The Legacy of a Hero
Dylan Janson|December 10, 2018|Column
Photo retrieved from Google Images.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — When I think of the word “Marvel,” the first thing that comes to mind is its expansive cinematic universe. With such a successful presence in digital entertainment, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a popular way for people to immerse themselves in comic book culture. While the films may serve as an entry point into the world of Marvel Comics, it is important to explore the origins of its superheroes and one of their best-known creators, Stan Lee.
As a prominent figure in the comic book industry, Lee was one of the creative pioneers at Marvel Comics who helped shape it into the dominant entertainment industry that it is today. He was a writer, editor and publisher for Marvel Comics who created and co-created a multitude of characters that would be featured in comic books, video games and a revolutionary cinematic universe. With the announcement of his death on Nov. 12, 2018, the comic book industry lost one of its most influential and groundbreaking icons. Lee’s innovative stories have allowed him to take a more grounded and realistic approach to superheroes, and as a result, have been well-received across all forms of entertainment. Beloved characters such as Spider-Man, Black Panther and the X-Men all prove that superheroes are not that different from us.
Photo retrieved from Google Images.
While superheroes may focus on fighting off the latest round of supervillains, they also have their fair share of real-world, mundane problems. Lee made sure this was a common attribute among Marvel characters, which made them more engaging and relatable. For example, Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, is an ordinarily intelligent teenager who received his spider-like abilities by chance. When he wasn’t fighting crime or facing off against one of his supervillains, Parker still had to find a stable job in order to pay his rent.
In addition, Lee placed a heavy emphasis on diversifying Marvel. Black Panther and the X-Men are among a wide variety of characters that Lee introduced in order to combat racism and prejudices against various groups of people. Lee’s distaste for bullying, bigotry and racism motivated him to create characters that a wider variety of people could empathize with. It is easy to imagine being one of these characters because they are grounded in relatable situations. Being able to temporarily escape reality and delve into these fictitious worlds allows people to combat the supervillains in their own lives. Lee was aware of this, which is why he helped create a diverse and recognizable universe of characters.
Marvel Comics has left a profound impact on my life, and I owe it to Lee for creating so many characters I can imagine myself being. These characters satisfy the need to feel super during tough times. Seeing how these characters overcome obstacles gives an enlightening perspective on life and promotes an overarching theme that anything is possible. Lee has showed me that when life gets tougher, it takes more hard work and determination to get past it. The movie adaptations excel at this, grounding some of the more impractical storylines in reality.
Illustration by Caroline Robbins.
Getting to see characters develop on the big screen is a whole new level of engagement, as there is a greater sense of immersion and emotional connection to these characters. As an aspiring filmmaker, seeing Lee’s creations and co-creations come to life on the big screen is not only a testament to how relatable and impactful they are for society, but also the dedication Lee has put into developing them. While Lee’s cameo appearances in these films are fun to watch, they primarily showcase his love and dedication for telling engaging stories. Lee’s legacy as one of the most influential pioneers of comic book culture is immortalized through his timeless characters. As Stan Lee himself once said, “One person can make a difference.”