JOIN USEnd of a ‘marvel’lous journey
Marvel buffs and comic book fans were left devastated as news of Stan Lee’s death broke social media in the wee hours of November 12. He was 95.
Writer, editor, publisher, imaginative creator, pioneering spirit, feisty actor — the list can go on and on. He was responsible for such iconic characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four.
He is also credited with turning the fortunes of the contemporary comic book with an unlikely mix of action, satire, science fiction and sophistication. His popular cameos were an indication of his extraordinary popularity.
In the last decade alone, he started an imprint for kids, published a graphic novel, and was reportedly writing a superhero rock opera. Single-handedly responsible for turning millions of kids towards reading, he was also known for his affable nature and his interest in talking to fans at events. Here is what fans told Metrolife about their impressions of Stan Lee.
Alicia Souza, Illustrator
“Stan Lee is a legend. He has lived a beautiful long life, a very accomplished one too. He’s given so much to us that it’s amazing. He had a way of making every character he created a quirky and relatable one. My personal favourite is Hulk. It’s probably because he has two personalities in one body – something all of us can relate to. I’m going to miss Stan’s cameos in the upcoming Marvel movies now; that was the best part.”
Sriram Sullia, Radio Jockey and Entertainer
“Stan Lee was a true legend. He was someone who started writing at a young age and in a way that it underwent a revolutionary transformation with time. What started off as a simple comic book was later transformed into reality with the help of technology and became a whole universe. The characters were also much ahead of their time and had distinct individual personalities, for example Black Panther.”
Udit Singh, Video game influencer
“I’ve been a fan of the comics since I was six years old. The Marvel characters are aspirational figures, mighty and super strong. But things changed with Spider-Man. Stan Lee didn’t hold back while showing that a superhero can also be vulnerable and have flaws – he gave a person every nerd could to relate to. He also addressed issues like socio-economics and racism in his comics, something we never got to see otherwise. If there is one thing I’m happy about right now, it is that he had the chance to see so many of his characters come to life and the response they got.”
Subhashish Bharuka, Standup comedian
“I first read a Spider-Man comic in Hindi in boarding school and got hooked. Later a friend got me some Spider-Man comics and a mask. I became a fan. Later, Doordarshan started telecasting the Spider-Man cartoon series. Many a time, I would tie a rope around my waist and hang by the parapet wall our house which had three floors, pretending to be Spider-Man. My mom banned me from watching the cartoon after that.”
Vinay Nagaraju, Entrepreneur
“Lee brought comics to life on the screen — who knew you could watch them with the same parents who used to snatch the comics from you!
Sometimes, I re-watch the movies just because I missed his cameo the first time. Now, all we will be able to see is ‘In loving memory of Stan Lee’ in the credits and that breaks my heart. Marvel movies will never be the same again.”
Yadhunandan Nagaraj, Drummer
“It was the movies he made for Marvel that made me cling on to his stories. I haven’t missed a single Marvel movie or Netflix Marvel series till date. He changed my life by introducing me to these superheroes and super-villains. You will never see a superhero die in the comics. In the same way, Stan Lee now joins the superhero league!
Also, I think it is time for me to go back and read the comics. It is the least I can do to pay respect to this legend.”
Sridhar Venkatesh, Media professional
“Spider-Man is my all-time favorite comic book character. The fact that Stan Lee wrote Peter Parker’s character like an everyday kid made him very relatable to me when I was a teenager. And the storylines he wrote for Marvel were very original, simple and effective. They weren’t convoluted and easy for children to understand.
And, of course, Stan Lee’s contribution to modern cinema is also unforgettable.”
Cameos
- X-Men, 2000
- Hulk, 2003
- Fantastic Four, 2003
- Spider-Man 3, 2007
- Iron Man, 2008
- Thor, 2011
- Captain America: Winter Soldier, 2004
- Avengers Age of Ultron, 2015
- Deadpool, 2016
- Black Panther, 2018
Latin word turned life motto
‘Excelsior’ was Stan Lee’s catchphrase for a long time. He came up with the term to sign off his column in Marvel Comics, rebranded from Atlas Comics, as he wanted a word that rivals wouldn’t be tempted to copy.
But what started as a clever sign-off to thwart his competition in the 1960s quickly became an optimistic mantra the writer would keep close to his heart in the years to follow, something his fans picked up from him later.
Most of the tributes pouring in now are sure to contain this word ‘excelsior’. Less than an hour after news of Lee’s death broke, the word was trending globally on Twitter.
The most cameo ever!
He has 121 titles in his filmography (including voice-acting and animation) which puts him ahead of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Will Smith, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks.
Not the real owner
He did become the face of Marvel but he doesn’t own any of the characters he created. A judge in 2013 ruled that he can’t claim any ownership or royalties as he created the characters as an employee and did not own anything legally. But out of respect, Marvel gave him an honorary payment every year.
Love at first sight
Stan Lee met his wife, Joan Boocock Lee, in the 1940s in New York City. She was working as a hat model then. He immediately fell in love with her and they married two weeks later, after which she became his muse. Years later, she became a voice actress and appeared in the Spider-Man and Fantastic Four animated series in the 1990s. She died in 2017.
The printers turned Hulk green
The character of Hulk was designed to be grey, but according to Stan, the printer had a hard time keeping the colour consistent. And voila! Hulk turned green!