In a world desperately in need of a hero, Stan Lee didn’t wait for someone else to make a difference, he created his own.
The founding father of the modern comic book and of American superheroes passed away Monday, Nov. 11, at the age of 95.
Born Stanley Martin Lieber in 1922 in New York City, Lee donned the pen name “Stan Lee” in the beginning of his writing career.
Lee began his career in the comic book world as an errand boy at Timely Comics, which was later renamed Marvel Comics under Lee’s direction. Responsible for refilling artists inkwells and erasing pencil marks on comic pages, Lee’s desire to create and write his own stories grew each day as he worked surrounded by artists. After proving himself capable in proof-reading and editing, Lee was given the chance to write his own story in the Captain America Comics, Issue No. 3 in May of 1941: “Captain America Foils the Traitor’s Revenge.”
Lee began writing any story that he could, covering a myriad genres from romance to westerns. Finally, and that which becomes his legacy, his pen begins to touch paper for superhero comics. While comic books at the time were deemed childish and improper, Lee’s creative reconstruction of the genre in the 1960s led to a multibillion-dollar corporation read by people of all ages, races, religions and genders.
Even though Lee considered comic books a dead-end, his wife, actress Joan Lee, encouraged him to create comic books that would actually make the difference he wanted in society. Her advice to write the comics he wanted, led to the greatest comic book, and movie, franchise in history.
While the standard superhero at the time was larger than life and unaffected by human troubles, like DC’s Superman, Lee created his characters with flaws that many people faced, himself included, so he could relate to a larger audience. The majority of his characters were human before receiving their powers through accidents, no fault of their own. Each character has to live with the consequences of events they could not control, just like every day people.
Lee’s first creation, along with artist Jack Kirby, was the Fantastic Four in the early 1960s. Lee quickly followed with the debut of Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Black Panther, the Avengers and countless more heroes, impacting generations. Lee continuously addressed issues of social injustices such as racism, misogyny, as well as tackling mental and physical disabilities prejudice through his comics, creating a superhero for every person.
“Marvel has always been and always will be a reflection of the world right outside our window,” Lee said. “That world may change and evolve but the one thing that will never change is the way we tell our stories of heroism. Those stories have room for everyone regardless of their race, gender, religion or color of their skin. The only things we don’t have room for are hatred, intolerance and bigotry.”
By 1972, Lee had earned the position of Editor-in-Chief before becoming Publisher of Marvel Comics. There is not a single Marvel character that Lee has not helped shape in some way.
“Stan began building a universe of interlocking continuity, one where fans felt as if they could turn a street corner and run into a Super Hero,” according to Lee’s memoir released by Marvel Comics and Disney.
As the comic franchise expanded into the cinematic universe, so did Lee. Known for his variety of cameos in Marvel films, Lee’s short scenes have become one of the most looked forward to pieces of any new released movie beginning with his scene as a jury-member in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk in 1989. Lee has starred in cameos in over 40 live-action and animated movies and tv shows, including scenes as a World War II veteran, a strip club emcee, a postman, a hotdog vender, a security guard and even Hugh Hefner.
His variety of cameos is explained during Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as Lee is depicted as the Watcher’s Informant: a being responsible for keeping the Watchers informed about the progress of the universe, meaning Lee ultimately plays the same character in every film.
Even after his death, Lee will have at least three more confirmed cameos in the upcoming films Captain Marvel, Spider-Man: Far from Home and Avengers 4.
Many students at UTM have personally been impacted by Lee’s comics and the influence his superheroes have had on them.
“Marvel influenced my life by creating the standard of what a good role model should be,” said Adam Jamerson, a junior Agriculture/Business major from Collierville. “It also taught me that everyone can do some good.”
Lee’s connection to his characters and the realism they express brings hope and joy to millions of readers by showing them that they are not alone. If a superhero suffers from the same disability or deals with the same prejudice that many of the readers do, and they’re still able to do good, then maybe the readers can too.
Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company expressed his and the company’s sadness of Lee’s passing saying, “Stan Lee was as extraordinary as the characters he created… The scale of his imagination was only exceeded by the size of his heart.”
Many actors and directors have spoken out about the loss of Lee and the impact his work has had on them as well as the comic book and movie industry.
“There will never be another Stan Lee,” said Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “For decades he provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy.”
The loss of a legend is still fresh on all of our minds and hearts as we figure out how to cope without the continuing influence of a man who shaped generations for the better. In creating a universe in which his superheroes could help save humanity, Lee inspired readers to make a difference in this world.
So in honor and memory of a superhero himself and in true Stan Lee fashion:
Excelsior!
Photo Credit/ Edward Liu for Wiki Commons
