Rest In Peace Stan Lee

I first encountered the works of Stan Lee in my local library when I was a child. I found a copy of Origin of Marvel Comics and Son of the Origin of Marvel comics. I read my way through them and came out with my life long love affair with Doctor Strange.

Later I started reading Marvel comics with the X-Men written by Chris Claremont but managed to read my way through friends collections and some reprints all the original issues of the X-men. Doctor Strange took me a little longer but I also managed to get my way through that and the Defenders.

My first encounter with Stan the Man was at an Atlanta Fantasy Faire where I participated in X-men vs. the Hellfire Club sketch in the Masquerade. I was faceless goon #2. My faceplate was made out of friendly plastic. I now know about half a dozen ways I would do that mask again if I wanted to recreate that costume. I had Stan and Chris sign the mask and they told us how much they enjoyed our sketch.

Years later Peter and I got together and he was off bowling in his league when the office phone rang.

I picked it up and said, “Second Age.”

A voice that I instantly recognized said, “Hello Peter?”

“No, this is Kathleen,” I replied.

“Ah, this is Stan Lee. Do you have any idea when he might be back?”

“Well it’s his bowling night so…”

‘Bowling?!?! Peter bowls? Really?”

We ended up talking for about half an hour about bowling, Peter, and the question he had for Peter which I had the answer to and he told me he appreciated my help.

I hung up the phone and hyperventilated just a bit.

I was Peter’s fiancée by the time we met in person and Peter introduced me to him.

Over the years we would run into each other at this or that convention or event.

We kept running into each other in elevators. It got to the point that it was almost a running gag between Stan and me.

I remember when Peter presented the Julie Award to Stan. He hopped up from the table and proceeded to jump up onto the stage while the rest of us rushed to make sure he didn’t fall backwards. He gave an amazing speech.

Stan and I talked about Peter. I caught him up on what happened after the stroke and how Peter was doing at the time. Stan expressed some concern that Peter’s writing skills might not be a sharp as they had been. I told him that was the least Of Peter’s problems. His ability to write and create was intact. He was so happy to hear that because Stan believed in Peter’s ability to write.

So much so that Peter was tapped to script the graphic novel “Amazing, Fantastic, Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir”. Stan trusted Peter on that project all the way.

I remember being at NYCC where they had advanced copies of the book for sale. There was a signing by Stan, Peter, and Colleen where they signed a lot of copies of the book. I think it was 250. They gave the book to those who pre-purchased at NYCC. Before hand Peter and Stan were clowning around as they always did when they got together. The fans were eating it up. It was a good morning.

Stan was a good man. He adored fans and was one himself in some ways.

He was great with children. I liked watching him talk to a child about super-heroes. There was a magic there.

Everyone, I think, that met Stan has a story about meeting Stan.

I was luckier than most that he was a friend of the family and a Peter David fan.

He will be missed but his legacy will live on through the Marvel Universe and in the hearts of his million of fans.

My deepest sympathies to his friends and family.

There is a Stan Lee sized hole in the world and it hurts.

I am grateful that I got to know Stan.