Stan Lee, the co-creator of Marvel Comics whose larger than life personality turned him into a beloved figure among comic book fans, has passed away. He was 95 years old.
Born Stanley Lieber, Lee was the co-creator of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, the Black Panther, the Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, the Avengers, the X-Men and countless others. He first joined Marvel Comics as a gofer and errand boy, but shot his way up the ranks via his keen ear for dramatic dialog, unfailing professional ambition and tireless knack for promotion. He always believed his characters had cinematic potential, but it wasn’t until his golden years that the rest of the world came to agree with him. Today, there are few places on Earth his influence has not reached.
Even as rumors of his failing health spread, he was still a beloved presence at comic cons and, of course, his trademark cameos in Marvel films. Lee’s wife, Joan, passed away last year.
