Lee University remembers Stan Lee and his Marvel universe
FILE - In this April 11, 2012, file photo,Stan Lee arrives at the premiere of "The Avengers" in Los Angeles. Comic book genius Lee, the architect of the contemporary comic book, has died. He was 95. The creative dynamo who revolutionized the comics by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, was declared dead Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee's daughter, J.C. Lee.
AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File
Stan Lee, the co-creator of the Marvel Universe, passed away on Monday, Nov. 11, and students and faculty at Lee University are taking it to heart.
According to Marvel’s official website, Stanley Martin Lieber (aka Stan Lee) loved telling stories from an early age. He carried this passion into his career later on, forming the creations we all know and love today. However, rather than remaining behind the curtain, he engaged with fans and connected with them over his stories throughout his lifetime.
“Marvel fans found a friend in Stan Lee,” the website says. “He introduced the famous ‘Stan's Soapbox’ to speak directly to his readers, reaching a personal level rarely seen in comics of the day.”
Because of his connection to his readers and their willingness to learn from his work, Lee’s stories inspired many works of literature and cinema, propelling Marvel into the powerhouse franchise it is today.
Assistant Director of Media Services at Lee University Lee Waller believes that cinema would not be what it is today without the legendary comics figure and his creative work with Marvel.
“Without a doubt, Stan Lee has had a huge effect on movies over the past 10 to 15 years because of the stories he wrote 20 to 30, maybe 40 years ago. His legacy has affected not just generations back then, but generations today and the movie industry greatly,” Waller said. “Without his stories pushing visual effects, I don’t know if we would be where we are, but because of those visual effects, we’re able to tell those stories now.”
Andrew Dalton of the Associated Press explained that some of Lee’s stories even became a symbol for social change.
“Spider-Man represented ’60s America,” Dalton writes, “while The Black Panther and The Savage She-Hulk mirrored the travails of minorities and women.”
Senior theology major Knox Bloodworth believes that Lee inspired everyone to be a hero in one way or another.
“I believe Stan Lee captured the minds and imaginations of so many people, through the use of fictional stories, about everyday people who could truly live [extraordinarily]. I know this inspired me to gain a more imaginative approach to life, not in an ordinary sense, but in a heroic, extraordinary way,” Bloodworth said. “Stan Lee gave us a glimpse of heroism in a form that relates to all of us, and for that I am thankful.”
It’s evident through the explosion of social media posts and conversations concerning his death that Lee’s stories resonate with a majority of people. To some, his stories are more than entertainment or hobbies. Sophomore theatre major Myah Arnold is thankful for Lee because his stories were a point of connection and unity among her family members.
“Marvel was one of the main ways that connected me to my three brothers,” Arnold said. “I will always be thankful for Stan Lee and his creativity because of this.”
Lee’s legacy lives on through the comics and future Marvel films and will forever be remembered as a game changer for the cinematic universe.
