‘Real-life superhero’: Comic book and movie legend Stan Lee dies aged 95

Tributes are pouring in for comic book and movie legend Stan Lee after he died at the age of 95.

According to US website TMZ, the co-founder of Marvel Comics was remembered by his daughter as “the greatest, most decent man” in a moving tribute following his death. 

An ambulance was reportedly called to Lee’s Hollywood Hills home on Monday morning before he was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Sadly, he passed away a short time later.

The writer and producer, responsible for big titles such as Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, the X-Men, Dr. Strange, Iron Man and Captain America, has been battling deteriorating health for several months.

According to multiple reports, he suffered from pneumonia in February this year, while also battling vision issues. In 2016 he famously admitted he could no longer read the comics he created.

Lee is now survived by his daughter and only child Joan Celia, known as ‘JC’, who told the US news outlet: “My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man.”

His wife Joan died in July last year after suffering complications from a stroke. They had been married for 70 years at the time.

Lee first co-created Marvel with Jack Kirby in 1961 when they worked on hit The Fantastic Four and it spiralled from there to become one of the biggest comic book lines in history. Lee also went on to make cameo appearances in each of the movies.

Unfortunately Lee’s relationship with Marvel fractured in the months before his death, as he filed a billion-dollar lawsuit against executives at POW! Entertainment — a company he founded in 2001 to develop film, TV and video game properties. According to the Hollywood Reporter, he then dropped the suit weeks later.

According to the complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Lee alleged the company took advantage of him when he was still grieving the death of his wife Joan and suffering from eye condition macular degeneration.

Lee helped make Marvel the world’s leading comic book creator and giant multimedia platform throughout his life, working alongside collaborators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko.

“I used to think what I did was not very important,” he told the Chicago Tribune in April 2014. “People are building bridges and engaging in medical research, and here I was doing stories about fictional people who do extraordinary, crazy things and wear costumes. But I suppose I have come to realise that entertainment is not easily dismissed.”

Tributes began pouring in immediately for the legendary star on Twitter, as fans remembered some of his career and movie highlights.

Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds shared a photo of Lee on his social media page, writing: “Damn… RIP Stan. Thanks for everything.”

Damn… RIP Stan. Thanks for everything. pic.twitter.com/TMAaDJSOhh

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) November 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/genesimmons/status/1062056414992990208

Gene Simmons followed him writing: “To Stan Lee: Thank you for making my childhood so much more exciting with your astonishing superhero characters. Thank you for inspiring me to think and dream big. Thank you for the Hulk, Thor, Fantastic Four and many others. You will be sadly missed. RIP.”

Meanwhile DC Comics added: “He changed the way we look at heroes, and modern comics will always bear his indelible mark. His infectious enthusiasm reminded us why we all fell in love with these stories in the first place. Excelsior, Stan.”

Thank you Stan Lee for making people who feel different realize they are special.

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) November 12, 2018

Today, we lost a real-life superhero. Stan Lee, thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/zH6YIlslnx

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) November 12, 2018

American novelist R. L. Stine wrote his own message, saying: “We have lost Stan Lee, one of our great story-tellers. A writer and imaginer who created whole universes. RIP.”

And actor Seth Rogen wrote: “Thank you Stan Lee for making people who feel different realize (sic) they are special,” while The Academy added: “Today, we lost a real-life superhero. Stan Lee, thank you for everything.”

Elsewhere, Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute, writing: “Thank you Stan Lee. For your service in protecting our freedom and for your creativity and imagination! You were and will always be a SUPER HERO!”

Rest in peace, Stan Lee. The many worlds of imagination & delight you created for humanity will last forever.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 12, 2018

Elon Musk concluded: “Rest in peace, Stan Lee. The many worlds of imagination & delight you created for humanity will last forever.”

Were you a fan of Stan Lee’s work? Do you have a message for the family?