TaleSphere Studios has announced the development of The Vault, a live-action anthology series aimed at a teenage audience. This ambitious project is being carried out as a tribute to Stan Lee, the iconic creator of Marvel Comics, who passed away in November 2018. The series will be created and produced under the Stan Lee brand, ensuring that his legacy endures in contemporary culture. Make Mine… Vault? The Vault will focus on the inspiring and creative storytelling that has characterized Lee’s works. It will center on vital themes such as heart, imagination, and empowerment, values that […]
TaleSphere Studios has announced the development of The Vault, a live anthology series aimed at a teenage audience. This ambitious project is being carried out as a tribute to Stan Lee, the iconic creator of Marvel Comics, who passed away in November 2018. The series will be created and produced under the Stan Lee brand, ensuring that his legacy endures in contemporary culture.
Make Mine… Vault?
The Vault will focus on the inspiring and creative narrative that has characterized Lee’s works. It will focus on vital themes such as heart, imagination, and empowerment, values that Stan Lee promoted through his characters and stories. This approach is intended to resonate with the young audience, fostering a sense of connection and belonging among new generations.
The team behind TaleSphere Studios aims to provide a unique experience that not only entertains but also educates and inspires teenagers to explore their own creativity. With a diverse cast and contemporary narratives, The Vault promises to broaden the horizons of youth television and leave a significant mark on entertainment aimed at this demographic.
While few details are known about the specific format of the series or its release date, excitement and expectations surrounding the project are rapidly growing. Fans of Stan Lee and lovers of pop culture are eager to see how his legacy will be reinterpreted in such a dynamic medium as television. The series is expected to start generating more information and content in the near future, which will undoubtedly fuel a growing interest in the production.
The MCU has not had a good year. And it has been accumulating several pretty bad years. Although Disney is not yet at the point of declaring its project dead, the truth is that superhero fatigue seems to be real. The series no longer work like they used to, the movies do not generate the same excitement, and, in general, the audience seems to be elsewhere. There are still fans of superhero stories, but they no longer seem to be the dominant force in the mainstream. Not like they were fifteen years ago. That doesn’t mean that Disney doesn’t […]
The MCU has not had a good year. And it has been accumulating several bad years. Although Disney is not yet at the point of declaring its project dead, the truth is that superhero fatigue seems to be real. The series no longer work like they used to, the movies do not generate the same excitement, and, in general, the audience seems to be elsewhere. There are still fans of superhero stories, but they no longer seem to be the dominant force in the mainstream. Not like they were fifteen years ago.
That doesn’t mean that Disney won’t try with all its might to change that in 2026, especially with Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon. The true test of whether the MCU is exhausted or just needed a break. But before that happens, a series wants to get us back in the right mood to dive into a superhero series. And that is none other than Wonder Man.
An unknown superhero even to comic fans
Although Wonder Man has a long history within the Marvel universe, the reality is that he is not exactly one of the most well-known, remembered, or beloved characters of the publisher. Even if we want to talk about him, we have to go back quite a bit if we want to discuss the moment of his creation.
Wonder Man was created by writer Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, making his first appearance in the ninth issue of the first Avengers series in October 1964. Dying in that same issue, the death was neither tragic nor traumatic, because, in fact, he was a supervillain against whom our favorite group of superheroes faced off. With superhuman abilities that make him physically equivalent in power to Thor, he has no special powers beyond being virtually invulnerable and immortal, but thanks to Baron Zemo giving him a jetpack, he is able to fly. This made the Avengers sweat to take him down, being one of the first villains who really tested them.
Wonder Man disappeared for 8 years, not returning until issue 102 of The Avengers, in August 1972. Although only in a cameo, demonstrating why he hadn’t come back: he was in a coma. Something that will change in June 1977, in issue 160 of The Avengers, when he not only comes out of the coma and regains his powers, but also joins The Avengers in an unexpected turn of events. Although not more unexpected than discovering that Wonder Man and Beast quickly became friends, united by a common hobby: going out partying every night.
From here on, Wonder Man will be a constant in the Marvel universe, although he will never reach the importance of some of its more popular characters. He will be one of the founding members of the West Coast Avengers, will have his own graphic novel in 1984, and will have his own series of 29 issues from September 1991 to February 1994, in addition to a five-issue miniseries in 2007. Although he never manages to shake off the feeling that he is a secondary character who has never fully resonated with the public.
A series that is a character study
In fact, the Wonder Man series seems to want to exploit this. Simon Williams, the civilian name of Wonder Man, is an actor who aspires to have the lead role of Wonder Man in a remake of his original movie. Having to hide that he has powers because supers are banned in the Hollywood of the MCU universe, this will lead to an exploration of the character with his past, his family, his powers, and also with the character of Wonder Man himself through cinema and everything that goes on behind any Hollywood production.
Although it currently seems to have no particular connection to the MCU, taking place in the universe but not serving as a springboard for any other series or movie, Wonder Man wants to establish a particular tone. And it seems to achieve it perfectly.
The specialized critics have already seen the series and are absolutely delighted with it. With a 93% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it is one of the highest-rated series in the history of the MCU, and the press highlights its much more mature approach, distancing itself from the sometimes overly superficial adventure aspirations typical of the Marvel universe.
With a premiere on January 27 on Disney+, it is undoubtedly one of the most notable series at the beginning of the year. And Wonder Man has a tough job ahead: to prove that the MCU is not only in great shape, but that it can also include things that are not necessarily superhero stories as we have seen many times before. But if it succeeds, Disney may have found another way to continue exploiting its universe. And perhaps, a new superhero who has been relatively unpopular so far, to give more weight to in the comics as well.
Lou Ferrigno is known as the original Hulk from the series The Incredible Hulk, which debuted in 1978 and left an indelible mark on popular culture. Thanks to his iconic portrayal, Ferrigno has become the face of the emerald giant, although the role of his alter ego, Bruce Banner, was played by Bill Bixby, who embodied a more humanized and vulnerable David Banner. A homophobic decision that would not pass any scrutiny today The decision to change the protagonist’s name from Bruce to David was driven by producer Kenneth Johnson, who sought a more […]
Lou Ferrigno is known as the original Hulk from the series The Incredible Hulk, which debuted in 1978 and left an indelible mark on popular culture. Thanks to his iconic portrayal, Ferrigno has become the face of the emerald giant, although the role of his alter ego, Bruce Banner, was played by Bill Bixby, who embodied a more humanized and vulnerable David Banner.
A homophobic decision that would not pass any scrutiny today
The decision to change the protagonist’s name from Bruce to David was driven by producer Kenneth Johnson, who sought a more realistic and less cartoonish approach to the narrative. This modification, far from being a mere detail, also reflects the cultural prejudices of the time, as the CBS network considered that the name “Bruce” sounded ‘too gay’, according to testimonies from key figures like Stan Lee and Lou Ferrigno. These types of creative decisions, which today seem absurd, not only shaped the series but also significantly impacted the perception of the character over the years.
The name David was chosen by Johnson in honor of his son, but a connection to the original name was also maintained. In the pilot episode, the character is referred to as David Bruce Banner, which allows for the recognition of his comic book legacy. Throughout the series, Bixby’s portrayal was fundamental, offering a blend of dignity and vulnerability that resonated deeply with viewers of his generation and helped establish the character of Hulk as a cultural icon beyond its comic book origins.
In recent times, several actors like Edward Norton, Eric Bana, and Mark Ruffalo have taken on the mantle of Bruce Banner. However, Ferrigno is still considered the true Hulk, with his original figure living on in collective memory and the legacy of the series that continues to influence modern adaptations.
How has he survived to this day as the most important and powerful character in Marvel’s First Family?
“Sue Storm, The Invisible Girl. Favorite hobbies: fashion, cooking, cosmetics and reading romance novels“; “If she marries, will she leave The Fantastic Four? Your guess will be as good as ours – it’ll probably depend on who she marries!”. The first annual Fantastic Four comic book created a profile of the girl in the group that even at the time gave some pause. Stan Lee didn’t know what to do with the character, her power was the weakest and readers didn’t want her on the team. So how has she survived to this day as the most important and powerful character in Marvel’s First Family?
Having tea and looking at dresses
The Fantastic Four were born in 1961, at the height of the Yankee economic boom: World War II had ended fifteen years earlier and Vietnam was still an exotic country that most Americans had never heard of. Superman had been flying over the skies of Metropolis for 23 years and in the offices of Marvel, a company that had just changed its name from the classic Timely, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee were preparing the first comic book of a collection that would change everything.
The Fantastic Four is the first superhero comic in which the heroes are, within their capabilities… human. They show imperfections, they are everyday people and, in addition, they fight against strange alien villains or, in a propaganda twist that bordered on the absurd, from beyond the Iron Curtain. A family of superheroes. Reed Richards, the adult; Johnny Storm, the teenager; Ben Grimm, the bronco… And Susan Storm, who under Stan Lee’s rule had the personality of “the girl”.
Do you know why Sue gets into the space trip that would later give them powers? Because Reed “is her fiancé, and where you go, I go.” In her day, with a female stereotype sustained by I Love Lucy and romance comics, this was what was expected of her. A woman who, paradoxically, made herself… invisible. While her companions could boast extravagant powers (the Human Torch, Mister Fantastic, the Thing), she stood aside, usually adopting the role of damsel in distress. And the public began to take notice.
You should throw her out
On the mailing page of issue #6 it’s a Martin Ross who opens fire on Sue: “She’s the greatest! But I think you should kick Susan Storm out. She never does anything”. These two lines – who said Twitter invented being a hater? – led to an explosion of people for and against that culminated in a little story where the characters read the letters and tried to explain that she was essential to the group.
“Some readers say I don’t contribute enough, that you’d be better off without me! And maybe they’re right,” Sue lamented before Reed and Ben set the record straight, comparing the superheroine to Abraham Lincoln’s mother, culminating with “If you want to see women fighting, go watch women’s wrestling!” and presenting “our favorite sidekick” with a birthday cake. Not before leaving her not knowing what to say and the Thing surprised (“First time I’ve ever heard a woman say something like that!”). It was the time.
Sue Storm was gaining importance in the plots, especially as the focal point of the love triangle between Reed and Namor, but mostly as a comic counterpoint who always made references to cleaning or buying high-end dresses. Sue was a superheroine in a world of heroes where she could only be compared to The Wasp, Ant-Man’s sidekick. She could save the day from time to time, but not even the advancement of women’s rights could prevent that, once she gave birth to Franklin in 1968, no one at Marvel knew what to do with her.
The invisible woman
Sue became a housewife, a character who listened to others and who, at any given moment, could change the course of a battle with her force fields or her psionic rays, but it took John Byrne to turn everything upside down and give her the role she deserved in the Marvel Universe. Not as a mother or a wife, but as one of the most powerful women in the world.
The Invisible Girl became The Invisible Woman, her powers grew in intensity, she began to develop her own personality beyond Reed and Johnny… And finally, in Civil War, they decided to turn her into everything she was and more. Confronted in the superheroic battle, Sue ended up writing a letter to Reed where she made her intentions clear: “Johnny and I will be working underground from now on, and obviously there is no room for Franklin and Valeria. That’s why I’m leaving you to look after them and asking you to give them the time you’ve so often denied them in the past.” Boom.
Civil War may not have been the best comic book in the world, but it was, 45 years after its creation, the final awakening of a character who would never again wear an apron and keep quiet behind her husband. From the teenager obsessed with dresses to the independent woman, dozens of writers and cartoonists have shaped her over the years. The submissive Sue of the early 60s made sense in her context, but we live better knowing that the Invisible Woman was always the most fantastic of the four. Now it just remains to be seen if the next Marvel movie will be able to understand that.
Can Marvel’s original superteam survive a third reboot?
Marvel shared a ton of news with us at Comic-Con last week: A handful of new TV series, some of the upcoming movies in Phase 4, and a bunch more. One promise that raised some eyebrows was the announcement of another Fantastic Four reboot.
Yes, another one.
We’ve had three movies with these guys in the past 15 years, and they were all pretty … well, they weren’t fantastic.
Guide to Marvel Phase 4: Everything you need to know
One of their more remarkable feats is time and again bringing long-forgotten characters into the glorious spotlight. Who could have foreseen the popularity of Iron Man over a decade ago? The same can even be said of the Avengers. How many people had even heard of the Guardians of the Galaxy before 2014 (seriously, comment below if you had; kudos to you)?
If you told a Marvel fan back in 2005 that the Guardians of the Galaxy would rake in more cash than the Fantastic Four, he’d laugh in your face through his vintage issue of Alpha Flight. That’s because the Fantastic Four weren’t a long-lost offshoot in the overlooked annals of comic book history – they were at the epicenter of the Marvel universe, and had tie-ins to virtually everything involved inside it.
Why the Fantastic Four are so important
These guys have been on more adventures than anyone else in the Marvel Universe!
Historically the Fantastic Four were the group that propelled the Superhero genre into the modern era. It did so by capitalizing on what were, at the time, very atypical angles of narrative: Though they got their start in space, the problems they shared were very down-to-earth.
The four teammates did not get along like the members of the original Justice League; The Thing despised his monstrous appearance and wished he’d never gotten his super powers; and Reed Richards struggled with decidedly non-super problems – overspent budgets, stock market crashes, failures in his personal projects, and struggles to lead his team. Instead of an unapproachable hero figure, Lee and Kirby created a relatable family of misfits:
It was at this point (in 1961) that Stan Lee convinced Martin Goodman to rename the company Marvel, and the team really started finding their own voice. It’s sad to see such a flagship of comic book history fail to meet the mark again and again with a modern audience, and it would be a welcome change if Marvel were to redeem their golden four.
The Fantastic Four might be the most important team in the original Marvel comics
The Fantasic Four are also hugely important to several story arcs and characters that the MCU could tackle soon, most notably Galactus, Silver Surfer, Kang the Conqueror, the Negative Zone, Annihilus, and of course the infamous Doctor Doom. So it’s not just about Marvel’s fab four looking shiny on-screen, it’s about what it could mean for the direction of the cinematic universe on a macro level.
Question: How do you go bigger than Thanos? Answer: Galactus.
That brings us to the big question: The Fantastic Four have been done before and it’s bombed every time. How can they be done better? When asked why the latest Fantastic Four did poorly at the box office, Stan Lee’s response was pretty legendary: “It was probably because I didn’t have a cameo in it,” he joked.
Unfortunately the MCU can’t rely on the same selling point that pushed the Fantastic Four comics to stardom, this notion that superheroes weren’t too dissimilar from us, or that they dealt with everyday problems; the MCU has already covered that in spades, and it wouldn’t make them stand out from characters like Hawkeye, Spider-Man, or Hulk.
So what can make this story work? First off, we’re all dying to see Doctor Doom, but maybe it’s best that we don’t – at least not right away. Spider-Man’s biggest villains are the Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus, and the MCU wisely chose to veer away from them in favor of the less famous, less scary Vulture and Mysterio (both of whom they did really well). Instead they might be better off focusing on the Skrull, Terrax, or Annihilus, the latter two being characters we’ve never seen on film before.
Introduce the Negative Zone early, and bring in Annihilus as their first big villain!
Besides picking the right villain, it’s also important that the film tell the right story. We don’t need another origin story. Please. We didn’t need one for Spider-Man, we didn’t need one for Black Panther, and we don’t need one here.
Instead, focus on the family dynamic that made the team likable to begin with, and then pick a conflict for them to face together. The Negative Zone is an especially powerful plot thread that could have a huge impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a Fantastic Four reboot is the best chance to introduce it in a big way.
We’re anxious to see how Marvel and Feige plan to handle the Fantastic Four, but tbh we’re still biting our nails; we’ve been burned three times. Let us know in the comments below if you agree with our points, and what you’d like to see the company do with the Fantastic Four!
“It’s our Endgame, at least for now,” said Anthony Russo in an interview with GamesRadar. “We don’t have any plans for now to make any more Marvel movies. It certainly may come up in the future at some point. We have a wonderful working relationship with [Marvel Studios] and a great passion for what they’re doing.”
The Russo brothers have other non-MCU projects on the horizon, according to IMDb.
The brothers have teamed up with Tom Holland who plays Spider-Man in the MCU for a new movie called “Cherry.” The movie is about an army medic who becomes a drug addict and a bank robber.
Although it is not part of the MCU, the Russo brothers recently announced a project about Marvel’s greatest hero, Stan Lee.
“We are fascinated by the life of Stan Lee and we are actually developing a little something that has to do with his work in the history of Marvel,” said Anthony Russo in an interview with Cinemablend. “But we are not ready to present it or talk about it yet. It’s more of a documentary.”
Seeing the Russo brothers leave the MCU is upsetting. The movies they made for the MCU are some of the best it has to offer. “Avengers: Endgame” had the biggest opening weekend in film history.
We’re sad to see the Russo brothers go. Their love and commitment to the characters have been a joy to witness. We don’t know much about who may or may not be replacing them. Jon Watts will return as director for “Spider-Man: Far From Home,” and Scott Derrickson is set to direct the next Doctor Strange film. However, we don’t know who will direct the next MCU team-up film. Whoever it may be, they have big shoes to fill.
Think you’re a Marvel movie expert? Prove it with this quiz.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has given us over a decade’s worth of content, and let’s be honest – it’s a little hard to keep track of everything, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve seen some of the earlier films. How did that Hulk vs Hulkbuster fight end up? Whatever happened to Justin Hammer? Where did Falcon go to lay low after the events of “Captain America: Civil War?”
There are many Marvel fans, but far fewer experts. Are you one of them? Test your knowledge with our quiz:
How do you stack up among your heroes? Would Tony Stark dub thee an Avenger? Or are you a lot of talk and not a lot of results? Don’t worry if you don’t get a perfect score the first time; it’s not too late to change the future. We’re not going to give away any spoilers for “Avengers: Endgame,” but we will send you in prepared!
Marvel announces that Avengers: Endgame will be Stan Lee’s last cameo. Check out our favorites here!
Excelsior!
Stan Lee was more than just the father of all things Marvel comics; he was an icon in the industry.
Throughout his time with Marvel, Lee appeared in television shows, video games, and, of course, movies. Audience members sit in anticipation throughout a movie waiting to see when Lee will grace the screen. His cameos have ranged from hilarious to heartwarming.
Due to his death last November, Marvel has announced that his final cameo will be in “Avengers: Endgame.”
When “Deadpool” first came out, the R-rating had us wondering if and how Marvel would use Stan Lee. He always gave off a wholesome, grandfatherly vibe, and Deadpool’s crude nature might tarnish that image. Marvel decided to veer into the skid by making Lee the announcer at a strip club. Guess what. It was hilarious!
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
By the time “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” came out in 2017, Lee had already appeared in more than a dozen titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Around this time, a theory had been buzzing around the internet that Lee’s character in the movies was actually one of the Watchers. The Watchers are extra-terrestrial beings who, well, watch the universe.
Marvel decided to have some fun with fans, and show Lee talking to a group of Watchers while explaining to them all the different characters he has been throughout the MCU. Whether or not this was a joke or a hint at things to come, we were just glad that Marvel was listening to us.
5. Iron Man
“You look great, Hef.”
About a year prior to Lee’s passing, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner passed away. The two had been friends throughout the years. The two also worked together and created a series and a brief comic strip for Playboy.
It was only fitting for Lee to impersonate his friend in 2008’s “Iron Man.” As Tony Stark walks into a party filled with celebrities, he stops to greet “Hef” who is standing outside with some lovely models.
Sometimes Stan Lee can say nothing and have an absolutely hilarious cameo.
In “The Amazing Spider-Man,” Lee finds himself listening to music at a high school library… for some reason. Unbeknownst to him, Spidey and Lizard are fighting in the background. As the two clash back and forth, Lee narrowly avoids getting hit by a desk as he quietly jams out to classical music.
3. Mallrats
“I think you outta get him some help. He seems to be hung up on superhero sex organs.”
If you ran into Stan Lee on the street, what questions would you want to ask him? Hopefully, your choices would be less perverted than Brodie’s in “Mallrats.”
In the scene, Brodie finds himself down on his luck. His girlfriend does not understand his obsession with comics and video games, and he doesn’t know which means more to him. Almost like a guardian angel, Stan Lee descends from the heavens to give him life advice.
Sadly, Stan Lee is no longer around to give you advice for your love life, but you can read this story to learn how he created his characters:
“This is a DC movie? Oh geez, I gotta get out of here.”
Stan Lee’s eccentric, charismatic personality never got its justice on film. However, when Stan Lee was animated in “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies,” we got to see all of his personality out in the open.
As he jokes while breaking the fourth wall, someone on set tells him that he is doing a cameo in a DC movie. Realizing his mistake, Lee bolts out of there.
1. Spider-Man 3
In the first two Spider-Man films from Sam Raimi, the people of New York City have mixed feelings about the web-slinger. Despite the fact that he has saved the city over and over again, he still has his critics (not just J. Jonah Jameson).
Finally, in “Spider-Man 3” Spidey has the love and appreciation of the entire city. After saving Gwen Stacy, Peter Parker walks through the city and sees a news report saying that Spider-Man will receive the key to the city.
As Parker reads the news, a string of emotions comes across his face as he processes the news. Before he can say anything, Stan Lee walks up to him to offer his two cents.
“You know, I guess one person can make a difference.”
The words have dual-meaning as they represent what Spidey has done for the city, and what Lee has done for Marvel comics and the comic book industry in general.
Although “Spider-Man 3” might not be the best Spider-Man movie by a longshot, it does have our favorite moment from our favorite comic book legend.
Learn how Stan Lee’s layered characters changed pop culture forever.
“My name is Stan Lee. I’ve been writing stories for the young generation for the past 30 years. During this time, I think I’ve learned a lot about how young people think, and more importantly, what young people are.
Today, we’ve come to a time in history when there definitely is a generation gap. It seems to us that perhaps anything that could be done to bridge that gap, to help present the point of view of these young people without being patronizing, without hostility, with respect, with attention, would be a very beneficial thing. Oh sure, they talk a lot and they yell a lot, but nobody really listens to them!”
-Stan Lee on his talk show in 1968.
Beloved comic book writer and creator Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95. Stan Lee is one of the most influential comic creators of all time, creating heroes like Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, and Black Panther. He was always a man of the voiceless, giving young people and minorities stories and characters that made them feel wanted in a society that told them to stay quiet. Below, we’ll talk about how Stan Lee crafted these complex, iconic characters, and why they resonated with so many people.
How Stan Lee created Marvel’s complex characters
Stan’s characters had real problems
For all his heroics, Spider-Man is still an everyman who’s down on his luck
Before Stan started writing, comic books were primarily power fantasies that appealed to youth. Superman was an invincible man with an unbendable sense of justice, Batman was a billionaire playboy who doubled as the world’s greatest crimefighter, and so on. Knowing that comic books appealed primarily to teenagers, Stan wanted to give them something other than a power fantasy. He created characters that young readers could relate to rather than look up to.
The primary example of this is Spider-Man. In many ways, Peter Parker resembles the typical comic book reader. He’s a teenaged boy who’s dorky, bullied in school, unathletic, and has little-to-no luck with women. Before Spider-Man, teenagers were never portrayed as superheroes, only as perky sidekicks like Robin, Speedy, or Bucky Barnes. Casting a teenage hero, and a realistic and troubled one at that was an incredibly refreshing and innovative decision.
Even after gaining amazing spider powers, Peter still deals with all of these issues in school, often struggling to balance his personal life with his heroic life. Despite dealing with both typical teenage problems and superpowered antics, Peter still keeps his head on straight and tries to do the right thing.
He’s not a pillar of justice like Superman, and he sometimes acts selfishly or carelessly, but he learns from his mistakes and tries his best. Despite saving the day time and time again, Peter is filled with self-doubt as soon as something new goes wrong. Stan Lee’s Spider-Man demonstrated that having powers doesn’t automatically make you a superhero. Instead, superheroes are people who choose to make simple, everyday decisions to stand up for and help people who can’t do it themselves. The point of making heroes realistic was not only to make them relatable to readers, but to show them that they are perfectly capable of becoming heroes themselves.
Stan put it best himself in his appearance in Spider-Man 3:
Stan’s characters represented different ideas and feelings
The Silver Surfer gazes into empty space
Each of Stan Lee’s characters is meant to embody a simple, relatable feeling or idea. No matter how over-the-top the character is, readers can empathize with them on a basic level.
For example, Bruce Banner is a timid and anxious scientist who is shafted constantly, no matter what he does. When he finally reaches his breaking point, he explodes in anger, becoming the Incredible Hulk. When the Hulk was created in the 1960s, the Hulk became a counter-culture icon, representing the repressed rage felt by a generation who was told that they were entitled for wanting to be taken seriously, a problem that keeps the character relevant to this very day.
What we can expect in Avengers 4 (if it’s anything like the comics)
Characterized by Stan, the Silver Surfer is a powerful but lonely hero who travels through space serving a power that he hates but is forced to keep in his life. As the Surfer soars through the heavens, the spectacular sights and adventures he sees do little to excite him, as he is kept away from all of those that he cares about by a higher power that he can’t fight or escape. Like the Surfer, many people grow weary of the wondrous world around them, drifting aimlessly and alone, their enthusiasm and lust for life sapped by power structures and situations that they cannot hope to control. Readers empathize with the Surfer’s struggle to regain his humanity as they grow older in a world that seems increasingly indifferent to their presence.
Feelings like loneliness, disillusion, or anger are problems felt by ordinary people and superpowered adventurers alike. By creating larger-than-life heroes like this, Stan helped his anxious readers feel less alone in the world.
Stan’s heroes represented equality
Beyond being believable and relatable, Stan’s heroes often reflected the struggles felt by minority groups in America. His superhero team, the X-Men, is one of the most enduring symbols of tolerance and acceptance in pop culture even to this day.
Created in the 1960s, an era marked by minority groups like African-Americans and women making huge advancements in civil rights, the X-Men are mutants fighting to promote acceptance in a world that hates them. In the Marvel Universe, mutants are ordinary people who suddenly gain superpowers around puberty, causing them to be feared and hunted down by a panicked populace. Even though the X-Men are hated by the public, they fight using their mutant powers to fight evil and protect humans in hopes of showing that they aren’t monsters. In many ways, the X-Men and its leader, Professor X, resemble Martin Luther King Jr. and his peaceful fight for equality, rights, and respect.
The X-Men were created by Stan Lee as a metaphor for any kind of minority group the reader belonged to, whether that be their race, religion, or sexual orientation. The X-Men team itself is made up of an incredibly diverse group of people, displaying how different subsets of people can work together in the fight for an equal and fair world.
It should be noted that while the mutant X-Men are hated and feared by the population, non-mutant heroes like Captain America and the Fantastic Four are not. This is an intentional point, demonstrating that the X-Men are considered monstrous outsiders for no real reason at all, and that there is intrinsically nothing wrong with them, just as there is nothing wrong with belonging to a certain race, gender identity, religion, or sexual orientation.
Stan Lee and his creations influenced millions of people, and he will always be remembered for his warm and heroic spirit. Who’s your favorite Marvel hero? How have they impacted your life? Let us know!
Excelsior!
When “Deadpool” first came out, the R-rating had us wondering if and how Marvel would use Stan Lee. He always gave off a wholesome, grandfatherly vibe, and Deadpool’s crude nature might tarnish that image. Marvel decided to veer into the skid by making Lee the announcer at a strip club. Guess what. It was hilarious!
By the time “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” came out in 2017, Lee had already appeared in more than a dozen titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Around this time, a theory had been buzzing around the internet that Lee’s character in the movies was actually one of the Watchers. The Watchers are extra-terrestrial beings who, well, watch the universe. 
Sometimes Stan Lee can say nothing and have an absolutely hilarious cameo. 
“I think you outta get him some help. He seems to be hung up on superhero sex organs.”
“This is a DC movie? Oh geez, I gotta get out of here.”
