We have sad news to report from the wider world of comics. The co-creator of many classic Marvel superheroes and the face of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, has passed away aged 95. Major news outlets including The New York Times are reporting the news of Stan’s passing.
While Stan Lee personally had very little involvement in the development of Transformers, few can deny that the characters he co-created alongside fellow comic legends like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko and the stories that he authored have shaped what a superhero can be. Before Stan Lee’s characters, superheroes were square-jawed black is black and white is white paragons – the characters he co-created were altogether more nuanced, with shades of grey and inner conflicts that made them exciting to read. Indeed, his work shaped the very nature of comic books for a generation, and turned Marvel into a major publication house – one that a certain toy company would turn to in 1983 to help develop the story for its new line of transforming robots.
Stan Lee’s passing is a moment of sadness for many who have felt endless hours of joy enjoying the characters that he helped bring to life. The characters of Marvel Comics – and indeed, the talent nurtured at Marvel – are his great legacy through which he will always live on.
Excelsior, true believers.
SouthtownKid
Just ask anyone, except anyone who ever worked with him creating the Marvel Universe.
sevenlima
Sounds like he was a great person, i wish i could had meet him.
Issy543
I found a petition for a statue of him to be placed in New York:
Sign the Petition
Place a statue of Stan Lee, dedicated to his memory, in his hometown of New York City.
David Gourlay started this petition to New York City Council
Problem
Stan Lee, co-creator of Marvel Comics, and all-round icon, died at the age of 95 on 12th November 2018. A statue in his honour would seem only fair to keep his memory alive.
Solution
It would be an honour and of great respect to have a statue of the late icon placed in his hometown of New York City, USA.
Personal story
I’m starting this petition, because I have enjoyed and respected his work, like many others over the years, and think a statue in his honour would be right for keeping his memory alive.
SouthtownKid
Lee placing behind Morrison is silly. Lee placing behind Moore is an outright crime. Moore is a derivative hack who relies almost completely on craft and very little on talent.
Omegashark18
Kirby did win the top 50 artists.
On writers, he placed 22nd. Lee placed 3rd. Behind Grant Morrison and Alan Moore.
SouthtownKid
It's a great list, but a lot of these were actually written by either Kirby (like the #1 choice, ffs!) or Ditko and only scripted by Lee after the fact. But whatever.
Andersonh1
DC has a tribute to Stan Lee in their books this week. Classy move.
DC Comics' Tribute to Stan Lee in Today's Comics
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #10-7
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #6-4
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #3-1
10 – Spider-Man no more (temporarily).
9 – Silver Surfer vs Thor.
8 – Daredevil vs Namor.
7 – Green Goblin vs Spider-Man
6 – Dr Strange seeks out the cosmic being Eternity.
5 – Capt America joins the Avengers.
4 – A scientist disguises himself as Reed Richards' best friend the Thing and discovers how awesome Mr Fantastic's heart is.
3 – Spider-Man's origin.
2 – Spider-Man lifts up debris.
1 – The arrival of Galactus to Earth and how his herald the Silver Surfer regains his soul through meeting Alicia Masters.
A decent list, and worthy of Stan Lee. Thank you for the wonderful tales.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #15-11
15 – The Sinister Six unite for the first time.
14 – The origin of the Fantastic Four.
13 – Mangog comes to Asgard.
12 – The Avengers unite for the first time.
11 – Galactus proclaims himself a god of Earth, and the Surfer stands against him.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #20-16
20 – The Avengers and the Fantastic Four argue about handling the Hulk.
19 – The Fantastic Four are prisoners of Dr Doom.
18 – The origin of the Silver Surfer.
17 – Ben Grimm is normal, but must become the Thing again to save the world.
16 – Dr Doom steals the Silver Surfer's powers.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #25-21
25 – The debut of the Black Panther.
24 – The debut of the Inhumans.
23 – Capt America dies and resurrects.
22 – The origin of Dr Strange.
21 – The Silver Surfer goes to hell to free his love.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #30-26
30 – The death of Gwen Stacy's father Capt Stacy.
29 – The debut of the X-Men.
28 – Reed Richards and Susan Storm's wedding, with a cameo from Lee and Kirby.
27 – Tony Stark leaves the Avengers group, and a new roster forms.
26 – Harry Osborn takes drugs.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #35-31
35 – The debut of the Falcon.
34 – The Silver Surfer vs Galactus, for the fate of Earth.
33 – The origin tale of Galactus.
32 – the Fantastic Four are trapped in Latveria, Dr Doom's domain, without their powers.
31 – The origin of Daredevil.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #40-36
40 – Spider-Man vs the Kingpin
39 – The Fantastic Four welcome a baby, Franklin Richards.
38 – The Sentinel robots debut.
37 – Daredevil pays a visit to a blind soldier.
36 – The origin of the incredible Hulk.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #45-41
45 – Doc Ock takes away Spider-Man's memories
44 – Red Skull vs Captain America for the Cosmic Cube
43 – The Silver Surfer befriends an Earthman.
42 – Dr Doom's debut
41 – Capt America kills Baron Zemo.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #50-46
50 – the debut of Dormammu
49 – Nick Fury gets his engagement ring stolen, and goes on a mission to get it back
48 – Ragnarok comes to Asgard
47 – Dr Octopus's debut
46 – The Red Skull's debut
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #60-51
60 – The debut of the Juggernaut.
59 – Kang and Princess Ravonna
58 – Crime Master vs Green Goblin
57 – The debut of Wonder Man
56 – The debut of Batroc the Leaper
55 – Silver Surfer vs the Enslavers
54 – Stan Lee vs another Sleeper
53 – Spider-Man's temporary retirement
52 – The debut of MODOK
51 – Thor vs Hercules again
QLRformer
70 – The debut of the Leader
69 – Dr Strange and Spider-Man team up.
68 – The Sleeper awakens (a destructive android) and only Captain America can stop him
67 – The debut of Peggy Carter.
66 – Thor vs Hulk.
65 – Nick Fury becomes the head of SHIELD
64 – Thor vs Hercules
63 – The debut of Kang the Conqueror
62 – Norman Osborn and Peter Parker have a tense non-mask confrontation
61 – Captain America and Black Panther team up.
QLRformer
The 100 Greatest Stan Lee Stories Ever Told: #80-71
80 – Jester vs Daredevil
79 – Abomination vs Hulk
78 – Loki's debut
77 – Iron Man vs Namor
76 – The debut of the Green Goblin
75 – The debut of Ego the Living Planet
74 – Fantastic Four vs Frightful Four
73 – The debut of the Rhino
72 – Thor vs Hela
71 – The debut of Dr Octopus
Egon1982
RIP to one of my childhood heroes and been a fan of him watching Marvel cartoons on VHS 32 years ago when i was 4 and hearing his voice even seeing him in Marvel comics and been an inspirational guy to me.
He was like Walt Disney to comics.