Stan Lee’s Legacy

Stan Lee was the soul of Marvel Comics. Photo Credit: Abijith Ka from Wikimedia Commons

By SHAMAIL NASEER

We never noticed him, but through Marvel’s most famous comic characters, he was always in our lives. Sadly, Stan Lee died at the age of 95 on November 12, 2018. 

“I was so torn when I found out he could no longer present his ideas,” said Kayla Pilgrim ‘22, a member of comics club. “His works affected people, and it’s sad that his gift is gone.” 

Lee changed the standards for comics by creating stories that didn’t put superheroes on a platform normal people could never reach. It was this charm that kept leading people back to Marvel and Stan Lee’s comics. 

“My parents weren’t happy that I became a teacher,” said Mr. Marco Machado, a physics teacher. “Captain Marvel has a backstory where she wasn’t supported by her family, and she really just wanted to fly. My background is one where I wanted to fly, too, and I felt that our stories paralleled.”  

In an obituary in the New York Times, Lee said, “What I tried to do was take these characters, who are obviously bigger than life and fictitious, and make them seem real.”

Lee didn’t disappoint! He created Peter Parker, a regular high school boy with teenager problems who just happens to be able to shoot webs out of his wrists. The Fantastic Four, one of Lee’s first creations, had human flaws, self-doubts, and worries along with their powers.

In today’s world, people want to say something but they can’t,” said Mr. Machado “Comics give them a platform.”

Stan Lee supported the civil rights movements in the 1960s through his stories, the most famous example being the X-men, a race of mutants cast out of society for their differences. 

“He inspired other artists and writers,” said Rezanur Rohan ’20, a member of the comics club. “Now they entertain others with engaging storylines, interesting characters, and real-world morals.”

His legacy won’t be easily forgotten. 

“When I was a kid, my dad would bring stacks of comics from the library like everyday,” said Anthony Lekakis ’20, a Marvel fan. “I used to read comics every time he came home from the library, and there’s just all these worlds. If I ever met Stan Lee, I would say thank you. Not only did he drive my father’s love for comics, he drove mine. He created new worlds, and that’s just a beautiful thing.”