In the wake of today’s shocking news that Stan Lee has passed away, social media has been flooded with fan tributes to the late great comic book creator, and among these reverent tweets is a message from Mark Hamill.
As someone who knows a thing or two about game-changing franchises, the Star Wars actor reflected on the Marvel luminary’s unparalleled legacy and the experience of knowing the man in person:
“His contribution to Pop Culture was revolutionary & cannot be overstated. He was everything you hoped he would be & MORE. I loved this man & will never stop missing him. They say you should never meet a childhood idol. They are wrong. #RIPStanTheMan”
While Hamill may be best known for his involvement in another Disney property, the actor has also provided voice work for some animated Marvel shows. Earlier this year, for instance, he played the role of Arnim Zola in Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest, and prior to this outing, the actor received an endorsement from Lee himself:
“When I hear him read the lines, when I hear how talented he is, how he can do another dialect and become another person, it’s fantastic. I read lines beautifully, but only as myself. I mean, if I had to be Baron Zemo, I wouldn’t know how to do it, but he becomes Baron Zemo.”
Of course, Hamill is far from the only film star to pay tribute to the late legend. For another example, Chris Evans – known for his MCU run as Captain America – had this to say about the man who helped make Marvel what it is today:
“There will never be another Stan Lee. For decades he provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy. He exuded love and kindness and will leave an indelible mark on so, so, so many lives. Excelsior!!”
Though Lee may be gone, the current superhero landscape of the page and the screen will continue to carry his memory, with the writer’s influence evident in such world famous characters as Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil and many more.
To regular filmgoers, meanwhile, Stan Lee is recognizable from his frequent cameos in Marvel movie adaptations, with at least a couple more appearance likely still to come with next year’s Avengers 4 and Captain Marvel. And as the latest phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to a close, these final roles will likely prove bittersweet for Lee’s countless fans.