The world lost its very own hero on Monday, November 12, 2018. Stan Lee, the creator of Spider-Man among other superheroes, died at the age of 95. He was the genius behind many lovable characters in comic books and will be remembered for many years to come.
Thank you, Stan Lee, for:
1. Allowing readers to have the courage to stand up to today’s evils.
“Let’s lay it right on the line. Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super-villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them—to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are.” – Stan Lee
2. Giving all ages a chance to get away from reality and truly enjoy the life of a superhero.
“My theory about why people like superheroes is that when we were kids, we all loved to read fairy tales. Fairy tales are all about things bigger than life: Giants, witches, trolls, dinosaurs and dragons and all sorts of imaginative things. Then you get a little bit older and you stop reading fairy tales, but you don’t ever outgrow your love of them.” – Stan Lee
3. Not only creating the superheroes but being one yourself for making something the world can enjoy.
“If there are people who like the work you’ve done, [and] because of that, they like you and want your autograph and to take a photo, that’s really gratifying. You have to be appreciative.” – Stan Lee
4. Continuing to believe in yourself even when you had your doubts.
“I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: Entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain people, you’re doing a good thing.” – Stan Lee
5. Creating characters that we can relate to in our own lives.
“Just because you have superpowers, that doesn’t mean your love life would be perfect. I don’t think superpowers automatically means there won’t be any personality problems, family problems or even money problems. I just tried to write characters who are human beings who also have superpowers.” – Stan Lee
6. Showing the world what the true meaning of a hero is.
“A… definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people’s well-being and will go out of his or her way to help them—even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.” – Stan Lee
7. Leaving a positive impact on the world around you.
“You know, my motto is ‘Excelsior.’ That’s an old word that means ‘upward and onward to greater glory.’ It’s on the seal of the state of New York. Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.” – Stan Lee