Recently, the internet was flooded by fan theories about Spiderman’s entry into the multiverse. It was all I could see for the entire month. And this is nothing new. In 2019, when Avengers: Endgame came into the theatres, everyone with an internet connection was tweeting about it- almost to a point of insanity. The cult-like following that Marvel has garnered over the years seems to be doubling with each new release leaving behind any Hollywood franchise ever created.

So, how did marvel acquire such a crazy level of success?

It all boils down to a single man- Stan Lee.

The “Marvel” of the entertainment world, Stan Lee’s rise to success has been akin to a miracle. The real-life hulk in the comic world, Stan Lee was a legend in many aspects. His writing and portrayal of human-like fictional superheroes elevated comic books from kid’s entertainment to adult fare. His creative choices and editorial approach landed him the grand opportunity to establish Marvel Comics as a publishing powerhouse.

Stanley Martin Lieber, most commonly referred to as Stan Lee, was born on December 28, 1922, in busy New York City. This December born Taurus became a pioneer and visionary in the entertainment world after creating iconic characters like Spiderman, Hulk, Daredevil, Thor, and X-Men, among many others.

Through his writing, Lee introduced a new level of complexity and sophistication to then-obscure and stereotypical comic book characters. Although dark, angst-ridden heroes are now the norm, this was not the case in the 60s. The urbane stories Lee penned helped to expand the audience for comic books beyond its traditional audience of pre-teen children to include older teenagers and college students. This created a new shift in the audience demographic and made comic books the norm.

Unfortunately, Stan Lee passed away on November 12, 2018 (age 95). The entire world mourned for the loss of this great soul who introduced several superheroes to our lives. Though fictional, these superheroes meant a big deal for the regular marvel fans.

So, here are 3-life lessons that we must adapt from the creator of Marvel- Stan Lee presented to you by India’s beloved Astro strategist Hirav Shah:

Explore the uncharted

Much like the marvel universe, Stan Lee explored the unexplored in the comic world. Due to rampant anti-Semitism in society back in the 1960s, Lee was excluded from applying to traditional creative avenues of work. So, he chose comics. If you ask me it was the other way around. Comics chose Stan Lee, and the rest is history. He went on to revitalize the flailing comic book industry and inspire millions.

One person’s weakness is the other’s superpower

If you follow his characters, you will understand the brilliant artistry of Stan Lee. Daredevil was a blind lawyer who fought evil with his heightened senses. X-Men were a bunch of outcasts because they were unconventional. We often get insecure about some- somethings in our life because society dictates what we think is noble and what we think isn’t. Stan Lee has taught us to embrace those flaws and wear them as our badge of honor.

With great power comes great responsibility

Through his jovial comic book references, Stan Lee introduced us to the concept of noblesse oblige (those in power are obligated to use it for the good of people). I think this says a lot about how- we as a society idolize people without even thinking of its impact. Even at an individual level, we are all accountable for the comfort and wellness of people around us. It’s not a choice but a compulsion. The sooner we realize this, the better it is for our future.

Conclusion

There is something beautiful about creating 1000 heroes for the next generation to look up to. In fact, I think it takes a true hero to create another. Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and thousands of characters were cast out of his mind and changed the lives of millions. Today, we are able to shout our lungs out to the Spiderman movie in the theatres because Stan Lee decided to doodle ‘the amazing Spiderman’ on his sketchpad. His characters are never too weak or too strong, sort of like real life. We aren’t as weak as we think we are, and we aren’t strong enough to navigate life without serious challenges. This, I believe is the true beauty of Marvel and immortal Stan Lee- opines Hirav Shah, an expert in Business enhancement and escalation.

Image Credit
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons