Most of those who worshipped Stan Lee had never met the man in person.
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And yet, his creations and his imagination have influenced generations of people.
The death of an idol such as Stan Lee doesn’t affect only his family and friends.
The comic book writer, editor and producer created or co-created characters such as Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America, The Hulk, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, among so many others.
He introduced the idea of superheroes that were flawed, that were able to achieve amazing feats while battling their own demons.
And while he created some of the world’s most renowned superheroes, he also showed that the most impressive people we can be is ourselves.
He gave generations of people characters to idolise, to follow and to admire.
Stan was the man celebrities admired, the man they longed to get a photo with or to meet in person.
The careers of most of these actors are owed to Stan. Many of them built their careers on characters he dreamed into reality while others just admired what he was able to create.
The most common theme to emerge was how much he inspired people, even the most accomplished people.
This sense of loss and admiration also spread to Wagga residents, many of whom said Stan had shaped the person they had become.
One resident said Stan redefined pop culture while comic book and pop culture fan, Isabella Hurst, was lucky enough to meet Stan on the Gold Coast.
She echoed a sentiment that’s been heard a lot before – he was a genuinely lovely man.
He did not mind talking about his craft or the characters his fans adored.
He knew the effect he had on people and he was all too happy to let people show their appreciation for it while not gloating.
Movie marathons and re-readings of Marvel Comics for the weeks to come will be viewed with a new level of appreciation for a man many are now deeming as a real-life superhero.