Stan Lee: December 1922 – November 2018. Nuff said?

So, a titan passes. Stan Lee is no more.

In collaboration with various comic-book artists — notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko — Stan created a wide variety of stunning fictional superhero characters including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Doctor Strange, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Black Panther, the X-Men, and characters such as Ant-Man, Iron Man, and Thor.

In the 1960s, Stan pioneered a more complex approach to writing superheroes, with the characters behind the mask and their personal conflicts and issues often taking centre-stage.

It’s kind of sad that to many younger fans, Stan was just a cameo appearances in the various MCU – Marvel Cinematic Universe – movies. But then, how many youngsters even read anymore? Even comic-books? The movies – and streaming Netflix series – is the start and end of their interests. A pity. But times change.

Tributes have flooded in to Stan the Man.

Arch-rivals DC Comics said, “He changed the way we look at heroes, and modern comics will always bear his indelible mark. His infectious enthusiasm reminded us why we all fell in love with these stories in the first place. Excelsior, Stan.”

Another rival, British Comic-Book 2000AD, posted, “There are few people who have had a profound effect on the culture of the modern world. Stan Lee was one of them. We’re very saddened to hear of his death, but what an *incredible* legacy. Rest well, Stan.”

Hugh Jackman of X-Men film fame, said, “We’ve lost a creative genius. Stan Lee was a pioneering force in the superhero universe. I’m proud to have been a small part of his legacy and …. to have helped bring one of his characters to life. #StanLee #Wolverine”

I’m sure our editor Geoff will add a longer and more considered article to mark Stan’s passing, but I just wanted to get this out. Goodbye, Stan, you gave us universes as strange and wide as we needed to escape into, in times when escape was just what we needed.

Excelsior!