Whenever we try to be our better selves, Stan Lee’s superheroes will have life; he will be missed

He was the greatest avenger of them all, standing tall against time itself, ensuring the continuity of a graphic artform, the comic, well into the post-modern world and moulding his characters in such a manner that they emerged out of their cardboard capes to become flesh and blood realities worth emulation. Marvel Comics chairman Stan Lee has captured fans across time and appeal, contributing millions to Hollywood. And much like the mankind’s challenger Thanos, who can control and warp every known limit of space and time in the universe, Lee will remain a timeless institution with his forever stones. Whether it was the angst-ridden nerd Spider Man or the genius but angry Hulk or the whimsical and rich Iron Man, he had a hero from all sections of society with their own sets of problems, baggage and frailties. Yet they remained very human and believable while summoning up their superhuman will and potential when life tested them. He coopted every race and creed. Black Panther of Wakanda is an African superhero that has given the Marvel franchise its biggest single hero commercial gain. And he did create Chakra, the invincible Indian who could elevate the potential of all seven chakras in a magic suit. No film yet on him but he did rule TV for a while. And in a world of #MeToo, Marvel women like the Black Widow set fair rules of engagement and stood up to be counted despite the men. While Stan Lee started his career with his fertile imagination using pen and ink, it soon spilled on to the page and evolved beyond anyone’s imagination to become everyday inspiration.

Some of the heroes were outcasts and misfits in the real world who were vain about their pimples and slogged at work. But seared by struggle, they became the best versions of themselves and their skills, laying a roadmap of hope in an imperfect world. What Stan Lee created was to tie in childhood with adulthood and ensure innocence prevailed in our robotic lives. The creative empire he left behind is a legacy for the entire human civilisation and it will live on forever.