Sad news arrived on Monday from the Marvel world, as fans around the world learned that beloved comic book creator Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95. Per Variety, Lee was taken to a medical facility in Los Angeles on Monday morning due to an emergency, but he died later that day. Along with Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby (comic fans have been quick to point out various controversies in recent days), Lee was one of the most prominent figures in the history of Marvel Comics, creating major characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men. With that in mind, it's abundantly clear that Lee's influence on the world of modern entertainment is virtually unparalleled. Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe existed on the big screen, Lee laid the groundwork on the page. His characters would linger in the imagination of readers for generations, and I cannot see the Incredible Hulk or Captain America disappearing from the cultural consciousness any time soon. Even smaller characters like Iron Man and Doctor Strange are now part of the global lexicon, cementing Lee's status as a titan of the industry.
In the past two days, Lee's passing has been met with a massive outpouring of grief from around the world. Die-hard aficionados, online commentators, and casual fans have all paid tribute to the man who started it all. In the process, we've been privy to a number of touching memories and emotional salutes; it's amazing to see just how many lives Lee shaped since Marvel's inception in the 1960s.
Facing down a number of moving eulogies, I'm nearly at a loss for words. So many have already said so much- it's difficult to match such powerful responses. Nonetheless, I can't emphasize enough how much Lee's characters have influenced my personal life. I read a few Spider-Man and Fantastic Four comics as a kid, but of course, I'm really talking about the movies. Like many cinephiles, I started my love of movies with a passion for sci-fi and superheroes- Star Wars, Batman, and the Marvel movies. Sam Raimi's Spider-Man was the first PG-13 movie I ever saw, and while that seem quite trivial now, it was a big deal at the time. Although it gets a good bit of hate (and sometimes deservedly so), I feel enormously privileged to have grown up alongside the characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seeing this world evolve from the very first Iron Man all the way to this year's epic Infinity War.
All of this is impossible without Stan Lee. And I can only imagine how overjoyed he must have been to see his creations rendered so beautifully on the big screen. It was always fun to see him pop up in those brief cameos, and I know it'll be a tough pill to swallow when one of the upcoming movies doesn't feature an appearance from Mr. Marvel himself.
In closing, I'll just say one thing- thanks, Stan. Billions around the world are in your debt. Rest in peace to a bona fide visionary, a man who changed this universe for the better. And of course- excelsior!
In the past two days, Lee's passing has been met with a massive outpouring of grief from around the world. Die-hard aficionados, online commentators, and casual fans have all paid tribute to the man who started it all. In the process, we've been privy to a number of touching memories and emotional salutes; it's amazing to see just how many lives Lee shaped since Marvel's inception in the 1960s.
Facing down a number of moving eulogies, I'm nearly at a loss for words. So many have already said so much- it's difficult to match such powerful responses. Nonetheless, I can't emphasize enough how much Lee's characters have influenced my personal life. I read a few Spider-Man and Fantastic Four comics as a kid, but of course, I'm really talking about the movies. Like many cinephiles, I started my love of movies with a passion for sci-fi and superheroes- Star Wars, Batman, and the Marvel movies. Sam Raimi's Spider-Man was the first PG-13 movie I ever saw, and while that seem quite trivial now, it was a big deal at the time. Although it gets a good bit of hate (and sometimes deservedly so), I feel enormously privileged to have grown up alongside the characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seeing this world evolve from the very first Iron Man all the way to this year's epic Infinity War.
All of this is impossible without Stan Lee. And I can only imagine how overjoyed he must have been to see his creations rendered so beautifully on the big screen. It was always fun to see him pop up in those brief cameos, and I know it'll be a tough pill to swallow when one of the upcoming movies doesn't feature an appearance from Mr. Marvel himself.
In closing, I'll just say one thing- thanks, Stan. Billions around the world are in your debt. Rest in peace to a bona fide visionary, a man who changed this universe for the better. And of course- excelsior!
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