Today we lost Stan Lee, as iconic a figure in comic books as any of the characters he helped create.
We at The Comics Bolt extend our heartfelt condolences to Lee's family and all the fans he inspired. May his memory be for a blessing.
Excelsior!
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(Originally posted on The Comics Bolt) Today we lost Stan Lee, as iconic a figure in comic books as any of the characters he helped create. Born Stanley Martin Lieber in New York City, Lee worked a series of odd jobs throughout his childhood and teens to make ends meet. Thanks to a family connection, Lee was hired by Timely Comics, later known as Marvel Comics, where he performed a series of odd jobs from editing to "making sure inkwells were full," as he put it. His first published story was a two-page text story in Captain America Comics #3 (May, 1941), He had already started using the "Stan Lee" alias by this time, as he feared that using his real name in comics would hurt his chances of publishing more literary work. More stories followed, primarily back-up features, and he was promoted to editor in 1941. During World War II, Lee enlisted in the United States Army, serving at first as a member of the Signal Corps before his transfer to the Training Film Division. After completing his service in 1945, Lee returned to Timely, now called Atlas and later rebranded as Marvel, writing stories in a variety of genres, although he was dissatisfied with his output. The superhero had been undergoing a revival in the mid-1950s, thanks to DC publishing new versions of their classic characters, such as The Flash, Green Lantern, and the Justice League of America. Lee was disinterested in the idea at first until his wife Joan (1947 - 2017) encouraged him to take this opportunity to create the kinds of superheroes he wanted to see. Collaborating with artists Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Bill Everett, Lee ushered in a new era of superheroes that would captivate readers and continue to resonate with new generations of fans to this day - the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, the Amazing Spider-Man, the Mighty Thor, Daredevil, the Uncanny X-Men, Doctor Strange, and the Avengers, to name but a few. Lee also wrote a monthly column, "Stan's Soapbox," to engage with readers and foster a sense of community, while sharing his own philosophical ideas. What made his characters captivate a new generation of comic book readers was the risks he took and the conventions he defied, such as making a teenager a superhero in his own right instead of a sidekick, or making the embodiment of the establishment a relatable figure. Perhaps his most iconic trait he gave to his characters was personal problems that readers could relate to. The Fantastic Four were a family, but constantly squabbling on account of their drastically different personalities. Spider-Man, for all his power and abilities, was constantly haunted by his failure to save the ones he loved and struggling to earn a living for himself. The Amazing Spider-Man #82 (March, 1970) - "And Then Came Electro!" Stan Lee (writer), John Romita Sr. (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks) Lee transitioned from writer to publisher in 1972, becoming the public face of Marvel Comics, until he stepped down in 1996. He continued to be involved in comics and creating new characters in a variety of mediums. He has also, of course, provided cameos in numerous Marvel films, television shows, and video games. In 2010, he established the Stan Lee Foundation, a non-profit dedicating to promoting literacy and education in the arts.
We at The Comics Bolt extend our heartfelt condolences to Lee's family and all the fans he inspired. May his memory be for a blessing. Excelsior!
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