Stan Lee

Stan Leeew.comWe all looked up to superheroes in our youth, whether it be The Hulk for being able to transform into a giant green monster and smash through walls or for Spiderman for his ability to swing on webs throughout New York. These superheroes gave us inspiration and satisfied our imaginations as children, and we strived to be them.”Lee's creations were prominent in the American imagination, and not only among the young people whose preferences Lee read so clearly as a writer and editor” (Stan Lee). Accordingly, I would like to pay tribute to the man who inspired us all, the man who created all of the superheroes we know and love, Stan Lee. “Stan Lee was born Stanley Martin Lieber in New York City on December 28, 1922” (Stan Lee). He carried out many jobs in his youth until he eventually ended up as a comic book writer and, “From a cluttered office on Madison Avenue in Manhattan in the 1960s, he helped conjure a lineup of pulp-fiction heroes that have come to define much of popular culture in the early 21st century” (Kandell). But as the “Golden Age” of comic books declined Lee lost inspiration and decided that he would produce one more comic the way he wanted to. So, “In 1961, Mr. Lee and Mr. Kirby -- whom he had brought back years before to the company, now known as Marvel -- produced the first issue of The Fantastic Four” (Kandell). And after the success of his comic, he went on to develop many of the other heroes that inspired us. A hero is someone who is passionate about what they do, and by having that passion they inspire others to do the same. Stan Lee remains a hero because he inspires others through his creation of popular superheroes and his unending passion for his craft.

Lee was passionate about his profession and worked tirelessly to improve his craft and the industry around him, and as a New York Times Article stated, “, he was for many the embodiment of Marvel, if not comic books overall, overseeing the company's emergence as an international media behemoth. A writer, editor, publisher, Hollywood executive and tireless promoter (of Marvel and of himself), he played a critical role in what comics fans call the medium's silver age”(Kandell). Lee worked tirelessly to promote Marvel and eventually brought comic books back into popularity. He embodied this company and was thrust into the spotlight because of it. Even after the fall of comic books he still pushed his characters into the limelight through media and television making the $4 Billion dollar company we know and love today. Revealing the commitment, he had toward Marvel. This dedication to his company for most of Lee’s life helped to foster many other things, such as in,“The decade, from 1961 to 1971, in which Lee was actively writing monthly comics--in addition to being Marvel Comics' editor in chief and art director--was perhaps the most sustained burst of creative innovation in pop culture history” (Bernardin). His passion to help Marvel accomplished more than what Lee may have been expecting, which as previously stated, led to a tremendous artistic outburst. Of which would’ve gotten rid of the comic book industry entirely. So without Lee’s creativity and dedication to his company, Marvel would not be around today. This passion displayed, better shows the heroism shown in Lee. Because if he didn’t bring back comic books and Marvel, all of the people reading his comics wouldn’t be encouraged to be there own superheroes. In conclusion Stan Lee’s passion the help his company and make comic books shows that he will remain a hero because without it Marvel would never have inspired all who need a superhero.

Spider-Man ComicWikipedia.comThrough his superhero characters in Marvel comic books, Stan Lee inspired many to be heroes of their own. This influence affects not only the youth for whom the comics were produced but many others as well and, “If Stan Lee revolutionized the comic book world in the 1960s, which he did, he left as big a stamp -- maybe bigger -- on the even wider pop culture landscape of today”(Kandell). His inspiration spread further than he ever would have thought, and therefore making him even more of a hero for the people who looked up to many of his characters. Additionally as bringing it into the popular culture of that era which, in addition, caught the eye of many and inspired all who saw it. Similarly to when, “Michael Chabon, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the comic-book-themed novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay," said in an interview that Lee's best-known characters were "vain, pompous, conceited. . . . Everything that works in comic books today is indebted to him for that"(Remington). Showing even authors agree he was a revolutionizer in the comic book industry and that it would not be the way it is today if it weren’t for him. This also explains how his fairly realistic characters, (As far as Superheroes are concerned). This realism, that Lee brought out is exactly what made us believe we could be them, it’s how they inspired us, it’s how Stan Lee became a hero. In conclusion, this is how Stan Lee’s revitalization of the Comic book industry and the Marvel company helped to inspire many people throughout the world, making him a hero.

Stan Lee is a hero because he inspires others through his creation of popular superheroes and his unending passion for his work. Over his career, Lee has brought an uprising in thought to be gone, comic book industry. He did so by showing passion towards his work, and bringing it up from the ashes. He also inspired thousands of people through his superhero characters. Stan Lee inspires me as he inspires all of us, “Lee's creations were prominent in the American imagination, and not only among the young people whose preferences Lee read so clearly as a writer and editor”(Stan Lee). That’s why as children we wear superhero outfits on Halloween, it’s also why we would run around the house with a towel tied around our necks; And if that gave us happiness and spurred our imaginations, then why should it stop. Superheros gave us hope; they taught us to embrace ourselves and how we should help others rather than just ourselves. So, I think anyone willing to tackle the task of building up an industry, and inspiring millions around the globe with their characters, well they must be a real hero.