Stan Lee

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Lee

I would hate to imagine the comics world without Stan Lee. He seems to be a figure these days largely in the background of the comics world, but every time I see him appear, I start smiling and feel like he should be treated as royalty. If Jack Kirby was the King of comics, I think Stan Lee could be the Grand Poo bah of comics. He was always the ultimate ambassador to comics. He's lived out the last 35 years being mostly a figure head, but he is undeniably a huge part of the comics world as we know it today.



Even though there are arguments out there that may try to minimalize his impact on comics, whether the legends are true or not, he obviously was there and did help create a multitude of Marvel Characters that have gone on to become huge superstars and icons not only in the comic world, but throughout the world.



But even more important is how he revolutionized comics by making super-heroes human. With human problems and desires like the rest of us. He made comic characters easy to relate to. Before Stan did this, comics were full of perfect characters who lived perfect lives and conquered every problem or foe ever to face them with ease. I would almost believe that if comics remained that way, I probably would have never collected comics in the 1st place. Because the heroes became bigger heroes than before when they had to overcome their problems and face the world like the rest of us. And Stan just made us all love comics even more with his pure enthusiasm for the medium. He pretty much created his own language that he spoke to his true believers who fell victim to the fantasy world he and his colleagues created. Stan was just cool and made you want to have a job like his when you grew up.



We all take Stan Lee for granted. It's hard to believe, but as I write this, he is almost 86 and we all know he is growing old, but every time we see him, he still seems as invincible as the characters he helped create. Always flashing that Excelsior smile and spreading his love of comics to all who would listen. Yes, he had his battles too and had his bad times and maybe he gets too much credit sometimes although I don't feel that way and maybe he wasn't the best to all people all of the time the fact remains, comics would not be as great today if we never had Stan Lee. I hope he lives forever. Because I would hate to imagine the comics world without Stan Lee.