your wife, do you ever shout out, “By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth?!"

Oh absolutely. I say that all the time. When I want my wife to make me a sandwich, I’ll say, “By the shades of the shadowy Serapeum, will you please make me a sandwich?!” Doesn’t everybody?

What’s the formula for a really memorable catchphrase? Is it all about alliteration?

It has to sound good, whether it’s alliterative or just the right sounds. To me, a catchphrase is just advertising for superheroes. A superhero’s catchphrase should be like a really memorable advertising slogan. It sticks in your head and you can’t stop humming it. And let’s face it, superheroes are just really selling themselves as products.

At a press conference in December, Obama said something about Republicans realizing that “with greater power comes greater responsibility.” When you heard that, were you flattered, or did you immediately call your lawyer?

I just resented the fact that he edited it. It should be “with great power,” not “greater power.” I thought about writing to tell him about the mistake. If you’re going to quote Spider-Man, at least get the adjectives right. But I figured he’s busy.

You’re a legend, an icon in the comic-book business, but for some reason you keep working. Why have you avoided retirement?

Greed. I’m propelled by greed. No, really, the thing is, I enjoy what I do. Most guys can’t wait to retire so they can play golf with their friends. But I work with all my friends. And every day is fun. I’m having as much fun right now in the office, talking to you, as I would have on the golf course.