WEB EXCLUSIVE

Marvel icon and comic book mastermind, Stan Lee, died on November 12, 2018. He died at 95 years old in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA. This effected fans from all over the world, as Stan Lee created the essential back bone of the Marvel Entertainment and Comics we know today.

Stan Lee was born on December 28, 1922, in New York City. He went to high school in the Bronx, and applied himself in many jobs. Some of those jobs included writing stories for a local news service. After graduating, Lee then got a job as an assistant at the Timely Comics. There at Timely Comics, alongside Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, Lee created Captain America in 1941. After the success of the comic, Lee was promoted to interim editor.

Lee went to serve in the Army during World War ii, after his time in the Army, Lee returned to Timely Comics. He wrote many comics and with different genres. He soon found Joan Boocock and the two got married in 1947. They had two daughters and bought a house together. During this time Lee was still writing for Timely, but Lee wasn’t liking his role at the industry and contemplated leaving.

But when D.C. Comics revived the superhero genre comics, Lee was very interested in creating his own superhero comics. So when Lee got the “go-ahead” from Timely head publisher, Martin Goodman. So in 1961, Timely Comics was renamed Marvel Comics, and successfully launched the superhero team Fantastic Four. Lee also went onto create other superheroes, such as X-Men, Hulk, and his personal favorite Spider-Man. Along with his heros he had created, Lee began to create a entertainment tycoon.   

Lee was being recognized for creating his superheros, but his true success is Lee applying a true sense of humanity to his characters. Lee made his characters to live in the real world and have real world problems; meaning his characters had to face situations besides fighting a bad guy. And that’s what mainly applied his readers to essentially read more. Because of Lee’s good taste in comic’s, Lee was promoted to editorial director and publisher.

Lee was again promoted to ambassador of Marvel. Lee got this promotion because he created the essential backbone of the Marvel Entertainment that we know today. Lee created a diverse universe that his comics jumped from off the pages to the TV and Movie screens. And because of Lee contribution Lee was cameed in many of the Marvel Films and TV shows. Lee’s first cameo was in the TV movie “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk.” From there Lee cameoed in many Marvel movies and TV shows, and earned the title “Cameo King.”

In June 2017, Lee’s wife, Joan Lee, died at the age of 70. Shortly after the pass of Lee’s wife, Lee checked into a hospital himself. He was experiencing heart problems and trouble breathing. Lee recovered successfully and said that he would cameo in Marvel’s newest movie at the time Black Panther. Lee’s last cameo on the big screen when he was alive was in Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp, but it’s certainly not his last. It was announced that Lee recorded a cameo for Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse, Captain Marvel, Avenger 4, and Spider-Man Far From Home.

Lee then had a couple fan meets and attended other events. Lee valued his fans and always kept them close to his heart. He never let his fans down and always kept them entertained. Even in bad health Lee always came through and never failed to disappoint.

Lee created a universe that not only his hero’s lived in but also his fans and peers. And as reporters at Oviedo Journalism, it gives us great thing to write about. This universe inspires many and will always have a special place in the hearts of fans. Lee will leave behind a huge legacy and will be remembered forever for his creations. Lee will never be forgotten, from the inspired minds at Oviedo Journalism, “Excelsior!”