Comic Book Legend Stan Lee Dies at 95

Marvel fans around the world were disappointed to learn that Stan Lee is not immortal. The 95-year old mastermind of the Marvel comics universe has passed away.

Lee, who created Spider-Man, X-Men, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and Black Panther, passed away from pneumonia on November 12th.

Kirk Schneck, an attorney for Lee’s daughter, told CNN that Lee had been taken by ambulance from his Los Angeles home on Monday morning to Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center, where he later died.

“If my publisher hadn’t said ‘let’s do superhero stories,’ I’d probably still be doing ‘A Kid Called Outlaw,’ ‘The Two-Gun Kid’ or ‘Millie the Model’ or whatever I was doing at the time,” Lee had said to CNN in 2013.

“I never thought that Spider-Man would become the worldwide icon that he is. I just hoped the books would sell and I’d keep my job,” Lee said in 2006.

He once told the Washington Post, “I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain people, you’re doing a good thing.”

Both Marvel and Disney said they “salute the life and career of Stan Lee and offer their undying gratitude for his unmatchable accomplishments within their halls. Every time you open a Marvel comic, Stan will be there.”

Many celebrities took to their Twitters to celebrate the legend and bid farewell.

Ryan Reynolds tweeted, “Damn… RIP Stan. Thanks for everything,” while Chris Evans tweeted, “There will never be another Stan Lee. For decades he provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy. He exuded love and kindness and will leave an indelible mark on so, so, so many lives. Excelsior!!”

Seth Rogen wrote, “Thank you Stan Lee for making people who feel different realize they are special.”

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk tweeted, “Rest in peace, Stan Lee. The many worlds of imagination & delight you created for humanity will last forever.”