The ‘Marvel’ of the entertainment world, Stan Lee, passed away on 12th November 2018, at 95 years of age. He has left a timeless legacy about failure, flaws, persistence, and humility. Born as Stanley Martin Lieber, in Manhattan, New York, he became a pioneer and visionary in the world of entertainment and inspired the minds of both the young and the old, with his extraordinary vision for ordinary people. He supercharged Marvel Comics into one of the most relevant, extraordinary and as a strong cultural force of the 21st century, with humor and cameos that appealed to the young and the old.

Here are 4 key lessons to take from Stan Lee’s life and his marvelous creations!

1. Acknowledge your flaws 

Stan Lee always developed his characters with flaws. It was through the story (or stories) that they acknowledged and addressed those flaws.

And isn’t it like real life? Even if we’re talking about aliens and superheroes, the ability of learning and developing made these characters more human. And hence, we connected and were inspired by them

In fact, one of the most famous superheroes of all time, Spiderman, was the first one to have issues such as self-doubt and unhappiness.

Hence, acknowledging your flaws and working on them to make them better is an important message, that can be seen in almost all of the Marvel characters.

2. Speaking out on matters that matter

″Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today.”

This statement by Stan Lee was made in 1968, a time where speaking on such issues was absolutely uncommon.

The comic book visionary was always ahead of his time and used his platform to speak out on social issues and injustices. It was his way to make a difference in the world and create a lasting impact.

With the creation of racially diverse characters and collaborating with people from different ethnicities, Lee tried to send a strong and powerful message against racial discrimination both inside and outside the entertainment world.

3. If you never try, you’ll never know

“I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer, while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain people, you’re doing a good thing.” – Stan Lee

Back in the 60s, most comics were written at a poor, juvenile level, that most writers found shameful.

It was Lee’s wife who suggested that he wrote a comic in the style he wanted to, with a pseudonymous. That way even if he failed there would be no huge loss since he was not using his real name.

The result was the launch of ‘Fantastic Four’, which he created with Jack Kirby. The comic book later became a huge success. Had he never tried, he would have never achieved such success Our story is made out of trying and preserving, this is one of the greatest legacies given to us by this comic book superstar.

4. With great power comes great responsibility

You probably heard this sentence a thousand times in your life. But surprise, it’s not originally from Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, but by Voltaire.

Nevertheless, Stan Lee turned it into a mantra for many comic con lovers, and it serves as a reminder to be accountable for our actions and the power we have. Great power does not always have to be physical strength, but also the power to influence and move people with words and actions.

Making a difference for the better of the world when we have the resources and means to do so is a collective responsibility and we have to carry it out in the right manner for a more sustainable future.

These are only a few of the life lessons from Stan Lee’s celebrated journey.

More than a comic book artist, influencer, editor and producer, he was an inspiration.,

His work brought a ripple of change for the better of the world and motivates the current and future generations to be their own superheroes.

As Lee once said, “another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people’s well-being and will go out of his or her way to help them — even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.”

Rest in peace, Stan Lee. You’ll be forever remembered and beloved.

Feeling inspired? Check out  4 Leadership Lessons From Captain America too!

Written by

Malawika is a Mass Communication student from Delhi. She is an astrophile, passionate about Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, and loves to listen to the Arctic Monkeys, her favorite band. Find her at her happiest while exploring new cities and justifying her love for the color orange!