Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Stan Lee  1922- 2018 

Yesterday news exploded all over the internet and social media that Stan Lee had passed away at the age of 95. I was shocked, heartbroken and numb when the news came out about Stan The Man. I want to discuss what this man’s impact had on my life and the incredible legacy he left behind that will live on forever. When I was around the age of 5 I went into the library with my mom and was walking down each part of the library to find a book to read. I was walking and walking and then this comic book stood out to me it was Spider-Man it was the 1962 first appearance of Spider-Man at the time I had no idea who this character was all I knew was the cover looked cool and that it sounded like something I would like to read. So I went home and as I’m flipping through this pages i will never forget the feeling I had when I first read that Spider-Man comic for the first time I was amazed the pages came to life with great vibrant colour and amazing imagination. I read the whole thing within the first few minutes after I came back from the library and right then and their I was introduced to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s work and the amazing world of Marvel. 

Then everyday before school since my mom had to drop myself and my brother off to school she had work so we all woke up early and I discovered the 1967 Spider-Man Tv show and so my mom made a rule that whoever got dressed and ready first could watch the Spider-Man Cartoon before school. So it became this sort of race with my brother who would be the fastest in the washroom so we can watch the show. The show was brilliant it was so entertaining with such great plot lines and I couldn’t get enough so then I discovered The 1994 Fantastic Four Tv show along with the 1992 X-Men cartoon  and then the 1990’s version of Spider-Man shows  both I loved and became equally in love with and I loved how they took the characters from the comics to the small screen with these episodes that felt so well done and so well told. I became obsessed with Wolverine I even had a wolverine figurine at one point that I would sleep with. 

I went down the rabbit hole shall I say and became all consumed in Stan and Jack’s amazing art that they crafted in those comic book pages I became consumed in everything Marvel I read from the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, The Avengers, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk  and of course Spider-Man and so many others. I would be constantly checking out the comics if it was from my local library or even from my school library it became something very personal to my heart and still dose. I love all of Stan and Jack’s creations but the one that really struck my attention the most was Spider-Man I found that in so many ways I could relate to him (except for the web slinging part that would be cool though) I felt for Peter and his everyday struggles. I didn’t have a easy upbringing as my father left at an early age in my life and i didn’t have many friends in school from second grade all the way up to fifth grade I was always identified  as the “weird” “freak” or “loser” even psychically beaten at school.  and so It came to a point where I just would just go to my library at the school and I read many books their everyday I would go and I read the entire Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. But it was the comics I loved the most as I would ask my librarian when the new comics would come as I was so anxious to read the next one and I would sit down with my backpack beside me and sit in the back of the library and read and read until the bell rang telling us that lunch is over and we had to return to class. Stan and Jack’s amazing work became a Security blanket for me that would shelter me through the roughest days and stormiest nights at my school and everyday life really. 

2008, The year that The Marvel cinematic universe launched Iron Man. This was a film I heard about once or twice but I won’t forget where I was when I first saw it. I was in my school gym we had a permission slip to be absent from class for a movie day in the gym and they were showing the documentary March Of The Penguins and by the first half hour people including myself had lost interest in the documentary. So my Principal switched the movie after noticing the bored looking on a massive amount on kid’s faces and what was the film he turned on? Iron Man and I had seen nothing like it before from the acting by Downey the amazing visual effects and incredible storytelling giving to this day one of the best origin films of all time. I was amazed and couldn’t wait to see what was next as when that film went on DVD I studied  it like it was religion then the following years the Marvel films came out one after the other with Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America The First Avenger but it was with The Avengers that blew my mind not saying the other’s  didn’t they did but this was the first time we were going to see all of our favourite characters team up onscreen. I remember very well when I found out about The Avengers because I waited to the end of the Credits Of Captain America : The First Avenger for the post credit scene and It was a sneak peek of The Avengers and the theatre erupted in cheers and gasps. When it came out it had this feeling that the Avengers wasn’t just going to be your typical popcorn film it felt like an event as people were going in massive crowds to see this film in costume too. The sheer smiles I had throughout the Avengers when I was in the theatre was sheer joy as I felt like a little kid watching these superhero’s I grew up with on the big screen and it was amazing. It too this day was one of my favourite theatre experiences I have ever had as well with an audience too. I saw that film 3 times in theatres and it sent chills down my spine every time and still dose when I watch it. 

As the films get more and more bigger with Ant-Man and Captain America : The Winter Solider I watched all of them and it became this thing whenever a Marvel film would come out I would watch it in theatres. Even if I didn’t go to the movies much by that point in my life I would go whenever a Marvel film came out as it became this feeling and escape from everyday life where you can witness amazing things and the films were able to capture in similar ways the magic it felt when reading Stan and Jack’s comics. 

Now I can’t do a tribute to Stan Lee without mentioning his iconic Cameo’s I remember Stan Lee as a kid as the narrator in the Spider-Man and his amazing friends and thats when I first heard the comic legends voice and it became a voice that brought me great joy the first time I heard him talk and will forever bring me joy as Stan had this joy that came across his work in such amazing ways. So then the first ever cameo I saw of Stan was in 2002’s Spider-Man where Stan saves someone at the last minute and I looked at that and had a massive Smile on my face and Stan’s Cameos became a thing to watch out for when seeing these films and it brought me such joy and excitement I would just look out for Stan’s cameo and every time  he would come across the screen I would turn into a child watching my childhood and hero in general. 

Now the year is 2016 I hear in early of the year that Stan Lee is making his final appearance at Fan Expo and I rushed to my mom to tell her I need to see him because if I don’t I will regret it for the rest of my life. So I saved up all my money and I purchased the photo op ticket and then when it came to going to the day off to this day it is one of the greatest days of my life. I remember when I was in line waiting anxiously to get my photo with Stan Lee how excited nervous and pumped I was feeling so much emotions at once and then as I got closer and closer to the front of the line I see Stan Lee and I just melted emotionally I am seeing my hero in the flesh he is right their and in moments I will be meeting him and capturing a photo with him. As they tell me to come up it was surreal as I walk up next to Stan Lee they take the photo and that was it. It happened so fast but for those few seconds It was me and Stan and me standing next to my Hero. After the photo was taken and I walked to collect my print of the photo I was in shock I just met Stan Lee I  have the photo framed and it is placed above my bed. 

i never fit in with the rest of my class I was the odd one out and the one that was never included in on activities. It was rough but it was Stan and Jack’s characters that made me not feel alone he showed me it is ok to be different and to have the biggest imagination and to use it and create amazing things. Spider-Man showed me that no matter the struggles you face, the hardships you my go through anyone can be a hero, Captain America showed me to always stand your ground no matter what people say. The Fantastic Four showed me that no even if your different that dose not matter you can amount to amazing things, the Avengers showed me teamwork, Iron Man showed me that even through the darkest things you can use it for great things. And finally the Hulk showed me that even if your different people should be treated equally. Stan Lee you are my hero you will forever have a place in my heart. You have helped me through bad days and always been their for me if it is through the comics or through the films. Your brilliant work will live on forever. I may be older now but I will forever be the boy in the Spider-Man pyjamas rest in peace Stan I love you thank you for such amazing work.