He’ll Always Be “The Man”
Today is a sad day for Marvel fans and comic book lovers alike, as the news of Stan Lee’s passing at the age of 95 has surfaced. With a career spanning several decades, this titan of the comic book world has pioneered, changed and shaped the world of comic books and superheroes, masterminding globally admired characters like Spider-Man, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther, Deadpool, Captain America and more. From his complex characters to his shared universe and his efforts to challenge censorship, few can match his contributions to the genre and for that, let’s look at just a few of the reasons why Stan Lee will forever be awesome.
Unafraid To Tackle the Issues
There was a time when comics steered clear of sensitive social issues. That changed when Lee pushed through a 1971 “Amazing Spider-Man†storyline where Peter Parker’s friend Harry Osborne almost died from a drug overdose. While the Comics Code Authority had been unwilling to allow negative portrayals of substance abuse, after the acclaim and healthy sales of this storyline, they changed their position.
Creative Juggernaut
Think you don’t have any free time? During Lee’s first 25 years at Marvel, he switched it up by serving as editor, art director and head writer. Scripting between 2-5 complete comics per week, his creative output is still considered the largest by any single writer. Incredibly, he even found time to write for newspapers, radio and television, to pen screenplays and to have a satisfying marriage since 1947!
Rather Write Than Lead
You may not know this, but not only did Stan Lee lead the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division into a massive corporation, but he also briefly served as the company’s president. Despite the glamour, power and rockin’ parking space, he stopped when he decided that worrying about finances impacted what he did best – writing comics! Few would have the cojones to do the same…
Where’s Waldo
Proud and tied to his creations, Lee ensured he had a special clause added to his contract: he specified that he must appear in any movie based on one of his characters. This became a major source of amusement for fans, as they eagerly spotted him as everything from a street vendor to a rejected wedding guest, and even as a man who’s mistaken for Hugh Hefner by Tony Stark! Check out some of our favourite Stan Lee Cameos in this video:
Excelsior!
Taking the top spot on our list is that “special something†that keeps fans coming back for more! The best example of what makes Stan Lee special is his trademark comic sign-off catchphrase “Excelsior,†since he jokingly claims that he doesn’t even know the motto’s meaning. With his wit, offbeat nature and inspirational messages, Stan Lee is known to many as the granddaddy of modern comics – and, in fact, many comic lovers wish Stan “The Man†were their grandfather too!
To commemorate all that Stan Lee has left us with, let’s look at our new list of the Top 10 Cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
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