There’s a reason why the Excelsior was followed by ellipses instead of the usual exclamation. Stan Lee, the comic book legend who created the Marvel Universe passed away recently at the age of 95. It was truly a sad day for all us comic-book fans. Even if you aren’t one, I’m sure everyone has familiarized themselves with his creations. He started writing Marvel comics in 1961. With Jack Kirby, Lee created some of the most iconic superhero characters of all time, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Black Panther, along with the Avengers.
From reading his comic books to watching the movies featuring his characters, all of us have been fortunate enough to have lived in his era. For me, he built a dream that offered an escape from reality. At one point, all of us wanted to be the next Spiderman and were hoping to get bit by a radioactive spider! He was also the one behind the saying, “With great power, comes great responsibility” a line which has been with us forever. His passing sparks an array of tributes, respects, and sadness. Those close to him will mourn. The rest of us will be strangers to him even if we are a part of the wonderful universe he created. For a lot of young people today, he will be remembered as the funny old man with the shades who made movie cameos. There was always a laughter in the cinemas whenever he popped up in a scene, with no more than a line or two, but it definitely served as a reminder that he is responsible for creating this world.
He was so much more comic book writer. He was a storyteller whose gift lied in creating a universe full of unrealistic beings and somehow making us able to empathize with them. He reeled us in, immersed us within their storylines and struggles, and created a world that can never be matched.
Spiderman is not just a superhero with spider-sense, someone with the ability to climb walls and shoot webs. He is just a regular kid, like all of us, defined by heartbreak and the guilt of a loved one whose death he could have stopped. In the same way, characters like X-Men talked about how being gifted is not always how we imagine it to be. Likewise, all other characters are relatable in some way, shape or form.
Stan Lee’s legacy will always live on, and we will always be grateful for his contributions to the entire comic book and film industry.
There’s surely going to be no one like him. You will be missed.