Stan Lee and His Impact on My Life

It’s really hard to condense the impact Stan Lee had on my life in a single post. The Father of Marvel Comics is, undoubtedly, one of the biggest reasons the name of this site even exists. If it wasn’t for the vast world of superhero stories that he helped create, I’m honestly not sure what kind of person I would be today.

This may sound like hyperbole — but it really isn’t. Thanks to Stan Lee, I proudly wear the title “nerd” on my sleeve.

2006. That’s when it all started. Due to being a navy brat, I lived in Japan on a military base with my family at the time. Certainly, the memories are a bit hazy. But I remember bits and pieces of the six years we spent across the pond. Some of the most prominent 13-year-old recollections I have revolve around gaming, girls, and the grandeur of Japan.

Yet I still remember a single purchase that changed the course of my life.

One fateful day, in the Navy Exchange (basically a mini Wal-Mart on the navy base), I was perusing the toy aisles, admiring the fine selection of Lego sets and Hot Wheels residing on the store shelves. Basically, what most tween boys do when their moms are spending an eternity in the produce section. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a lone revolving rack of magazines. There, on display, was the latest line of DC and Marvel comic books.

The Sensational Spider-Man #25.

I don’t know what drew me to this particular issue on this particular day, but the comic captured my attention. Panels rife with color and action pulled me in. I had no idea where the plot was going, but the vivid imagery was enough for me to fork over $2.99 to the nearest cashier. Probably all the money I had in the world at that time. (okay, maybe slight hyperbole here)

Over a decade and nearly 10,000 comic books later, I look back on that day fondly. Yes, Stan Lee likely had absolutely nothing to do with Sensational Spider-Man #25. But if it wasn’t for his creation of the Spider-Man character in the first place, I wouldn’t have encountered that particular issue on that particular day.

I owe the guy a lot, as his legacy has impacted multiple aspects of my own life.

Personality

From my beginnings as a home-schooled lad, I’d like to think that I exhibited some traits of being a nerd. I remember playing Duke Nukem, Commander Keen, and Myst with my dad on our Windows 95 desktop computer. But it wasn’t really until the early 2000’s that this mindset began kicking in full gear — and it was largely attributed to Marvel Comics.

Prior to purchasing the aforementioned Sensational Spider-Man #25, I was familiar with many of the superhero characters already. But after that fateful day, a desire was borne in me to further explore the Marvel Universe on Earth-616. I began checking out DK novels from the Navy base library that expounded on these superheroes and their origin stories. Countless DVD’s were rented that featured episodes of the Spider-Man animated series, or the classic X-Men 90’s cartoon. (Years later, the theme song will still play in my head on constant repeat) I have fond memories of playing and replaying the 2000 Spider-Man PC game and inputting cheat codes to unlock The Amazing Bag Man.

And now, years later, I find myself doing the same thing with many segments of Nerdom outside of Marvel Comics. Whether it’s anime or Star Wars or video games, the pattern is identical: I learn everything I can about the subject, to the point of near-obsession.

And these trains of thought pervade almost every aspect of my personality. I’m sure people within my circle of influence become annoyed at times with my repeated analogies to things in pop culture. I’ve elicited many a raised eyebrow from bystanders when I gush to someone else about my love for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). I’ve been (mostly playfully) mocked and ridiculed for my unabashed affinity for nerdy stuff. Heck, my current office desk is riddled with statuettes and standees.

But I embrace it. It’s an integral part of who I am, and I wear that badge on my sleeve proudly.

The last, and possibly most significant characteristic that largely stemmed from Marvel Comics is my imagination. Thanks to various media forms such as comics, video games, and the MCU, Marvel has undoubtedly influenced my ability to create. As a self-proclaimed artist and writer, I wonder how many creative ideas I’ve come up with that has its roots in superhero lore.

A lot, I’d wager.

Needless to say, if it weren’t for Stan Lee and what he managed to achieve during his tenure at Marvel Comics, I’d be a very different person today.

His legacy has helped shape what I think, say, and do.

Purchases

I’ve heard it said that the things you love most are those that you spend both time and money on.

As someone with historical tendencies to hoard similar items, I received no favors from Marvel Comics. There was a time when I was making minimum wage, and subscribing to seven different monthly comic book subscriptions to stay up-to-date on the latest storylines and Marvel events. I’m pleased to say that I’ve become a bit more frugal in my spending habits in this area, having chosen to invest in Marvel Unlimited (basically a Netflix for digital comics). But that doesn’t change the fact that I own around 10,000 comic books, and a heck of a lot of assorted memorabilia.

After Sensational Spider-Man #25, I procured a vast collection of Marvel-related items, ranging from board games, Hot Wheels, and trading cards. And have continued to do so, up until the present.

Do I regret my purchasing decisions over the last decade or so? Yes and no. A lot of those funds could’ve been re-allocated to “important” investments like college tuition or mutual funds. Yet these purchases mark a reflection of my interests, and more broadly, my personality. I oftentimes wonder what alternate form my spent cash would’ve taken had I not bought Sensational Spider-Man #25 back in 2006.

But the past is the past, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

You will likely note my pocketbook propensities have very little to do with Stan Lee himself. And this is true. He didn’t directly influence my spending habits. There’s a lot of factors that go into what I choose to buy, such as circumstances and peer groups.

However, if it wasn’t for his direct influence on Marvel Comics and what it has become today, I’d venture to say that my buying actions would’ve been considerably different.

Principles

To many, Superheroes are widely known for some common tropes, such as marvelous powers, rippling biceps, and goofy monikers. Yet there is one facet from these characters that has left an indelible impression on me through the years: their principles.

The heroes that Stan wrote about were often not viewed as virtuous in their own fictitious settings. The Fantastic Four were deemed “dangerous,” Spider-Man “a nuisance,” and the X-Men “freaks.” But what made these characters stand out to me was the way that they handled these circumstances: like humans making the best of what they had.

That had an impact on me growing up.

Stan didn’t write these characters to be gods, necessarily. Even those who were gods had weaknesses and foibles. Take Thor, for example. He originally contained a human alter ego known as Donald Blake who had a handicap involving a bad leg. Dr. Strange faced terrible nerve damage in his hands — a result of a brutal auto accident. Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, was blinded at a young age due to a chemical spill.

None of these characters were a perfect Superman facsimile. Almost every protagonist had some sort of noteworthy negative trait or weakness. But what tied them all together was their determination to press on, in spite of overwhelming odds. And a lot of times, these threats didn’t necessarily come in the form of equally powerful super-villains. In many cases, these threats came from within. The heroes’ constant struggle was something I could relate to, and their willingness to persevere inspired me to press forward during darker days.

At times when sociopolitical division was at an all-time high, Stan endeavored to bring people together through the medium he was most familiar with: comic books. In Roy Thomas’s Amazing Marvel Universe, Stan Lee recounts a particular Fantastic Four story he wrote, featuring a villainous character by the name of Hate Monger:

“I sort of hoped it would give our readers the idea that is isn’t right to hate any other group because they’re a different religion or a different race.”

Later in the same passage, he goes on to say:

“ ‘Do unto others as you’d have others do unto you.’ I tried to have all our heroes sort of follow that creed.”

To Stan, comic books weren’t just about fun and entertainment; they were about shaping the world into a better place.

I’d highly recommend watching Stan Lee’s Mutants, Monsters, & Marvels. In this 2002 documentary, the comic creator provides a great interview with filmmaker Kevin Smith on the origins of Marvel Comics, and his mentality for creating these memorable characters.

Closing Thoughts

It’s undeniable the influence Stan Lee has made in today’s world.

One is hard-pressed to look very far without seeing something related to Marvel Comics. The MCU is a box office monster, with no sign of letting down. Insomniac’s Spider-Man game is one of the best-selling Playstation 4 games of all time. We are simply inundated with Marvel IP’s, like it or not. (And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m in the former camp). But these are all from an external perspective.

Internally, for me personally, Stan has largely helped instill a love for creativity, positivity, and nerdiness that can’t be rivaled. A lot of my personality and interests directly stem from the characters and world he created.

I owe him so much.

Rest in peace, Stan Lee. You may no longer be here with us in person, but you will forever live on in our hearts.

Excelsior. <3