Some things you probably didn’t know about the 'father of superheroes'
There has been an outpouring of thanks, remembrances and condolences from celebrities following the death of Marvel legend Stan Lee who was also known as "Excelsior."
Stan Lee, the creative dynamo who revolutionised the comic book and helped make billions for Hollywood by introducing human frailties in Marvel superheroes such as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and the Incredible Hulk, died on Monday. He was 95.
Here are several things you should know about the comic book legend:
*) Born Stanley Martin Lieber on December 28 1922, to Jewish immigrants who migrated to the United States from Romania.
*) Worked freelance in high school writing obituaries in advance for people who were still alive. Yes, that is how an obituary is published within 15 minutes of a celebrity passing away.
*) Tripped when he was escorting then US First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, during his job as a theatre usher.
While working as a theater usher, teenage Stan was helping First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to her seat when something even more memorable occurred. Hear Stan's story below! pic.twitter.com/Z2V5D3QVKC
— stan lee (@TheRealStanLee) October 8, 2018
*) Started working as an errand boy at Timely Comics, aged 17, and began rising through the ranks.
*) Married actress Joan Lee in 1947. She died in 2017. The couple had two children, Joan Celia born in 1950 and Jan Lee who died within three days of her birth in 1953.
In an alternate universe (or heaven), Joan and Stan are back in each others' arms again. What a life they lived.
— m• (@girl_relocated) November 13, 2018
RIP Stan Lee #StanLee 💔😔 pic.twitter.com/JFQKuwZTzM
*) Served in the US army during World War II, following which he returned to comics, teaming up with illustrator Jack Kirby in the 1960s to invent the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man.
Thank you to all of America's veterans for your service. Fun fact: Stan’s official US Army title during WW2 was ‘Playwright.’ #VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/limi6CWzsL
— stan lee (@TheRealStanLee) November 11, 2018
*) Though, not the pioneer of superheroes, he was widely credited with adding a new layer of complexity and humanity to superheroes and co-created a number of fan favourites including the Incredible Hulk, Ironman, Spider-Man, Black Panther, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men. He created the Marvel Universe around this time, where all the heroes existed at the same time and story crossovers were frequent.
I Will Never, Ever Forget You.
— H Medusa COOPER. (@MedusaSkywalker) November 13, 2018
You Will Always Be With Us.#StanLee pic.twitter.com/2HEshCMXlV
I still can't believe it... RIP #StanLee pic.twitter.com/Z2DH9JphsN
— Hope (@Hope78094421) November 13, 2018
*) Was also known as Excelsior, the same phrase with which he ended his weekly "Stan's Soapbox", which appeared in every Marvel comic book.
— stan lee (@TheRealStanLee) November 12, 2018
*) Formally left Marvel in the 1990s but remained chairman emeritus.
*) After leaving Marvel, he was a wellspring of new projects, running a company called POW! Entertainment.
*) Immortalised on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in December 2012.
R.I.P to the creative genius and mastermind to some of the most epic stories - STAN LEE #StanLeeForever #StanLee pic.twitter.com/y8870P1zC5
— Damian Moodley (@DamianMoodley99) November 13, 2018
*) He sued Disney/Marvel for not fulfilling the terms of his employment and won a one-time settlement of $10 million. He also filed a lawsuit against his former company POW! Entertainment for $1bn (£740m) in damages, claiming the company misled him into signing a document that gave away the rights to his name.
Today was the first day I ever did a tweet myself. Before today, my account was done by others. I still do not have control of my Facebook. Someone else is doing it, NOT me.
— stan lee (@TheRealStanLee) May 13, 2018
*) Had a cameo in every Marvel Comics Universe movie playing different characters and also made appearances in Marvel TV shows.
So sad, this man brought joy to so many lives💐rip #StanLee pic.twitter.com/NNOPOkSMBV
— Anant Sharma (@iamanant__) November 13, 2018
It not going to be the same without see Stan Lee for 2 second in every Marvel movie#StanLee #Marvel pic.twitter.com/ktHLS3fxSI
— Jords (@jordanevassell) November 13, 2018
*) A massage therapist sued him for sexual assault, accusing him of inappropriate touching during two sessions in 2017. Lee denied the allegations.
*) Already shot his short appearance for Avengers 4, but the status of his cameos in Spider-Man Homecoming 2 and Captain Marvel is not known.
Avengers 4's co-director has confirmed that Stan Lee has already filmed his cameo for the upcoming film.https://t.co/rbebLCvjOR pic.twitter.com/EzgmMSlv4t
— IGN (@IGN) November 13, 2018
Stan Lee's last cameo pic.twitter.com/UaH3fprNfX
— . (@Maniklite) November 12, 2018
*) Thought that President Trump was ok but “needed to tone it down a bit”.