RIP Stan Lee

Something different on the blog today. I thought it was only fair that I would dedicate a post to the life and legacy of one of the all-time greats.

The influence of Stan Lee cannot be understated. His role in the creation of Spiderman, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers (the list goes on) fundamentally changed the nature of comics. Of course it wasn't a one-man job, credit must also go to Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby for helping to bring these icons to life, but Stan Lee was the showman at the centre of this creation. As he playfully tells Peter Parker in Spiderman 3, "I guess one person can make a difference." This is a person who certainly made that difference. He changed comics, forever. He changed storytelling, forever. He changed movies, forever. He changed our lives, forever. And for that, I want to say thank you.

It's possible that without the existence of superheroes such as Spiderman and Captain America to evoke my love of storytelling and without the existence of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to ignite my love of films that I wouldn't be doing this today. His imagination and creativity has set me, and countless others, on a certain path. He has taught us all, through both his characters and his reputation as an all-round fantastic human being, some of the most crucial lessons there are to learn. It's okay to be different. It's okay to dream. Don't wait for permission - go and break the mould.

The Stan Lee cameo in Avengers 4 is certainly going to be something. Obviously, the movie has finished shooting and his cameo is included in that. It will be interesting to see if it's changed in any way - if it's a cameo that's played for laughs (the majority of them are) it might not sit so well. But the Russos haven't put a foot wrong yet in the MCU an I'm sure that if there was a problem it would be solved to give an appropriate send-off. The issue of future cameos is an interesting one. We're getting Captain Marvel in March and Spiderman: Far from home in July, so presumably his cameos for those movies are already done. But to be honest, I think this tradition should end with Avengers 4. It's an ending point in so many different ways and the inclusion of a poignant and final goodbye to this great man would fit perfectly into that. But after that, it can stop. I know that sometimes they'd film his appearances in advance (his roles in Doctor Strange, Spiderman: Homecoming, Guardians Vol 2 and Thor Ragnarok were all filmed on the same day) and I'm sure they've probably already got scans of his face ready to attempt digital recreations for future movies.
In my opinion, it would just be upsetting to see a CGI Stan Lee or a cameo that feels overly manufactured and forced. Avengers 4 offers a perfect opportunity to say a final farewell and leave our memories of Stan Lee to rest with him.

Thank you for everything Stan Lee. Rest Well. Excelsior!