Superheroes play an indelible part in shaping our childhood. Spiderman, Iron Man, The Hulk and many of the other do-gooders ended up becoming role models for children. If not becoming their best friend. One cannot talk about these Marvel super heroes without talking about their creator Stan Lee. The American who was the brain and heart behind the comic books is no more. He passed away at 95, and it will leave a huge void that will be hard to fill. He was that one person who helped our childhood stay alive even in adulthood. His larger than life characters and the movies that followed, it’s the end of an era with his death. While other were building bridges and making huge strides in their careers, Stan Lee was busy shaping our childhoods for generations to come.
Amitha N Suguna whose name was on the VFX list of the Lego Marvel Super Heroes — Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda says Stan Lee was her role model. She says, “I have grown up reading Marvel comics. He has been an incredible inspiration to me as well as the industry I have worked in. I used to just sit there and stare at the screen just to get a glimpse of him where he played a cameo in the Marvel movies. To know that a role model like him has passed, there is no doubt that he will be remembered.”
Stan Lee had the ability to create an entire world in your head. Sandalwood director KM Chaitanya feels that if a person is able to do that its almost like playing God. He says, “Stan Lee is a legend now. I saw a very nice cartoon where Stan Lee in coffin is guarded by all the Marvel characters. I though this was the perfect way where he is laid to rest by all the fantasies he created. He has gotten into the minds of children and expanded their imagination, created worlds in their heads which seemed real. His contribution will lead to people creating many other characters and let imaginations run wild. It was only on Sunday’s that we got to watch cartoons on Doordarshan. The minute Spiderman songs came on, we were glued to our seats. We would also go to libraries where we could read and borrow Marvel comics.”
Punya Arora
Author Astha Mittal feels that it would have to take someone who is a super hero to create another Stan Lee. She says, “It is a very big loss to loose a person that intelligent and creative. We will need another superstar or superheroes to create another Stan Lee. Anybody who gives us wonder — be is parents or a writer. He added a lot of wonder in my life. And as a child, if we get wonder and the freedom to imagine things that are not there, that is great. That’s what Stan Lee did for me. I would have to say Deadpool is my most favourite.”
Astha Mittal
Comedienne Punya Arora says, “Stan Lee had this quote which was one of my biggest influence. He said, ‘I was embarrassed that I was a comic book writer while people were building bridges and medical careers.’ It was then that I realised that entertainment was one of the most important things in a person’s life. That was one of the first things that occurred to me when I became a stand-up comedian. I really loved the fact that Marvel had female superheroes. But the name and concept of Black Widow was what struck me. In a society where divorce and living alone was taboo, Black Widow was so cool. As comedienne to be able to get people to laugh I think is a superpower in itself.”
