Farewell, true believers
November 12, 2018 10:57 AM Subscribe
Stan Lee is dead at 95.
.
posted by TheDukeOfChalfont at 10:58 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by TheDukeOfChalfont at 10:58 AM on November 12, 2018
š„
posted by The otter lady at 11:00 AM on November 12, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by The otter lady at 11:00 AM on November 12, 2018 [26 favorites]
Excelsior, sir.
posted by Gelatin at 11:00 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Gelatin at 11:00 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
.
posted by ourobouros at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by ourobouros at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by ogooglebar at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by ogooglebar at 11:01 AM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by sleeping bear at 11:02 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by sleeping bear at 11:02 AM on November 12, 2018
.
not sure whether I'm sad or relieved that there won't be any more eye-rolling cameos in Marvel movies. probably a little of both, I guess. godspeed sir.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:02 AM on November 12, 2018 [8 favorites]
not sure whether I'm sad or relieved that there won't be any more eye-rolling cameos in Marvel movies. probably a little of both, I guess. godspeed sir.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:02 AM on November 12, 2018 [8 favorites]
.
posted by Secret Sparrow at 11:03 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Secret Sparrow at 11:03 AM on November 12, 2018
Excelsior!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 11:03 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 11:03 AM on November 12, 2018
.
Stan did maybe half of what popular culture credited him with, and that half is still more than enough to make him one of the greatest comics creators who ever lived. Not to mention the medium's all-time greatest hype man, by a mile. I'm glad he lived long and well.
And I loved the cameos.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2018 [75 favorites]
Stan did maybe half of what popular culture credited him with, and that half is still more than enough to make him one of the greatest comics creators who ever lived. Not to mention the medium's all-time greatest hype man, by a mile. I'm glad he lived long and well.
And I loved the cameos.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2018 [75 favorites]
.
not sure whether I'm sad or relieved that there won't be any more eye-rolling cameos in Marvel movies. probably a little of both, I guess. godspeed sir.
Wanna bet they have a lot of them in the can ? Prepare for lots of eye-rolling
posted by Pendragon at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2018 [13 favorites]
not sure whether I'm sad or relieved that there won't be any more eye-rolling cameos in Marvel movies. probably a little of both, I guess. godspeed sir.
Wanna bet they have a lot of them in the can ? Prepare for lots of eye-rolling
posted by Pendragon at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2018 [13 favorites]
.
posted by Gaz Errant at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Gaz Errant at 11:04 AM on November 12, 2018
Gotta give him props for holding out against The Snap for this long.
.
posted by radwolf76 at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018 [8 favorites]
.
posted by radwolf76 at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018 [8 favorites]
Oh god. I knew he couldnāt have too much longer in him but Iām still so sad.
Iām only glad that whatever assholes were taking advantage of him these last few years, canāt anymore. That was fucking tragic.
posted by greermahoney at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
Iām only glad that whatever assholes were taking advantage of him these last few years, canāt anymore. That was fucking tragic.
posted by greermahoney at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
.
posted by SonInLawOfSam at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by SonInLawOfSam at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018
š„
posted by lalochezia at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by lalochezia at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018
.
I'm glad he lived long enough to see his (co-)creations take over entertainment. For all his bombast and narcissism (Is there a nicer word for that? Well, he was only a little narcissistic, then.), he was always pushing for comic books and the stories they told to be recognized by the wider world.
Excelsior!
posted by Etrigan at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm glad he lived long enough to see his (co-)creations take over entertainment. For all his bombast and narcissism (Is there a nicer word for that? Well, he was only a little narcissistic, then.), he was always pushing for comic books and the stories they told to be recognized by the wider world.
Excelsior!
posted by Etrigan at 11:06 AM on November 12, 2018 [11 favorites]
A rich old white guy who left the world better for his existence in it; a rarity indeed. Farewell.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2018 [34 favorites]
I looked forward to every cameo. The more ridiculous, the better. āTony Stank.ā
posted by greermahoney at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by greermahoney at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2018 [18 favorites]
.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2018
āAnd now, until we meet again, may the blessings of Asgard be showered upon you!ā
.
posted by Fizz at 11:08 AM on November 12, 2018 [12 favorites]
.
posted by Fizz at 11:08 AM on November 12, 2018 [12 favorites]
> Pendragon:
".
not sure whether I'm sad or relieved that there won't be any more eye-rolling cameos in Marvel movies. probably a little of both, I guess. godspeed sir.
Wanna bet they have a lot of them in the can ? Prepare for lots of eye-rolling"
I have seen he worked out a few with Gunn (when he was still employed).
posted by Samizdata at 11:09 AM on November 12, 2018
".
not sure whether I'm sad or relieved that there won't be any more eye-rolling cameos in Marvel movies. probably a little of both, I guess. godspeed sir.
Wanna bet they have a lot of them in the can ? Prepare for lots of eye-rolling"
I have seen he worked out a few with Gunn (when he was still employed).
posted by Samizdata at 11:09 AM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by PippinJack at 11:09 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by PippinJack at 11:09 AM on November 12, 2018
.
(crosses his fingers Stan's death is as ephemeral as death in comics)
posted by Samizdata at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
(crosses his fingers Stan's death is as ephemeral as death in comics)
posted by Samizdata at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
.
posted by zombieflanders at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by zombieflanders at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
One of the few U.S. Army officially-classified playwrights.
posted by Etrigan at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 11:11 AM on November 12, 2018 [11 favorites]
šøļø
posted by the painkiller at 11:13 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by the painkiller at 11:13 AM on November 12, 2018
Hey Stan, thanks for being there and giving me a helluva lot of entertainment all through my teens until now. It looked like you were having a blast yourself, right up until the end and you certainly deserved.
Take care man!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:13 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Take care man!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:13 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
There in the twilight cold and gray,
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell like a falling star,
Excelsior!
posted by The otter lady at 11:13 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay,
And from the sky, serene and far,
A voice fell like a falling star,
Excelsior!
posted by The otter lady at 11:13 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
"Smilin'" Stan Lee has gone to that great bullpen in the sky. Excelsior.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
ā¢
posted by MovableBookLady at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by MovableBookLady at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018
.
Probably the greatest editor and talent scout in comics history, and, in collaboration with idea people like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, an essential ingredient as a scripter and plot "punch-up" writer who humanized and grounded their work. Beyond that, he created, more than anyone else, the especially tightly-woven, soap-operatic notion of continuity that is the framework for the MCU.
And despite his myriad sins of credit-hogging and corporate stoogery, he was for his time more of a promoter of creative talent than most comics publishers before him. At a time when Bob Kane was still signing his name to other people's work and Carl Barks was the anonymous "Good Duck artist," Stan was calling Kirby "King" and giving credits to his letterers. He also took a flier on folks like Steranko and let a lot of the talent do whatever they liked, albeit that he often wanted to put his name first in the credits regardless of his contribution.
Lee was a visionary in terms of how to structure and promote a genre and a publishing line, and his editorship created the interconnections that linked the work of the visionaries he recruited in deep ways. Readers and critics who think of the best pure comics as the work of the unfettered auteur will never celebrate him, of course, and he went along with Martin Goodman's terrible treatment of creators long after he had to. But ultimately his legacy was, on the balance, a positive one for pop culture.
posted by kewb at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018 [51 favorites]
Probably the greatest editor and talent scout in comics history, and, in collaboration with idea people like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, an essential ingredient as a scripter and plot "punch-up" writer who humanized and grounded their work. Beyond that, he created, more than anyone else, the especially tightly-woven, soap-operatic notion of continuity that is the framework for the MCU.
And despite his myriad sins of credit-hogging and corporate stoogery, he was for his time more of a promoter of creative talent than most comics publishers before him. At a time when Bob Kane was still signing his name to other people's work and Carl Barks was the anonymous "Good Duck artist," Stan was calling Kirby "King" and giving credits to his letterers. He also took a flier on folks like Steranko and let a lot of the talent do whatever they liked, albeit that he often wanted to put his name first in the credits regardless of his contribution.
Lee was a visionary in terms of how to structure and promote a genre and a publishing line, and his editorship created the interconnections that linked the work of the visionaries he recruited in deep ways. Readers and critics who think of the best pure comics as the work of the unfettered auteur will never celebrate him, of course, and he went along with Martin Goodman's terrible treatment of creators long after he had to. But ultimately his legacy was, on the balance, a positive one for pop culture.
posted by kewb at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018 [51 favorites]
Godspeed, sir. That we ever lived among such giants.
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:17 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
.
I am not a huge Marvel or comics fan in general, but I know enough to be sad at his passing. I enjoyed the cameos a lot, and always thought of him as a kind of grand old man. RIP.
posted by Alensin at 11:18 AM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am not a huge Marvel or comics fan in general, but I know enough to be sad at his passing. I enjoyed the cameos a lot, and always thought of him as a kind of grand old man. RIP.
posted by Alensin at 11:18 AM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
Excelsior!
Currently zooming off to the great bullpen in the sky...
He had his faults, obviously, but there's very few people who have had as much an effect on the world like Stan has had.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:21 AM on November 12, 2018
Currently zooming off to the great bullpen in the sky...
He had his faults, obviously, but there's very few people who have had as much an effect on the world like Stan has had.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:21 AM on November 12, 2018
Damn it, even the dictionary is paying tribute.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 11:21 AM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by GhostintheMachine at 11:21 AM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'm sure the writers will find an explanation to bring him back.
posted by ocschwar at 11:22 AM on November 12, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by ocschwar at 11:22 AM on November 12, 2018 [14 favorites]
.
posted by Iridic at 11:23 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Iridic at 11:23 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Stan's Soapbox:
"From time to time we receive letters from readers who wonder why there's so much moralizing in our mags. They take great pains to point out that comics are supposed to be escapist reading, and nothing more. But somehow, I can't see it that way. It seems to me that a story without a message, however subliminal, is like a man without a soul. In fact, even the most escapist literature of all--old-time fairy tales and heroic legends--contained moral and philosophical points of view. At every college campus where I may speak, there's as much discussion of war and peace, civil rights, and the so-called youth rebellion as there is of our Marvel mags per se. None of us lives in a vacuum--none of us is untouched by the everyday events about us--events which shape our stories just as they shape our lives. Sure our tales can be called escapist--but just because something's for fun, doesn't mean we have to blanket our brains while we read it!
Excelsior!
--Stan Lee"
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:23 AM on November 12, 2018 [97 favorites]
"From time to time we receive letters from readers who wonder why there's so much moralizing in our mags. They take great pains to point out that comics are supposed to be escapist reading, and nothing more. But somehow, I can't see it that way. It seems to me that a story without a message, however subliminal, is like a man without a soul. In fact, even the most escapist literature of all--old-time fairy tales and heroic legends--contained moral and philosophical points of view. At every college campus where I may speak, there's as much discussion of war and peace, civil rights, and the so-called youth rebellion as there is of our Marvel mags per se. None of us lives in a vacuum--none of us is untouched by the everyday events about us--events which shape our stories just as they shape our lives. Sure our tales can be called escapist--but just because something's for fun, doesn't mean we have to blanket our brains while we read it!
Excelsior!
--Stan Lee"
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:23 AM on November 12, 2018 [97 favorites]
I cannot articulate what an influence his work has been on me and my life. I would literally not be the same person at all without him.
The same could be said for a lot of people.
Goodbye, Stan. Thank you for everything.
.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:25 AM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
The same could be said for a lot of people.
Goodbye, Stan. Thank you for everything.
.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:25 AM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
.
posted by kbibb at 11:26 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kbibb at 11:26 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by mstokes650 at 11:27 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by mstokes650 at 11:27 AM on November 12, 2018
"All I tried to do in my stories was show that there's some innate goodness in the human condition. And there's always going to be evil; we should always be fighting evil. "
.
posted by pjsky at 11:27 AM on November 12, 2018 [34 favorites]
.
posted by pjsky at 11:27 AM on November 12, 2018 [34 favorites]
Adult me doesnāt have a lot of love for superhero comics, especially the sort of comics that Stan Lee created, but kid me lived for that stuff. So, for that, Sir, my hat is off.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:27 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:27 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
Every Stan Lee Cameo Ever (1989-2018)
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:28 AM on November 12, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:28 AM on November 12, 2018 [14 favorites]
.
posted by Laura in Canada at 11:30 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Laura in Canada at 11:30 AM on November 12, 2018
Came for Tony Stank, was not disappoint!
posted by chavenet at 11:30 AM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 11:30 AM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
Man, they probably digitized the hell out of him specifically so they can do CGI cameos forever.
posted by loquacious at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
He lived a good, long, prosperous and prolific life, and made many contributions to our collective vocabularies about popular culture. He spent his life making stuff that made other people happy, which is more than most of us can hope for.
Iām only glad that whatever assholes were taking advantage of him these last few years, canāt anymore. That was fucking tragic.
I think you're confusing him with Jack Kirby. Understandable--that's the not-so-nice part.
.
And a . for Jack Kirby, who deserves as many as Stan Lee will get.
posted by tzikeh at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [6 favorites]
Iām only glad that whatever assholes were taking advantage of him these last few years, canāt anymore. That was fucking tragic.
I think you're confusing him with Jack Kirby. Understandable--that's the not-so-nice part.
.
And a . for Jack Kirby, who deserves as many as Stan Lee will get.
posted by tzikeh at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [6 favorites]
š·
My favorite Stan Lee cameo for pure delightful cheesy fanservice will always be the 1998 series finale of Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
For all his human flaws, so much of the fiction I love wouldn't exist without him. Excelsior, Stan Lee.
posted by nicebookrack at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
My favorite Stan Lee cameo for pure delightful cheesy fanservice will always be the 1998 series finale of Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
For all his human flaws, so much of the fiction I love wouldn't exist without him. Excelsior, Stan Lee.
posted by nicebookrack at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
Mr Lee is ready for his continuity reboot
posted by fregoli at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by fregoli at 11:31 AM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
Excelsior.
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:33 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Guy Smiley at 11:33 AM on November 12, 2018
He was instrumental in creating something my son and I could talk endlessly about right through the hardest parts of his adolescence. I am grateful.
posted by ckridge at 11:34 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by ckridge at 11:34 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm sad for his passing, but so glad that this weekend I saw his cameos in Teen Titans Go! to the Movies!
Even a DC movie had to have a Stan Lee cameo.
posted by sgranade at 11:35 AM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
Even a DC movie had to have a Stan Lee cameo.
posted by sgranade at 11:35 AM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
Iām only glad that whatever assholes were taking advantage of him these last few years, canāt anymore. That was fucking tragic.
I think you're confusing him with Jack Kirby. Understandable--that's the not-so-nice part.
Nope, there's a whole network of elder abuse allegations that came out in the last year.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:37 AM on November 12, 2018 [19 favorites]
I think you're confusing him with Jack Kirby. Understandable--that's the not-so-nice part.
Nope, there's a whole network of elder abuse allegations that came out in the last year.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:37 AM on November 12, 2018 [19 favorites]
> Every Stan Lee Cameo Ever (1989-2018)
Thank you, I was gong to look for that link. The Washington Post, in an extended obituary, includes this laugh-out-loud line:
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2018 [14 favorites]
Thank you, I was gong to look for that link. The Washington Post, in an extended obituary, includes this laugh-out-loud line:
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 [...] Mr. Lee, who has had cameos in many Marvel-based films, was known for an economy of humility.Excelsior! And .
posted by RedOrGreen at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2018 [14 favorites]
.
(So long, and thank for all the comic books... )
posted by mikelieman at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2018
(So long, and thank for all the comic books... )
posted by mikelieman at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2018
All-seeing Eye of Agamotto, guide him to Eternity!!!!
posted by octobersurprise at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
I learned more about drawing from How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way than pretty much everything else combined. Excelsior, Stan, may you continue to inspire generations of artists to come.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 11:40 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 11:40 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
He created a culture that will live and grow long beyond today.
Also his contribution to art, I don't think it can be understated the effect of making the graphic arts affordable and popular, for people who would never visit a gallery.
posted by adept256 at 11:42 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also his contribution to art, I don't think it can be understated the effect of making the graphic arts affordable and popular, for people who would never visit a gallery.
posted by adept256 at 11:42 AM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:43 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Foci for Analysis at 11:43 AM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by Faintdreams at 11:43 AM on November 12, 2018
posted by Faintdreams at 11:43 AM on November 12, 2018
Stan Lee making fun of Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 11:46 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 11:46 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
"I guess one man can make a difference"
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:46 AM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:46 AM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
"We'd at least like to have it said of us that we tried": Marvel's answer to a 1969 letter writer mad about civil rights talk in comics
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:48 AM on November 12, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:48 AM on November 12, 2018 [23 favorites]
I had the privilege of meeting him twice. I knew on an intellectual level that heās a very older man and so his death isnāt unexpected, but...itās still a blow. Thanks for everything Stan. For all your flaws, Iām still a True Believer.
I think you're confusing him with Jack Kirby. Understandable--that's the not-so-nice part.
If youāre truly unaware of the elder abuse Lee suffers in the last few years, please look it up. If this is some weird snark, while itās perfectly fine to acknowledge how Lee treated Kirby, this probably isnāt the right place to grind an ax.
posted by Sangermaine at 11:51 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
I think you're confusing him with Jack Kirby. Understandable--that's the not-so-nice part.
If youāre truly unaware of the elder abuse Lee suffers in the last few years, please look it up. If this is some weird snark, while itās perfectly fine to acknowledge how Lee treated Kirby, this probably isnāt the right place to grind an ax.
posted by Sangermaine at 11:51 AM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:51 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:51 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
. For making superheros who seemed like real humans.
posted by octothorpe at 11:52 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 11:52 AM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Neil Gaiman: "I was first interviewed for Stan Lee's obituary about 20 years ago. I was happy he defied the reaper and carried on. With Stan gone, an era really does come to an end. He was the happy huckster that comics needed. And he really did alliterate like that when you talked to him."
posted by nicebookrack at 11:53 AM on November 12, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by nicebookrack at 11:53 AM on November 12, 2018 [22 favorites]
You can bet your greenest gamma rays a lot of hearts are broken today.
.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:59 AM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:59 AM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
.
posted by The Bellman at 12:00 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by The Bellman at 12:00 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by zengargoyle at 12:01 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by zengargoyle at 12:01 PM on November 12, 2018
Face front, true believers.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 12:04 PM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 12:04 PM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
.
posted by castlebravo at 12:04 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by castlebravo at 12:04 PM on November 12, 2018
Godspeed, Celestial.
posted by UltraMorgnus at 12:06 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by UltraMorgnus at 12:06 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by doctor_negative at 12:08 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by doctor_negative at 12:08 PM on November 12, 2018
FYI, since Lee was Jewish, an appropriate saying for his passing is "may his memory be a blessing" or "peace be upon him".
Thank you for everything, Stan. I hope you're with Joan now.
posted by fight or flight at 12:10 PM on November 12, 2018 [16 favorites]
Thank you for everything, Stan. I hope you're with Joan now.
posted by fight or flight at 12:10 PM on November 12, 2018 [16 favorites]
.
posted by cooker girl at 12:12 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by cooker girl at 12:12 PM on November 12, 2018
A terrifically transformative titan of a human being.
.
posted by one for the books at 12:13 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by one for the books at 12:13 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
May his memory be a blessing.
Excelsior
.
posted by DigDoug at 12:14 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
Excelsior
.
posted by DigDoug at 12:14 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
Peace be upon him.
.
And, yes, he was not beyond criticism, for reasons already mentioned here. But, also mentioned here, he took many important stands long before they were popular or expected.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:14 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
.
And, yes, he was not beyond criticism, for reasons already mentioned here. But, also mentioned here, he took many important stands long before they were popular or expected.
posted by Halloween Jack at 12:14 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
.
posted by isauteikisa at 12:18 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by isauteikisa at 12:18 PM on November 12, 2018
May his memory be a blessing. I knew he was quite old, but I'm still sad at the news. His works, and the legacy of those works, have transformed me. And it must have been so much fun to be him, to shape his medium so deeply and be a part of such an amazing age of comics.
.
i love the cameos i hope they filmed like 20
posted by kalimac at 12:20 PM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
.
i love the cameos i hope they filmed like 20
posted by kalimac at 12:20 PM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
.
posted by praemunire at 12:21 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by praemunire at 12:21 PM on November 12, 2018
āItās the best way, itās the professional way, itās the Marvel way.ā
From Part 5 of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. (YouTube video, ~3 minutes)
.
posted by darkstar at 12:22 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
From Part 5 of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way. (YouTube video, ~3 minutes)
.
posted by darkstar at 12:22 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
He created a culture that will live and grow long beyond today.
I can't shake the notion that (whether one thinks it fair or not) many centuries from now, his name will be the one attached to an entire culture's fairy tales, like Aesop or Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm.
And you know what? Our culture could do a lot worse for itself than to be remembered that way.
posted by mstokes650 at 12:24 PM on November 12, 2018 [29 favorites]
I can't shake the notion that (whether one thinks it fair or not) many centuries from now, his name will be the one attached to an entire culture's fairy tales, like Aesop or Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm.
And you know what? Our culture could do a lot worse for itself than to be remembered that way.
posted by mstokes650 at 12:24 PM on November 12, 2018 [29 favorites]
.
I hope they keep adding cameos long after they run out of footage - have a picture in a photo album, him on a poster in the subway, a childhood photo on a milk carton, a news story showing archive footage of an interview... keep it going until it's a secret inside joke and there are clickbait articles about "Can you name the person who's appeared in the most movies?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:33 PM on November 12, 2018 [39 favorites]
I hope they keep adding cameos long after they run out of footage - have a picture in a photo album, him on a poster in the subway, a childhood photo on a milk carton, a news story showing archive footage of an interview... keep it going until it's a secret inside joke and there are clickbait articles about "Can you name the person who's appeared in the most movies?"
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:33 PM on November 12, 2018 [39 favorites]
I was one of the very few women in charge of a comics company in the pre internet era. I have many Stan Lee stories. He was a legend to legions, and on some days, to himself. I had plans to see him soon. He was...he was Stan Lee. Every second of every day, he was always Stan Lee. And forever more, there will be a Stan Lee shaped hole in the universe.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 12:35 PM on November 12, 2018 [68 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 12:35 PM on November 12, 2018 [68 favorites]
i love the cameos i hope they filmed like 20
I read they filmed a lot of the cameos at the same time before Stan became too unwell to do it, so hopefully they have a few saved up. I imagine the one in the next movie will be especially poignant though.
With beautiful happenstance the next Marvel movie is going to be Captain Marvel, who was created by Stan.
Pretty sure I'm going to cry. A lot.
posted by fight or flight at 12:39 PM on November 12, 2018 [11 favorites]
I read they filmed a lot of the cameos at the same time before Stan became too unwell to do it, so hopefully they have a few saved up. I imagine the one in the next movie will be especially poignant though.
With beautiful happenstance the next Marvel movie is going to be Captain Marvel, who was created by Stan.
Pretty sure I'm going to cry. A lot.
posted by fight or flight at 12:39 PM on November 12, 2018 [11 favorites]
.
posted by Anita Bath at 12:40 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by Anita Bath at 12:40 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by homunculus at 12:42 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by homunculus at 12:42 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by allandsome at 12:42 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by allandsome at 12:42 PM on November 12, 2018
. May his memory be a blessing.
posted by misslucyjane at 12:44 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by misslucyjane at 12:44 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
.
posted by Alterscape at 12:48 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by Alterscape at 12:48 PM on November 12, 2018
If heaven was real, I like to think Stan Lee would just pop up in the background periodically, say something hammy and then trod off. Just cameos for all time, even in the afterlife.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2018 [12 favorites]
.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2018
.
I will always Make Mine Marvel because of Stan Lee and his fellow creators.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
I will always Make Mine Marvel because of Stan Lee and his fellow creators.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 12:55 PM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 12:56 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 12:56 PM on November 12, 2018
Stan Lee, Mallrats
By far the best of all the Stan Lee cameos.
.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:57 PM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
By far the best of all the Stan Lee cameos.
.
posted by tobascodagama at 12:57 PM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:59 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by lazaruslong at 12:59 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:05 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:05 PM on November 12, 2018
.
Thank you, sir. Thank you for creating, for helping so many more people create, and apparently being an all-around decent person while doing so, for so long.
posted by seyirci at 1:15 PM on November 12, 2018
Thank you, sir. Thank you for creating, for helping so many more people create, and apparently being an all-around decent person while doing so, for so long.
posted by seyirci at 1:15 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by sharp pointy objects at 1:20 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by sharp pointy objects at 1:20 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by Token Meme at 1:22 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by Token Meme at 1:22 PM on November 12, 2018
.
I'm just the right age to have first known him as the narrator of the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends 80s cartoon, though according to Wikipedia
I'm just the right age to have first known him as the narrator of the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends 80s cartoon, though according to Wikipedia
posted by XMLicious at 1:32 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]Only some of the Stan Lee narrations for the third season are on the current masters. The missing narrations have not aired since the NBC airings.
.
posted by mistersquid at 1:43 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by mistersquid at 1:43 PM on November 12, 2018
The Fantastic Four, Dr. Doom, the Hulk... these are characters that have residence in my soul.
Excelsior.
I like the cameos.
posted by Zed at 1:47 PM on November 12, 2018
Excelsior.
I like the cameos.
posted by Zed at 1:47 PM on November 12, 2018
A billion years ago I had a hideous blog where I'd post scans of the Bullpen Bulletins pages featuring Stan's Soapbox. Made it up to 1975 before I crapped out. Pretty sure there's a complete collection somewhere else out there, but anyway, may be a good day to read some of them.
Thanks, Stan.
!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 1:47 PM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
Thanks, Stan.
!
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 1:47 PM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
.
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 1:47 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by faceplantingcheetah at 1:47 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by JoeXIII007 at 1:49 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by JoeXIII007 at 1:49 PM on November 12, 2018
From the aforementioned Polygon article:
In one of his final interviews, Lee told the Daily Beast that he hopes āI leave everyone happy when I leave.ā
āYou wonāt leave anyone happy,ā his daughter interjected.
āWell, I donāt mean happy that I left,ā Lee explained, āHappy that I took the right path.ā
Excelsior, Stanley Martin Lieberman
posted by Eikonaut at 1:51 PM on November 12, 2018 [23 favorites]
In one of his final interviews, Lee told the Daily Beast that he hopes āI leave everyone happy when I leave.ā
āYou wonāt leave anyone happy,ā his daughter interjected.
āWell, I donāt mean happy that I left,ā Lee explained, āHappy that I took the right path.ā
Excelsior, Stanley Martin Lieberman
posted by Eikonaut at 1:51 PM on November 12, 2018 [23 favorites]
Peace be upon you, Stan, and thanks for all the stories. Excelsior!
.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 2:01 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 2:01 PM on November 12, 2018
Hey, some of those werenāt cameos! Lee played Willie Lumpkin!
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:18 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:18 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
Early in the morning a few years ago a groggy Stan Lee and his bodyguards step onto an elevator I was taking, moments later two young fans entered and asked for a selfie. After exiting the elevator I was walking next to him when he greeted Lou Ferrigno coming the other way. In those two short interactions he impressed me with his graciousness, vivaciousness and wit. He had his share of problems no doubt, but/and they came with an immense amount of humanity.
.
posted by tychotesla at 2:40 PM on November 12, 2018 [8 favorites]
.
posted by tychotesla at 2:40 PM on November 12, 2018 [8 favorites]
I will be sitting Shiva for Stan.
My lifelong love has been comic books. It led me to the other loves of my life, music, skateboarding and, very directly, my wife. Stan's work gave me a community when I feared I would have none. He saved my life and the life of my friends in real ways.
Face front true believers.
Excelsior!
posted by extraheavymarcellus at 2:48 PM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
My lifelong love has been comic books. It led me to the other loves of my life, music, skateboarding and, very directly, my wife. Stan's work gave me a community when I feared I would have none. He saved my life and the life of my friends in real ways.
Face front true believers.
Excelsior!
posted by extraheavymarcellus at 2:48 PM on November 12, 2018 [10 favorites]
.
posted by ...possums at 2:50 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by ...possums at 2:50 PM on November 12, 2018
I don't have enough . for this today
God speed Stan.
posted by twidget at 2:53 PM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
God speed Stan.
posted by twidget at 2:53 PM on November 12, 2018 [2 favorites]
. Peace be upon him.
posted by cendawanita at 2:59 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cendawanita at 2:59 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just wait. Three more issues and he'll be back as Dark Stan.
Excelsior.
.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:07 PM on November 12, 2018 [16 favorites]
Excelsior.
.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 3:07 PM on November 12, 2018 [16 favorites]
.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 3:15 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by Sing Or Swim at 3:15 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by dannyboybell at 3:26 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by dannyboybell at 3:26 PM on November 12, 2018
I saw Black Panther for the first time this weekend and was just wondering about Stan Lee.
Thank you for all the happymaking moments, sir. May your memory be a blessing.
posted by theappleonatree at 3:49 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thank you for all the happymaking moments, sir. May your memory be a blessing.
posted by theappleonatree at 3:49 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by SoundInhabitant at 3:51 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by SoundInhabitant at 3:51 PM on November 12, 2018
A genuine storytelling Titan passes, and the Earth is a little darker for his leaving.
Excelsior!
ā¢
posted by dbiedny at 3:53 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Excelsior!
ā¢
posted by dbiedny at 3:53 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
I totally thought he was Asian until I saw him in Mallrats, and straight afterwards I Lycosed him to see if they had just whitewashed the character.
posted by 256 at 4:10 PM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by 256 at 4:10 PM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
Damn, another hero gone. I too like the cameos, and I love ErisLordFreedom's idea for continuing them. It would be a lovely tribute.
.
posted by Fuchsoid at 4:34 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
.
posted by Fuchsoid at 4:34 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Excelsior!
posted by triage_lazarus at 4:45 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by triage_lazarus at 4:45 PM on November 12, 2018
The Comics Journal has a pretty thorough obituary.
It would be hard to overestimate Leeās impact on the art, business and cultural image of comics. His noteworthy creative work emerged during a roughly 10-year period, but his comics career spanned more than 75 years ā very nearly the life of the comics industry itself.posted by 1970s Antihero at 4:48 PM on November 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 4:55 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 4:55 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by mrgroweler at 5:54 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by mrgroweler at 5:54 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by okayokayigive at 5:56 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by okayokayigive at 5:56 PM on November 12, 2018
I met Stan Lee 30 years ago and he seemed old as dirt to me then. I don't care about comics, but my dad is a cartoonist, and I know entirely too much about them.
there's a lot to say about the guy, and the last few years have been sad, especially after his wife died. I got nothing to say about that.
But,
since everyone loves capitalists and romanticising the "couple dudes working in a garage that ended up changing the world" narrative, that was Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
I'd make a Jobs and Woz comparison, but that would be unfair to Stan Lee.
.
posted by lkc at 6:02 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
there's a lot to say about the guy, and the last few years have been sad, especially after his wife died. I got nothing to say about that.
But,
since everyone loves capitalists and romanticising the "couple dudes working in a garage that ended up changing the world" narrative, that was Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
I'd make a Jobs and Woz comparison, but that would be unfair to Stan Lee.
.
posted by lkc at 6:02 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
My wife reminded me that we had gotten a photo with him at DragonCon a few years back. We meant to get it signed at his autograph table the next day (along with a print of this), but he ended up leaving a day early because he'd gotten mobbed by fans on the way to his room and it stressed him out. Still even without the autographs, the photo op and attending his panel were some of our highlights that year.
posted by radwolf76 at 6:45 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by radwolf76 at 6:45 PM on November 12, 2018
.
Thanks for everything, even the ancillary industry BS.
posted by mwhybark at 6:52 PM on November 12, 2018
Thanks for everything, even the ancillary industry BS.
posted by mwhybark at 6:52 PM on November 12, 2018
Stan filmed several cameos in 2016. Of those, three remain. He will appear in Captain Marvel, The Avengers, and in the end, and so appropriately, Spiderman: Far From Home.
Excelsior!
posted by headspace at 6:54 PM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
Excelsior!
posted by headspace at 6:54 PM on November 12, 2018 [5 favorites]
an original SJW: "In 2007, Stan Lee wrote this remarkable four-panel meditation on the American Idea"
posted by kliuless at 7:07 PM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by kliuless at 7:07 PM on November 12, 2018 [7 favorites]
As a card-carrying member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society, I found Stan's fantasy of Marvel's creative team as a bullpen, a bunch of guys (and Marie Severin and "Fabulous" Flo Steinberg) just hangin' around, making jokes and drawing the comics I loved, such a great image to buy into. After I grew up and went to work, the idealized Bullpen became more transparently a fiction, but that was part of his genius--creating that space we all wanted to inhabit, either inside the panels or outside. And at Marvel, that liminal space was more porous than it'd been since the Fleischers had their creations jump out of the inkwell. Smilin' Stan and Jolly Jack interacted with their creations--who weren't always appreciative of their creative efforts.
I grew up on Marvel, only rarely buying a DC mag--didn't have the money to buy both, and I knew where the entertainment value was. So, thanks, Mr. Lee, for how excited I was when the Marvel animated series came out ("When Captain America throws his mighty shield...") and for the three-issue run where Galactus and the Silver Surfer and your words and Kirby's art created an amazing universe entirely new and wondrous to me.
.
posted by the sobsister at 7:48 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
I grew up on Marvel, only rarely buying a DC mag--didn't have the money to buy both, and I knew where the entertainment value was. So, thanks, Mr. Lee, for how excited I was when the Marvel animated series came out ("When Captain America throws his mighty shield...") and for the three-issue run where Galactus and the Silver Surfer and your words and Kirby's art created an amazing universe entirely new and wondrous to me.
.
posted by the sobsister at 7:48 PM on November 12, 2018 [4 favorites]
What was your first Stan Lee cameo?
Was it Mall Rats?
posted by alex_skazat at 7:58 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Was it Mall Rats?
posted by alex_skazat at 7:58 PM on November 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
What was your first Stan Lee cameo?
Perhaps his entire (near-)century on Earth was one extended cameo.
I never met him but I was in his presence at least once: at FanExpo a few years ago, he was out walking the dealersā floor looking at merchandise. He passed a few feet away from me with what I can only term a multitude of awestruck fans bobbing along in his wake. There are slebs by the score at Fan Expo, but I never ran across Shatner or Carrie Fisher or the Wachowskis our for a stroll among the hoi polloi.
I can only reiterate what I wrote five years ago on the Jack Vance obit thread that dying at nearly 100 after several decades of being hugely admired by most of your peers is a better end than most of us will get. And Lee was about a thousand times better-known to the public than Vance was.
There are more famous people than Lee in the world, and people who are better loved. But I wager that no one as famous is as well-loved and no one as well-loved is more famous.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:19 PM on November 12, 2018 [9 favorites]
Perhaps his entire (near-)century on Earth was one extended cameo.
I never met him but I was in his presence at least once: at FanExpo a few years ago, he was out walking the dealersā floor looking at merchandise. He passed a few feet away from me with what I can only term a multitude of awestruck fans bobbing along in his wake. There are slebs by the score at Fan Expo, but I never ran across Shatner or Carrie Fisher or the Wachowskis our for a stroll among the hoi polloi.
I can only reiterate what I wrote five years ago on the Jack Vance obit thread that dying at nearly 100 after several decades of being hugely admired by most of your peers is a better end than most of us will get. And Lee was about a thousand times better-known to the public than Vance was.
There are more famous people than Lee in the world, and people who are better loved. But I wager that no one as famous is as well-loved and no one as well-loved is more famous.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:19 PM on November 12, 2018 [9 favorites]
.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 9:12 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 9:12 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by floweringjudas at 10:00 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by floweringjudas at 10:00 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by limeonaire at 10:28 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by limeonaire at 10:28 PM on November 12, 2018
.
posted by FarOutFreak at 11:14 PM on November 12, 2018
posted by FarOutFreak at 11:14 PM on November 12, 2018
Guardian Obituary.
(and, obliquely Striperella (probably NSFW))
.
posted by rongorongo at 11:59 PM on November 12, 2018
(and, obliquely Striperella (probably NSFW))
.
posted by rongorongo at 11:59 PM on November 12, 2018
Guardian: Still pictures of all the cameos.
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:38 AM on November 13, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by TheophileEscargot at 12:38 AM on November 13, 2018 [6 favorites]
.
posted by Kevin Street at 1:20 AM on November 13, 2018
posted by Kevin Street at 1:20 AM on November 13, 2018
.
posted by bile and syntax at 5:23 AM on November 13, 2018
posted by bile and syntax at 5:23 AM on November 13, 2018
Did you know Stan Lee penned a western comic? Somewhere in a box I have a pretty decent-condition copy of a Rawhide Kid comic. It was found in a trunk hidden under th insulation in our attic when my dad was remodeling. It was old when we found it, and that was probably 35+ years ago.
He had an incredibly long career. It was nice to see him still having fun with it all these years later. And his āsoapboxā May have helped make the world a better place, one young reader at a time.
Excelsior indeed.
posted by caution live frogs at 5:31 AM on November 13, 2018
He had an incredibly long career. It was nice to see him still having fun with it all these years later. And his āsoapboxā May have helped make the world a better place, one young reader at a time.
Excelsior indeed.
posted by caution live frogs at 5:31 AM on November 13, 2018
.
I too was surprised and delighted to see his two cameos in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies this weekend. One fictional universe was not enough to hold him.
posted by bouvin at 5:34 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
I too was surprised and delighted to see his two cameos in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies this weekend. One fictional universe was not enough to hold him.
posted by bouvin at 5:34 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
From 2012: THAT Peter Murphy duets with comic book legend Stan Lee on āThat Old Black Magicā.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:22 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:22 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Issue #1 of Mighty World of Marvel was published on September 30th 1972, when I was seven years old. It republished the origin stories of Spiderman, the Hulk and the Fantastic Four. Reading it I was genuinely aware that my sense of the world was changing around me, probably for the first time.
I keep saying it, but what was undeniably Stan Lee's creation was the mythos and personality of Marvel itself, and without that there really wouldn't have been comic books (an thus popular culture) as we understand it - it tied the comics together into a coherent whole even before there were crossovers or any idea of a shared universe.
posted by Grangousier at 6:27 AM on November 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
I keep saying it, but what was undeniably Stan Lee's creation was the mythos and personality of Marvel itself, and without that there really wouldn't have been comic books (an thus popular culture) as we understand it - it tied the comics together into a coherent whole even before there were crossovers or any idea of a shared universe.
posted by Grangousier at 6:27 AM on November 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
My Moments With Stan (tribute comic) - Written by Brian Michael Bendis; Drawn by Bill Walko; Colored by Howie Noel
In a tribute comic, Brian Michael Bendis reflects on the first time he met Stan Lee and how Mr. Lee inspired him in his two-decade career at Marvel Comics.posted by ZeusHumms at 6:39 AM on November 13, 2018 [3 favorites]
.
posted by Mental Wimp at 6:53 AM on November 13, 2018
posted by Mental Wimp at 6:53 AM on November 13, 2018
Stan Lee supercharged Marvel Comics into one of the most important cultural forces on the planet. But how much credit does he really deserve?
posted by robbyrobs at 7:10 AM on November 13, 2018
posted by robbyrobs at 7:10 AM on November 13, 2018
If you have any powers (and of course you do), now's the time to discover/use them, heroes. That's all Stan ever really wanted, peace be with him.
posted by Arson Lupine at 7:35 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Arson Lupine at 7:35 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Did you know Stan Lee penned a western comic? Somewhere in a box I have a pretty decent-condition copy of a Rawhide Kid comic.
Rawhide Kid lives on. My seven-year-old knows about him, because of the Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 video game. It has some time warp stuff caused by Kang the Conqueror, and the Old West portion of the game includes Rawhide Kid and other classic Western characters.
posted by Fleebnork at 7:49 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Rawhide Kid lives on. My seven-year-old knows about him, because of the Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 video game. It has some time warp stuff caused by Kang the Conqueror, and the Old West portion of the game includes Rawhide Kid and other classic Western characters.
posted by Fleebnork at 7:49 AM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
Gary Groth, being Gary Groth:
compared to the careers of Leeās two most prominent visual collaborators, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he was virtually a creative nonentity. Naturally, he became richer and more famous than either of them. Whereas they merely had their talent and their genius, he had something far more valuable: an affable and smarmy persona that gave the American public what it always prefers: decades of vacuous pronouncements, and a smattering of entertainment devoid of content and substance.posted by 1970s Antihero at 11:11 AM on November 13, 2018
he had something far more valuable: an affable and smarmy persona
One thing more than you, Gary.
I kid, I kid. Mostly.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:25 AM on November 13, 2018 [8 favorites]
One thing more than you, Gary.
I kid, I kid. Mostly.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:25 AM on November 13, 2018 [8 favorites]
I figure the shady stuff Stan did as EiC at Marvel would have happened if he was there or not.
The characters he (co)created, though, they wouldn't be the same without his magic. He redefined comics by making them about people with flaws, people who you could connect with.
posted by thecjm at 5:31 PM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
The characters he (co)created, though, they wouldn't be the same without his magic. He redefined comics by making them about people with flaws, people who you could connect with.
posted by thecjm at 5:31 PM on November 13, 2018 [1 favorite]
The thing is, if you look at the work Kirby and Ditko did on their own... well, it turns out that the Marvel house style, the wit and casual manner, the relatively human and humane characters, that clearly came mostly from Lee. Obviously a lot of people like the New Gods and Celestials, but they are in no way the same. And Ditko's objectivism is pretty far from Peter Parker's self-sacrificing nature. And it's that essential nature that has come down through the years and defines the characters, not the art.
posted by tavella at 9:13 AM on November 14, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by tavella at 9:13 AM on November 14, 2018 [8 favorites]
Yeah, I think that's one of the reasons Lee gets a bit of a pass. Unlike, say, Bob Kane, it's clear that Lee was bringing something to the table, even if it was maybe not as much as he took credit for.
posted by tobascodagama at 11:49 AM on November 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 11:49 AM on November 14, 2018 [4 favorites]
Marvel Remembers the Legacy of Stan Lee
Marvel Eulogizes Stan Lee in Memorial Video and Iām Not Crying, Youāre Crying
posted by homunculus at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2018
Marvel Eulogizes Stan Lee in Memorial Video and Iām Not Crying, Youāre Crying
posted by homunculus at 1:14 PM on November 15, 2018
Fleebnork: "Rawhide Kid lives on. My seven-year-old knows about him, because of the Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 video game. It has some time warp stuff caused by Kang the Conqueror, and the Old West portion of the game includes Rawhide Kid and other classic Western characters."
Didn't know that! I assumed the comic died out ... the one I have is old, apparently #19, based on the one story I remember clearly.
posted by caution live frogs at 1:49 PM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
Didn't know that! I assumed the comic died out ... the one I have is old, apparently #19, based on the one story I remember clearly.
posted by caution live frogs at 1:49 PM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]
SecretAgentSockpuppet, I hope you are writing a book.
posted by theora55 at 11:21 AM on November 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 11:21 AM on November 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Face Front, True Believers: The Comics Industry Sounds Off on Stan Lee is an excerpt from The Comics Journal #181, and far less of a hit piece than you would expect.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:22 AM on December 5, 2018
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:22 AM on December 5, 2018
« Older The reality of Aung San Suu Kyi | Rethinking Crime Photos & Rights of Nonviolent... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by mightygodking at 10:58 AM on November 12, 2018 [43 favorites]