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Monday, November 12, 2018

The passing of a hero

There's a cloud hanging over the comics industry tonight as we've learned that Stan Lee has passed away. American comics, and pop culture, would have been far poorer without him. In fact, I doubt U.S. comics would have survived without Marvel's success in the 1960s inspiring other publishers, and the growth of fandom leading to the creation of the direct market. 

Stan Lee inspired many of us too. His characters were flawed, but they had dignity, a sense of fairness and equality, and showed strength in the face of adversity. Marvel Comics of the 1960s showed us hope, and were an inspiration for me and many of you too, I'm sure. 

I've written a personal tribute over on my other blog:
http://lewstringercomics.blogspot.com/2018/11/thanks-stan_13.html 

Thank you, Stan! I never met you, but you were my hero.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46186552

It's been the top story on the BBC website all evening.




9 comments:

qamar said...

I was just watching his "How to Draw Comics the "Marvel" Way" documentary.

Stan Lee always seemed to be in a good mood and so in love with his work.

Will be missed

RIP

C_Oliver said...

The Comics Journal gave him an exhaustive and surprisingly generous obituary, acknowledging his tireless charisma while emphasizing that the iconic Marvel characters were not solely his creations.

John Pitt said...

I have only just heard and felt I HAD to say something.
He will go down in history.
And rightly so.
RIP, Stan.
:-(

Kevin Larkin said...

I'm shocked. Yes, he was getting on in years so it's to be expected, but whenever he was on TV he seemed so active and full of life. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that he pretty much created the comic industry. It always brings a smile to my face when I think of him telling the story of Spider-Man's creation in that unmistakable voice : "Fly-Man? No! Wasp-Man? No! Spider-Man? Yes!"
Excelsior, Stan.

Lew Stringer said...

Stan didn't create the comics industry (it had been around for decades in the U.S,, - and even longer, since the late 1800s, in the UK) but he saved the US comic industry in the 1960s. I don't think it would have survived and thrived without Marvel Comics shaking things up.

Anonymous said...

And I'm so thankful that Stan Lee created Marvel UK. This coming Friday (Nov 16th) will be 44 years since I discovered Marvel comics - Planet Of The Apes No.5 soon followed by Spider-Man Comics Weekly. And Stan Lee acquired the rights to Conan The Barbarian - I'm a life-long Conan fan and it was only thanks to Marvel that I discovered Conan. Stan has died just as Conan is about to return to Marvel.

Lew Stringer said...

It's Marvel's 80th anniversary next year and it's a shame Stan won't be part of it now, but he gave us the best years of Marvel and that will last forever.

Unknown said...

Stan Lee was my favourite adult voice when I was a youth. The friendly asides on the letters pages made me smile as much as Ben Grimms comical outbursts. The way that he made fun of his own creations and the grandiose claims on the covers and in the house ads added much to the tone of 60s Marvels. Goodbye Stan, thanks for the fun memories.

Lew Stringer said...

You're right, Mike. It was Stan's quick wit and self-deprecation that were an essential part of what made Marvel so great back then. They were sheer fun to read.

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