It is likely impossible to find a man more loved in the comic book word than Stan Lee. Stan Lee is commonly known for his immense influence on comic book media since the year 1941. He created iconic characters, made cinematic masterpieces, and even served our country in WWII.
Even today, many modern comic book writers and artists look up to him for his iconic creations such as the Fantastic Four, Hulk, and Iron Man. One of Stan Lee’s most monumental contributions to the comic book industry is creating New York’s wonderful crime-fighting vigilante Spider-Man, who we all know and love. His sense of heroism was broadcasted to children around the world through literature and film.
Spider-Man’s creation was a sly and surprising process. Lee was given a task to create another ground breaking superhero; that’s when he got to thinking. He saw a fly on the wall and wanted to create a teenage, bug related character who also sticks to walls. Initially, Lee’s publisher, Martin Goodman had said that no one wants to see a bug themed superhero, adding that his belief that teenagers should be sidekicks. However, Lee snuck this new character, Spider-Man, into Amazing Fantasy #15, and the reviews were off the charts! Thus, the famous comic book character and later comic book series, The Amazing Spider-Man, was born!
Stanley–Stan Lee–Martin Lieber grew up in Manhattan, New York and was born on December 28, 1922. Lee’s parents, Celia and Jack Lieber, raised him and his brother, Larry Lieber, in a predominantly Jewish household. As a child, he would read and watch movies in his free time, which heavily influenced his career and passion to become a writer as an adult. He was especially intrigued by the heroic characters “Superheroes” in early media because he found them outstanding role models for young children. These aspects of his life as a child made him have big dreams for the future, such as writing the “Great American Novel”.
Later in his young adult life, Lee had finished school and his Uncle Robbie helped him with working as an assistant at the new and improved, Timely Comics division, located in the 102 story skyscraper of astonishment, The Empire State Building within Manhattan, NY. Stan Lee had made his debut with one of Marvel’s most famous golden age heroes, Captain America. Captain America Foils the Traitors
Revenge issue #3 was published in May of 1941. It was about Captain America fighting a Nazi Spy named The Traitor with illustrations by his lifetime partner, Jack Kirby. Lee and Kirby went through many adversities through the years, such as joining the military and leaving the comic book industry; that all changed when DC comics striked. DC comics main editor, Julius Schwartz resurrected the superhero brand when making the iconic speedster, the Flash, and later on the iconic superhero team, The Justice League. Timely Comics had now been revamped into a new and improved business named Marvel Comics and the “first family” called the Fantastic Four was now born, which included a brilliant scientist going on a cosmic adventure with his companions resulting in them receiving extraordinary superpowers.
After a great leap in the comic book industry, Lee became the face for Marvel Comics. He had become a public figurehead for all things comics; he would spend his days lecturing at colleges, appearing at comic cons (comic book conventions), or creating another media breaking superhero for the world to see. A few decades flew by and his 2D illustrations had become live action movies as Marvel Studios made its second debut in 2008 with the new hit movie Iron Man. Throughout the years, Lee appeared in these brilliantly crafted movies, appraising a new character with each of his cameos. Stan Lee passed away on November 12th, 2018, giving his last appearance in the MCU, Marvel Cinematic Universe, in Avengers: Endgame in 2019., ending a legacy that changed the superhero genre immeasurably!
