The Washington Post:
Stan Lee, a writer and editor often credited with helping American comics grow up by redefining the notion of a superhero, including the self-doubting Spider-Man, the bickering Fantastic Four, the swaggering Iron Man and the raging Incredible Hulk, died Nov. 12 at a hospital in Los Angeles. He was 95.
Mr. Lee’s name became synonymous with the company that would become Marvel Comics, which he joined as a teenage assistant and stayed with for much of his adult life.
Stan Lee brought a great deal of joy into the world.
Some people are real life Superheroes.
Because of the discussions about publishing in the Marvel Bullpen (a feedback column in the back of the comic books), Stan Lee (and Fabulous Flo) may well have been the first working professionals I was aware of beyond my parents.
An angry 1980s Village Voice cover story about Marvel’s treatment of Jack Kirby informed my opinion of Stan Lee for years until more reasonable voices stepped in. As Michael Chabon said in his Instagram note, you have only to look at Kirby’s solo work to see how important Stan Lee had been to the Marvel stories.
Stan Lee was instrumental in making comics take the next step into the lives of college kids and young adults by crafting stories that were more then just for kids and helping to create some of the most iconic characters in the medium. Along with Jack Kirby, they ushered in stories that were more well rounded and realistic, super heroes with every day problems we all face.
Thank you Stan, for a lifetime of joy you brought to me and so many others. Say hi to the “King” for us, we shall miss both of you!