Stan Lee, who gave voice to dozens of iconic characters at the helm of Marvel Comics and became a towering cultural figure as his work came to dominate the entertainment world, died this morning at his home in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD, CA – APRIL 23: Stan Lee attends the premiere of Disney and Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ on April 23,2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic) Getty
When 19 year-old Stanley Lieber signed his first stories in the pages of Captain America Comics in 1941, he adopted the alias “Stan Lee” because he wanted to save his real name for the “real books” he planned to write someday. Fate had different plans, and Lee’s “real work” became turning the disposable, low-rent industry of comic books into a mythmaking phenomenon that bestrides the world of 21st century entertainment like a colossus. After leading one of the most consequential lives of any cultural figure of the 20th and early 21st centuries, Lee died today in his home in Los Angeles at age 95.
In collaboration with visual storyteller and artist Jack Kirby (1917-1994), Lee co-created the core cast of the Marvel comics universe in the 1960s, including Iron Man, Thor, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers, The Silver Surfer, The Black Panther, The Hulk, The X-Men, and scores of others. With Steve Ditko, he brought Spider-Man and Doctor Strange to life. Lee and artist Bill Everett created Daredevil. The superhero sagas Lee scripted for Marvel in the 1960s changed the medium forever, injecting a tone of humanity and humor into stories that made them appealing to older readers as well as kids. The advice given to Spider-Man at the end of the hero’s debut in 1962, words which have passed into the culture as almost folkloric wisdom – “with great power comes great responsibility” – were written by Stan Lee.
Beyond his creative legacy, Lee was a pivotal figure in the industry, building Marvel from a lightly-regarded second tier press into the most dynamic, powerful and valuable brand in comics during his tenure as Editor-in-Chief during the 1960s. Lee engaged his readers in conversation, sparring with them on letter pages and taking stands on issues of the day in his “Stan’s Soapbox” column that ran on the text pages of every Marvel comic, decades before most brands recognized the value of cultivating a loyal fan base through voice and personality. He championed Marvel as a way of life, not just a comics publisher, and made readers feel like they were part of something special by picking up every issue the company published.
He also brought a unique vision to the storytelling, practically unprecedented at the time. Because Lee wrote and edited the entire Marvel line, he conceived of the heroes in the different comics as occupying the same universe, with a shared history and consistent characterization. Events that took place in one comic story had lasting consequences, which means readers had to keep up with everything to stay on top of developments in their favorite titles. This concept of continuity laid the groundwork for Marvel’s subsequent universe-building in comics, movies and TV that led to the company’s acquisition by Disney in 2009, and its status as the top superhero cinematic brand on Earth.
Today’s generation of fans knew Lee as the avuncular elder statesman who regaled packed halls at comic conventions with stories of his years in the medium, and for his cameos in every Marvel movie, which he continued well into his 90s. He only announced his retirement from the circuit a few months ago, following a tumultuous year in which ugly stories began surfacing about his circle of associates.
There is much more to say about Stan Lee the man, the creator and the force of nature. But for the moment, the only words we can say are, “Goodbye, thank you, and EXCELCIOR!”
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JULY 18: (L-R) Comic book artist Todd McFarlane, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, comic book writer Stan Lee, filmmaker Kevin Smith and actors Chadwick Boseman and Clark Gregg attend the Stan Lee Hand and Footprint Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX on July 18,2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) Getty
I am an author, consultant and educator with a professional interest in the business implications of new media and a personal passion for comics and visual communication. My 2012 book Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture (McGraw-Hill) looks at trends in entertainment, m…
I’m the author of ” Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture ” and faculty at University of Washington CommLead, and consult on future trends in technology and entertainment. Follow me @robsalk.
