Death of A Superhero: Pace Mourns Stan Lee’s Passing

Infiniti Styles Bowie, Features Writer|November 14, 2018

Gage Skidmore

Marvel creator Stan Lee passed away on Monday, and the impact of his work can be felt throughout the Pace community.

A superhero hung up his cape for the last time.

Stan Lee, the man who created the original superhuman race, died on Monday morning. He was 95.

Lee was born Stanley Martin Leiber on December 28, 1922, in New York City. He started his comic book career in 1939 when he was working as an office assistant at what was then Timely Comics. His legacy began in the early 1960s, when Lee, along with co-creators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, created the world-famous Marvel Universe. From this universe would emerge aliens, mutants, and superheroes that the world would come to know and loved, such as the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and Spiderman.

Lee was known for his wild imagination and ability to create literally out-of-this-world characters, all who existed together in perfect chaotic harmony in the multiverse.

The comic book icon’s sudden passing came as a shock to Marvel fans. Some thought the news was “fake news”. Others were in disbelief or refused to believe Lee was really dead. Still, many fans were disheartened to learn that the man who made their favorite childhood characters come to life was gone.

Among those taking Lee’s death to heart was Pace sophomore Hannah Katinsky. Katinsky heard of the devastating news while she was in class.

“I was sort of in a state of shock,” the sophomore said. “I found out through a text my dad sent me half-way through class so I wasn’t really allowed to show it, but I was trying to process the loss of someone who has changed my life and so many others to the extent he did.”

Katinsky revealed that aside from enjoying the blockbusters and comics, Marvel had a deeper impact on her life.

“I have always been a big fan of Spiderman and Captain Marvel but aside from that, my dad and I read the comics together so it was how we bonded,” Katinsky said. “On top of that, because of all his amazing stories and characters, I want to become a producer one day for Marvel Studios.”

With the loss of Marvel’s leader, the sophomore still is looking forward to future productions, but fears that without the man behind it all, it may never be the same.

“The fan inside of me hopes the magic will still be there because [Lee] built the team he has left his legacy to,” Katinksy said, “but the producer in me says it may lose some of the childlike energy that the previous ones have had.”

“I just feel like his cameos conveyed that wonder a kid has in a place like Disneyland,” the sophomore continued. “He just had this spark in his eyes every time he would say his one or two lines… and it also gave something for the fandom to look forward to… it was really cool how when he eventually would show up on screen, there was a collective cheer and that is going to be one thing I am really going to miss.”

Despite the lack of Lee’s presence, nothing will keep this Marvel fanatic from watching the action unfold.

“I will always watch a Marvel film,” Katinsky said. “The fact that he isn’t there won’t change my excitement towards any of the films.”

Gage Skidmore

The mastermind’s death has proved to be unbelievable to many dedicated fans, including Tia Fasano. The junior said she was in “disbelief” when she heard of Lee’s death.

“My first reaction was disbelief,” she said. “My roommate told me he died and I thought she was joking… I didn’t think he’d die any time soon, as long as the Marvel movies were coming out.”

Fasano, who’s favorite Marvel movies are Captain America: Civil War and Spiderman: Homecoming, is hopeful that the movies will sustain their luster, despite the absence of Lee’s touch.

“I feel like the directors in charge of the movies will be capable in keeping the franchise alive and up to Stan Lee’s standards, even though they can’t have his cameos anymore,” Fasano said.

“I looked forward to finding him. It was almost like a Where’s Waldo? but in your face about it,” the junior continued. “I think [the movies] will be the same though because people who don’t know who he was still enjoyed the movies. My roommate didn’t know who he was or that he even appeared in the movies, but still enjoys them.”

Although Fasano is optimistic about Marvel’s future, the junior felt the legendary franchise may slowly face a decline.

“I feel like they may go downhill a little bit since they won’t have his input,” Fasano said, “but [will] eventually find their way back because they’re talented without him as well.”

They say there are five stages of grief when a loved one dies: denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance. When it comes to Lee’s death, however, many grievers are stuck on stage one. Katie Doyle, an avid lover of all things Marvel, was one of them.

“I didn’t want to believe it,” Doyle said, “it sounded fake. Stan Lee dying sounded so impossible, he’s such a legend.”

The sophomore said that although she was going to miss Lee’s quirky cameos in the movies, the lack of them would not change the quality of the film.

“Besides the cameos, he hasn’t really actively been a part of the process,” Doyle said. “He’s been more of a figurehead so I don’t think the quality of Marvel movies will change without him.”

“People have always used his comics for inspiration, and that won’t stop,” the sophomore continued. “With these movies, he’s credited because he is the author of the comics, not the screenwriter or director or anything. He was also 95-years-old, so we weren’t expecting him to be cranking out these movies by himself. It’s his name and past works that we know and love him for.”

Overall, the Marvel fanatic believed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) was here to stay.

“The MCU will still be the fantastic thing it is today,” Doyle said. “Stan Lee’s legacy lives in the comics, and they’re not going anywhere.”

Not all superheroes wear capes. In Stan Lee’s case, this superhero wore plenty.