Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

Last Monday was a sad day for comic book fans the world over.

Legendary comc book editor and multi-media giant Stan Lee died at the age of 95.

He was preceded in death by his wifeJoan who had died in July, 2017.

Stan Lee had created some of the industry’s most iconic characters and made Marvel comics the number one comics publisher.

In 2009, The Walt Disney Co. bought Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion, and most of the top-grossing superhero films of all time — led by Avengers: Infinity War's $2.05 billion worldwide take earlier this year — have featured Marvel

characters.

Lee, who started in the business back in 1939, created or co-created characters such as Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man (along with Steve Ditko) and the Fantastic Four.

In the early 1960s, Lee’s signature for creating his characters was to make them more human.

DC characters, such as Batman and Superman, were well loved and a bit 2 dimensional back in the sixties.

Peter Parker was written as a teen unsure of himself, especially around girls.

He wrote that the populace was afraid of mutants such as the X-Men.

If it wasn’t for Stan Lee, comic books and entertainment in general would be different.

Comics would probably still be sitting in the magazine racks at the grocery store

instead of their own stores.

And even if Superman the Motion Picture still would have come out 1978, the current batch of superhero movies would not have.

Especially their quality.

Stan Lee also saw to other properties under the Marvel banner such as Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and the best run in comics for G.I. Joe.

He also did a limited series reimagining some of the more iconic characters for DC Comics.

Stan Lee will be missed in the comic book and multi-media industries.

His cameos might even bring a tear in the upcoming Captain Marvel and Avengers 4 movies.

Rest in peace.

‘Nuff said.

Jim has been a

contributing columnist to the Telegram for over the last five years. You can contact Jim at [email protected].