Marvel released a new commemorative art piece honoring the late and great Stan Lee on the anniversary of his death. The iconic comic book creator died last year just a month shy of his 96th birthday. Lee is fondly remembered for the incredible number of comic book characters he created during his career, as well as his many memorable cameos in the MCU films.
Truly, Lee’s legacy spans across the multiverse. The man behind Marvel is responsible for creating and co-creating some of the most recognizable comic book characters of all time. Lee was the visionary behind Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange, Iron Man, Thor, and so many more - Lee had a hand in all of their origin stories. Marvel fans everywhere were devastated when news of Lee’s death was announced last year. Audiences around the world were also touched when the classic Marvel movie intro that typically plays before a new MCU movie was changed into a tribute to Lee before the start of Captain Marvel (he would also go on to have his traditional cameo later in the same movie).
Marvel Studios posted the beautiful tribute artwork (created by Adam Kubert) to the icon on their Twitter page today, featuring a smiling Stan Lee surrounded by an array of familiar heroes including Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Hulk, She-Hulk, and the Black Panther. On the official Marvel Comics website, the company also posted a heartfelt tribute and video honoring Lee. Titled “Remembering Stan Lee,” the Marvel Comics tribute also includes links to stories about Lee’s life and career. As Marvel Comics wrote in its tribute, it’s impossible to overstate the influence Lee had on the comics industry, and thus, modern pop-culture itself.
Even a year after his death, the love for Lee is felt across the globe. What made the man from Manhattan so beloved was his genuine dedication to the iconic characters, universes, and massive comic book empire he helped create from the ground up. Fans grew accustomed to the traditional Lee cameo in every Marvel Cinematic Universe film, to the point where speculation about upcoming movies was just as much about where Lee would pop up as well as actual plot points regarding the film’s leading comic book hero.
Today, we mark one year since Stan’s passing. And while he’ll always live in the voice of Spider-Man, and Mister Fantastic, and the Thing, and the Invisible Woman, and the Human Torch, and Black Panther, and the Hulk, and Doctor Doom, and Thor, and Loki, and Ant-Man, and the Wasp, and Iron Man, and Daredevil, and Mary Jane Watson, and Doctor Octopus, and Doctor Strange, and the merry mutants, and an ever-lovin’ litany of other Marvel characters…it’s the spirit of Stan that endures above all.
The poppin’ positivity, the sincere Soapboxes, the rib-crackin’ quips—the heart that Stan put into every mighty Marvel mag—that’s what’ll reverberate across his Universe, and ours, forever.
Lee always made it clear how much he truly appreciated the fans of his beloved franchises. Even the famous actors portraying his characters, from Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman to the original six Avengers, posted emotional tributes to Lee after his passing. Sadly, the self-made legend who gave so much to others throughout his long life needed a hero of his own in his last days. Lee’s former manager was arrested after the comic book creator’s death on charges of elder abuse, accused of embezzling money from Lee as well as isolating him from his family. Lee also never got to see the culmination of the Infinity Saga, passing away before he got to see Avengers: Endgame.
Ultimately, Lee will forever be synonymous with comics greatness, and his legacy will live on for many years. To fans across the universe, Stan Lee will forever be the most legendary superhero of them all.
Next: Stan Lee Gets A New York Street Named After Him
Source: Marvel
