The news of comic book titan Stan Lee’s passing rippled through the media and Marvel fans all over the world posted heartfelt tributes to his life. Lee was responsible for creating some of the most iconic characters in today’s pop culture, and he will always be remembered for his hard work in modernizing the superhero universe.
But Lee was also vocal activist for equality. Jack Kirby, an American comic book writer, and Lee created nearly every superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and introduced a more modern style of writing that paved the way for diverse characters and reinvented the comic book.
When Lee died on November 12, the world reflected on the legacy he left behind. Writers have noted he was a social justice warrior. His characters struggled with their powers and moral responsibilities, which had not been seen in the “golden age” of comics in the 1960s.
In his monthly column for Marvel Comics, Lee wrote in 1968 that “racism and bigotry are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today.” Lee then re-posted his statement shortly after the killing of Heather Heyer by a white nationalist as she took part in an anti-fascism counter-protest in Charlottesville, Virginia. At the end of the column, Lee signed “Pax et Justitia,” instead of his customary phrase “Excelsior,” because Pax et Justitia is Latin for “peace and justice.”
Some of the most famous characters in pop culture today are his creations: Thor, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Captain America and the first black superhero Black Panther.
Lee’s characters led to a surge of racially and sexually diverse characters and influenced the entire comic book scene. Upcoming comic book movies with diverse characters include Aquaman, starring Jason Momoa, a Hawaiian man, and Wonder Woman 84, the sequel to Wonder Woman, featuring Israeli actress Gal Gadot. Black Panther‘s theatrical realease in January 2018 made over $1.3 billion in ticket sales, reflecting how diverse characters resonate with a broad audience.
Lee cameoed in all of the Marvel movies, a motif every fan looked forward to in Marvel movies. Alongside Kirby, Lee was an activist who tried to create something good for society during his life. He will be missed by all Marvel fans.
Excelsior.
