Legacy Of Real Life Superhero Stan Lee Will Live On

November 14, 2018

Legend and Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee passed away this week at 95 years old.

Stan Lee, Marvel Comics legend, writer and publisher who is famous for giving the world the beloved superheroes such as Spider-Man, Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk has passed away this week at 95 years old.

Lee, who had begun his business back in 1939 and also helped create characters such as Black Panther, The Mighty Thor, The Fantastic Four and Ant-Man was pronounced dead early Monday morning at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, a family member told The Hollywood Reporter.

“Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created. A superhero in his own right to Marvel fans around the world, Stan had the power to inspire, to entertain, and to connect. The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart,” said Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company via Marvel’s official website.

As Marvel’s Editor-In-Chief, Lee consistently made his voice be the voice of the stories themselves. Working and writing almost every Marvel title alongside creators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Lee began shaping a universe where fans felt as if they could turn around the corner and run into a superhero at any moment.

A rich collection of unique characters formulated and only grew as Lee got older, and it was easy for Marvel fans to find a friend within Lee’s work. Introducing the famous “Stan’s Soapbox,” Lee directly spoke to his readers, having the ability to reach a personal level with fans, something that is rarely seen in comics of this day in age.

Stepping away from his EIC position in 1972 to accept the position of Publisher at Marvel Comics, his passion only grew stronger. His heavily outspoken love for comics extended beyond just the books, as he traveled to many college campuses; taking any chance to educate, he took it. An entire generation of younger readers was expanded and broadened thanks to Lee’s stories.

It was these comics that eventually led to television shows and movies, also shaping cinematic history for its viewers. The character Spider-Man, in particular, was a figure that is a staple Marvel comic and face of the theater. “I never thought that Spider-Man would become the worldwide icon he is. I just hoped the books would sell and I’d keep my job,” Lee said back in 2006.
Many characters were developed for television with their varying degrees of success. But it was the emergence of “Marvel Universe” in the movies, specifically with the “X-Men” franchise and the 2002 Sam Raimi-directed “Spider-Man” that truly made Marvel ubiquitous. Because of this, The Walt Disney Company purchased Marvel Entertainment in 2009, licensing arm of the comic book brand, for $4 billion.
Because of much of his success, Lee was occasionally criticized for “egotistically” rooting for himself as much as Marvel, often referred to as “Stan the Brand” and “Stan Lee and the Rise and Fall of the American Comic Book.” But for Lee, it was all joy and love. Though the success of these films made his characters worth billions, Lee made sure he maintained that he saw little of that wealth and that it was the character’s impact on society that was most notable.
Marvel, The Walt Disney Company and fans around the world will continue to honor the life and career of the comic book legend Stan Lee for all his work, accomplishments and impact he has made throughout his years.
Every time you open a Marvel comic or watch it on the big screen, Stan will be there.