Stan Lee to whom the term legendary does not do justice to his mark on comics, movies and culture has died. He was 95. Lee was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Monday morning where he passed away after a prolonged illness.
He was a writer, editor and publisher of Marvel Comics. His lasting impact on American culture, along with Jack Kirby, can not be overstated. Many of you may only know him from his many cameo appearances in Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
Lee created or co-created Black Panther, Spider-Man (the most like himself), X-Men, The Mighty Thor, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Ant-Man and others. He was inducted into the comic book industry’s Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995. Lee received a National Medal of Arts in 2008
Stanley Martin Lieber (years later he would adopt Stan Lee as his legal name) was born on December 28, 1922 in New York City. His mother and father were Romanian-born Jewish immigrant.
He started in the business in 1939 as an assistant at Timely Comics (which would become Marvel years later). At the time comics were one of the only places Jews could works as equals, if they could get hired at all, as artists.
Lee entered the United States Army in early 1942 during World War II. He first served as a member of the Signal Corps, repairing communications equipment. He was later transferred to the Training Film Division as one of only nine people to have the MOS (military occupational specialty) of playwright. In that role he worked on writing manuals, training films, slogans, and at times even cartoons.
After the war, he returned to Marvel and changed the course of comics forever. Since you could write books on his efforts during that time, we will just say Stan and his partners at Marvel changed the course of the entertainment we enjoy today. They are why Marvel went from a small publishing house to a huge multimedia corporation within Disney.
After being both Marvel’s publisher and chairman and before leaving the company, he was its chairman emeritus, as well as a member of the editorial board. Even after all these years, Lee was the public face for Marvel Comics. He made appearances at comic book conventions around world, gave speeches, along with being a featured guest in many panel discussions.
In 2010, The Stan Lee Foundation was founded and focusing on literacy, education, and the arts.
Sadly, the last days of Stan lee have been mired in controversy of elder-abuse allegations and missing millions.
Stan was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Joan. She died on July 6, 2017, due to complications from a stroke. She was 95 years old.
He is survived by his daughter Joan Celia “J. C.” Lee was born in 1950. His and Joan’s other child, daughter Jan Lee, died three days after delivery in 1953.
We loved his characters not because of their powers, but because their faults and flaws. Those are what show us mortals that we come overcome ours and make both ourselves and the world better. He loved Stan for the same reasons.
In short we are all are his survivors along with the children he gave us – Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Thor, Iron Man, The Fantastic Four The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, …
Excelsior! To You Stan Lee!
