A LEGEND IS BORN.
To stan something is “[to look up to it] and that you genuinely watch or truly love their content”, according to Urban Dictionary. In line with this colloquialism, as fans of comic book readers and movie-goers alike, it would not be far off to say that we all stan Stan Lee and the tremendous impact his creation has made to our culture today.
This article offers a tribute to a very strong contemporary legend, to who we can credit decades of entertainment, fantasy, and full-unadulterated enjoyment.
When Marvel first hit the presses (though it wasn’t called Marvel yet at that time) with their Captain America #1, the world was introduced to the concept of superheroes, and what could arguably be one of the largest movements in media in history. Who could have then imagined, that just after more than fifty years, that single Captain America issue would branch out into more than tens of thousands of other stories, notable works would of course include the solo-runs for Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, Thor, and the like.
Stanley Martin Lieber, born December 28th, 1922 in Manhattan, New York, dreamed of nothing less than to work in the industry he would be famous for today. Known now as the Comic Book Legend and Pop Culture Creator, from this endeavor would result the hundreds of superheroes we know today, of which the Avengers and the X-Men are only a small part of.
Marvel Comics, originally started out as Timely Publications, of which Stanley Lieber, or as we know him better as Stan Lee, was a crucial part of. Established in the 1940’s, the comic publication would soon usher in the Golden Age of Comics, from which the modern heroes we find today would be created.
WHY IT MATTERS.
To newer and more recent fans of Marvel’s cinematic works, Stan Lee’s fame is only attributed to the old man he plays that appears in every single Marvel movie ever made.
But the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would not be possible if it were not built upon a vast and colorful universe that spanned decades in the making in that old man’s original masterwork: Marvel comics.
If you’re not a hardcore fan (or a casual or simply not a fan at all ), then perhaps Stan Lee’s passing would not hit you as hard as it should.
But we should not be deterred! For it was from his interview with Playboy Magazine that he said, “You know, my motto is ‘Excelsior.’ That’s an old word that means ‘upward and onward to greater glory.’ It’s on the seal of the state of New York. Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.” Indeed, nothing lasts forever, even Lee. But what will continue on is the wondrous world he created, and all of the heroic characters that reside in it.
It’s important to note, throughout all this, that Lee was never alone. He may have been the mastermind behind the stories we love, but the rest of the ensemble can’t have functioned by his powers alone. It was through his collaboration with other artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, both of whom really helped the company flourish during the Silver Age of Comics, around the 1950’s to 1970’s.
LEE AND HIS CREATION IS CULTURALLY ICONIC.
I can speak for more than myself when I say that Stan Lee’s works as they were originally depicted in the comics and as some were given a cinematic adaptation were key pieces of our childhood, well into our adolescence and until now.
The Comic Book Legend truly left an iconic piece of work that has grown and expanded over the more than half-century since its inception; and we can say it’s iconic because we can mention the name Spiderman and those around us will almost always immediately know we’re talking about Peter Parker, and not a mutant hybrid half-spider half-man. We can mention any names of the marvel superheroes out of context and people would just know about them. Stan Lee’s characters have inarguably become household names.
Of course this doesn’t even come close to the amount of detail and worldbuilding that has truly highlighted the scope of the universe that Stan Lee has created. It is not right to say that Stan Lee is solely responsible for all of Marvel Comics, as he was simply but also the most important first step, first domino, first push. Everything else quickly followed suit.
It is hard to imagine how different the world would be if the Avengers or the X-Men never existed. Of course, we are referring to works of fiction, but the concepts and stories have been ingrained so effectively into the nooks and crannies of our culture and society that we just can’t help but imagine that they are real, and that in itself is a great tribute to someone who devoted all his life creating comic content.
Personally as a fan, I see both the MCU and the Comics not only as very creative sources of inspiration and entertainment, but also as the ever-changing medium through which different artists and authors send a message. A message that although spoken now through a different voice and written with a different pen, all originated with that first stroke of ink that Stan Lee himself wrote on the first piece of paper when he was just starting out. That is to say, he may no longer be with us, but the essence of his work will continue to persist, no matter who is behind the visuals for the comic, or is directing the movie.
It’s thanks to Stan Lee’s devotion and passion to his craft that he was able to give the world countless tales and mishaps of the many superheroes we know and love today. And we know and love them especially because they are superheroes: they are role-models who stand up for justice and fight for what’s right; perhaps more so than Stan Lee could have ever imagined, they became the creative source and inspiration for countless children all around the world.
But yet, fans and non-fans alike feel the world’s loss of a great icon: an icon who brought us more than a hundred diverse, unique, and very creative heroes, situated in a world built and cultivated over the longest time: and now time will continue on without him. It couldn’t have been done without him, but we have to see it through without him.
So here’s to Stan Lee. He may not have been able to fly or lift buildings, but he was blessed with the superpower to reach out to people by the millions, over many generations to come. He will surely be remembered as the one and only Comic Book Legend.
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