Marvel-boegbeeld Stan Lee is op 95-jarige leeftijd overleden na een spoedopname in het ziekenhuis.

Hij bedacht in samenwerking met onder meer Jack Kirby en Steve Ditko talloze, iconische strippersonages zoals de Fantastic Four, Ant-Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Wasp, Doctor Strange, de X-Men, Black Widow, Daredevil, Hawkeye en Black Panther.

Lee had ook cameo’s in vrijwel alle Marvel-verfilmingen, inclusief elke aflevering in het Marvel Cinematic Universe, van The Trial of the Incredible Hulk uit 1989 tot Venom in 2018.

Reacties van de filmwereld bleven niet uit. Onder meer Marvel Studios-hoofd Kevin Feige uitte zijn rouw, alsook regisseurs Joe en Anthony Russo (Avengers: Infinity War), Scott Derrickson (Doctor Strange) en tal van Marvel- acteurs zoals Chris Evans (Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Black Panther-duo Letitia Wright en Winston Duke en Josh Brolin (Thanos).

“Stan Lee was even buitengewoon als zijn personages,” zei Disney-CEO Bob Iger. “In de ogen van Marvel-fans overal ter wereld was hij zelf een superheld. Hij inspireerde, entertainde en legde contacten. Enkel zijn hart was groter dan zijn verbeelding.”

Buiten de Marvel-familie werd Lee geëerd door onder meer Edgar Wright, de oorspronkelijke regisseur van Ant-Man, en Marvel-concurrent DC Comics, voor wie Lee ook even heeft gewerkt. Zij en vele anderen brachten een laatste groet aan Lee met zijn beroemde uitspraak “Excelsior!”

No one has had more of an impact on my career and everything we do at Marvel Studios than Stan Lee. Stan leaves an extraordinary legacy that will outlive us all. Our thoughts are with his daughter, his family, and his millions of fans. #ThankYouStan #Excelsior!

— Kevin Feige (@Kevfeige) November 12, 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF7ZOPF9WZ/

Goodnight Stan pic.twitter.com/XQzNnUtAeM

— N O S ⋊ Ɔ I ᴚ ᴚ Ǝ ᗡ ⊥ ⊥ O Ɔ S (@scottderrickson) November 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans/status/1062066692631732224

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF4sgmgDvH/

We’ve lost a creative genius. Stan Lee was a pioneering force in the superhero universe. I’m proud to have been a small part of his legacy and …. to have helped bring one of his characters to life. #StanLee #Wolverine pic.twitter.com/iOdefi7iYz

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) November 12, 2018

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

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) November 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/letitiawright/status/1062063420319633408

THANK YOU, @TheRealStanLee. You gave us characters that continue to stand the test of time and evolve with our consciousness. You taught us that there are no limits to our future as long as we have access to our imagination. Rest in power! #EXCELSIOR #StanLee #rip pic.twitter.com/hnSmnHIDln

— Winston Duke (@Winston_Duke) November 12, 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF22YYF3W2/

Sad, sad day. Rest In Power, Uncle Stan. You have made the world a better place through the power of modern mythology and your love of this messy business of being human… pic.twitter.com/x6yZ6ClNSX

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 12, 2018

#RIPStanLee https://t.co/7iHk6mSCM2

— Zoe Saldana (@zoesaldana) November 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/jeffreygoldbIum/status/1062061100810809344?s=19

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF6rYvnRyG/

https://twitter.com/OfficialKat/status/1062068354574237696

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF3GNdHXPy/

Government needs to enact a
Stan Lee Day ASAP. Who has reached further and impacted deeper, our story telling and dreams than Stan Lee?

— Logan Marshall-Green (@TheRealElemgy) November 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/JHenwick/status/1062059582426468353

Permanent cameo in heaven. #RIPStanLee https://t.co/ZnIv2hXMVy

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 12, 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqGEEN9FF6A/

Stan Lee, RIP. Thanks for inspiring so many of us to pick up a pen or pencil and put your dreams onto paper. Excelsior! pic.twitter.com/L33eTjUQdI

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) November 12, 2018

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

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) November 12, 2018

https://twitter.com/jamieleecurtis/status/1062063291470675973

RIP to one of the greatest creative minds of our time. Thank you for such an incredible legacy and for giving us so many icons that will continue to live on long after you are gone. Goodbye #stanlee – we love you. pic.twitter.com/nxwI1YS3OT

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) November 12, 2018

We met Stan when were were scrubs who snuck in to a party at comicon. He was as kind and encouraging then as he was when we met professionally years later. Thank you Stan for making us True Believers as kids and over and over again as adults.

— Phil Lord (@philiplord) November 12, 2018

He lives forever through his work. What a giant.
With great power comes immortality. 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/t395qw9H0L

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 12, 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/BqF3TJ5nCpM/

At age 7, I drew this weird portrait of Stan Lee and asked my Mom to send it to him. Thankfully she didn't because 30+ years later, I got to give it to the great one in person. Thanks for all the fun Stan #Excelsior pic.twitter.com/IpfYBSjWyf

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) November 12, 2018

Devastated by my pal Stan's passing. He was a childhood inspiration, an instructor to me when I was just getting started and a genuinely sweet man. Will miss him terribly.

— Frank Miller (@FrankMillerInk) November 12, 2018

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.

— DC (@DCOfficial) November 12, 2018

Bron: /Film, IndieWire, EW