On the 12th November 2018, TMZ announced the news that would shake Pop culture Fans to the core. Marvel Creator, beloved writer, and Veteran, Stan Lee sadly passed away. He is known for his creations such as Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Daredevil to name a few.
Stan Martin Lieber was born 28th December 1922 in Manhattan, New York City. He is the son of Romanian-born Jewish immigrants. His dream was to write the ‘great American novel’ and during his youth he supported his family with various jobs.
In 1939 Stan Lee became an assistant at Timely Comics, which would later evolve in Lee’s Marvel Comics. However before Marvel was birthed Stan entered the United States Army, serving in the Signal Corps.
His job was to repair telegraph poles and other communication equipment. He was then transferred to the Training Film Division. Through this, he was writing training films, manuals, slogans, and cartoons.
It wasn’t until 1945 after World War II when Stan returned to Timely Comics.
After the War Stan returned to Timely Comics, or Atlas Comics as it was now known. During the 50s he teamed up with Dan DeCarlo to create a newspaper strip ‘My Friend Irma’. However, at the end of the decade, Stan Lee was considering quitting his chosen field.
Thankfully for us all he didn’t.
Stan was given an assignment by Atlas Comics publisher Martin Goodman to create a superhero team in response to the Justice League of America. As he was planning a career change his wife, Joan Lee, suggested he should experiment with stories.
Luckily he did so and with that, he brought forth one of the most famous superhero team-ups. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm: The Fantastic Four. Their popularity created more characters such as the Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, and the X-Men.
Of course, Stan Lee’s most famous creation and Marvel’s most famous character is what he will be known most for. The Amazing Spider-Man was a character he co-created with Steve Ditko (who we also, unfortunately, lost their year).
Stan and Jack Kirby formed a new group with their new Marvel characters and labeled them… The Avengers.
By the time 1961 came, Timely Comics and Atlas Comics morphed into what is now known as Marvel Comics. It was through Stan’s Soapbox where he would deal with social issues, such as bigotry.
While Stan Lee is known for his work with Marvel Comics, his personal life is also something to talk about. Stan Lee met the love of his life in 1947 when he was meant to be going on a blind date with another model.
On the day of his date, he arrived at the modeling agency where his date was. Instead of his date answering the door though, it was Joan Boocock, who was already married to another man. As soon as he laid his eyes on her, Stan professed his love for Joan.
After two weeks of them dating Stan proposed to Joan and they were married on 5th December 1947, only seconds after the latter divorcing her first husband.
Together they had two daughters, Joan Celia Lee and Jan Lee, who unfortunately passed away three days after her birth.
It was last year when Stan lost the love of his life. Ever since that day fans could see the declining of his health and his pain was only beginning.
In the last year of his life, Stan Lee suffered through accusations, people trying to steal his blood, fraud and debilitating health issues. Ever the hero, he wouldn’t let any of that beat him and he continued on like the hero he was to please his fans.
Marvel wasn’t the only company Stan Lee worked for. In the early 2000s, Stan worked with DC in their new Just Imagine series. This was where Stan reimagined some of the DC superheroes such as Superman, Batwoman, Green Lantern, The Flash and Wonder Woman.
He also wrote for Manga projects too and a live-action musical known as The Yin and Yang Battle of Tao. Not to mention Stan Lee’s Lucky Man, starring James Nesbitt, for Sky One.
There are many reasons to remember Stan Lee, whether it’s ‘With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility’ or his signature “Excelsior!”. However, what fans will truly remember about Stan Lee is his hilarious cameos in the Marvel movies.
During Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 fans found out Stan had been playing the same character all along. He was an informant for the Watchers, a group of celestial beings.
In his first cameo role for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was mistaken as Hugh Hefner and his most recent cameo saw him in Ant-Man and the Wasp. There he quipped “Well the ’60s were fun, but now I’m paying for it” after his car was shrunk.
Stan Lee is an inspiration to all, not only as a writer but as a person. His generous spirit and the time he spent with his fans is nothing short of the heroes he created.
When a fan thinks of Stan they remember the name he had for them (True Believers) and his sign off “Excelsior!”
For me though, I think of the man who created a charity under his name and donated his personal effects to the University of Wyoming. He was the living embodiment of “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.”
I also think of the man who fell in love with one look and kept that love until the day he died. He will now be reunited with the love of his life, and while it is a shame for us to lose him, it’s nice to know they will be reunited.
No matter what happens, no matter how many writers come and go Stan Lee will always be one of the most gifted and extraordinary men to walk this planet.
Thank you for the characters, thank you for bringing us joy and thank you for showing us all how to be better people. You may be gone, but you will never be forgotten, and you will live on through the characters you created and the stories you made.
Rest in Peace, Stan Lee.
Excelsior.
What are your favorite memories of Stan Lee? Let us know in the comments below!
