Movies

From Spider-Man to Black Panther: Every major comic book character Stan Lee helped to create

By Deputy Chief EditorNovember 13, 2018

118 3 minutes read

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Stan Lee attends the premiere of Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" at Dolby Theatre on April 12, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) — Stan Lee has died, aged 95 (Picture: Getty)

Stan Lee died on 12 November aged 95.

The Marvel Comics co-creator was rushed to hospital, with daughter, JC, later confirming the heartbreaking news.

She told TMZ: My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man.

Stan was the man behind some of the biggest superhero characters in the world, helping to bring Spider-Man, Iron Man, Black Panther and so, so many more to life – and later to the big screen.

In doing so, he changed the face of comic books for good – here are some of his best creations.

FILE - In this May 9, 1988, file photo, comics impresario Stan Lee, center, poses with Lou Ferrigno, right, and Eric Kramer who portray 'The Incredible Hulk' and Thor, respectively, in a special movie for NBC, 'The Incredible Hulk Returns,' May 9, 1988, Los Angeles, Calif. Comic book genius Lee, the architect of the contemporary comic book, has died. He was 95. The creative dynamo who revolutionized the comics by introducing human frailties in superheroes such as Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk, was declared dead Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to Kirk Schenck, an attorney for Lee's daughter, J.C. Lee. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) — Stan Lee created The Hulk back in 1962 (Picture: AP)

The Hulk: First appearance in The Incredible Hulk – May, 1962

Stan has famously explained the inspiration behind the Hulk was a combination of Frankenstein, Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde. Speaking in the Origins of Marvel Comics, he explained he also modelled Hulks look on The Thing, from Fantastic Four.

Ive always had a soft spot in my heart for the Frankenstein monster. No one could ever convince me that he was the bad guy, he said. He never wanted to hurt anyone; he merely groped his torturous way through a second life trying to defend himself, trying to come to terms with those who sought to destroy him.

I decided I might as well borrow from Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as well—our protagonist would constantly change from his normal identity to his superhuman alter ego and back again.

Iron Man: First appearance in Tales of Suspense – March, 1963

Stan made Iron Man on a dare to himself (Picture: Getty)

Iron Man is one of the most recognised Marvel creations, with Robert Downey Jr giving the character his own spin on the big screen.

Discussing the businessman superhero concept, Stan admitted he gave himself a dare when creating the character, back in 1963.

It was the height of the Cold War. The readers, the young readers, if there was one thing they hated, it was war, it was the military….So I got a hero who represented that to the hundredth degree, he confessed.

He was a weapons manufacturer, he was providing weapons for the Army, he was rich, he was an industrialist….I thought it would be fun to take the kind of character that nobody would like, none of our readers would like, and shove him down their throats and make them like him….And he became very popular.

So popular, in fact, he was given his own title five years later.

Spider-Man: First appearance in Amazing Fantasy – August, 1962

FILE - In this April 16, 2002, file photo, Stan Lee, 79, creator of comic-book franchises such as "Spider-Man," "The Incredible Hulk" and "X-Men," smiles during a photo session in his office in Santa Monica, Calif. Comic book genius Lee, the architect of the contemporary comic book, has died. He was 95. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File) — Stan has passed away aged 95 (Picture: AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)

Stan changed comic books up with the introduction of Spider-Man, in 1962. Peter Parker was our first teenage superhero, with young characters previously being included as a sidekick.

He was adamant he wanted a superhero youngsters could relate to and identify with, but adding man on the end of his name so he could grow as a person and a character.

It seems tapping into the teen market really worked, as Spider-Man became Marvels top selling comic book.

Black Panther: First appearance in Fantastic Four – July, 1966

Stan created Black Panther in 1966 (Picture: Marvel Comics)

As well as introducing us to the first teen superhero, Stan also co-created Black Panther – the first black superhero in mainstream comics, back in 1966.

Black Panther, aka TChalla, had two appearances in the Fantastic Four comics, before later popping up in Captain America, and The Avengers two years later, before eventually being given his own book.

The movie version of the comic book was released earlier this year, and surpassed all expectations, bringing in well over $1billion (£775m) at the box office and becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2018.

Stan Lee's Comic book creations

Cyclops
Black Widow
Mysterio
Mephisto
Doc Ock
Jean Grey
Electro
Pepper Potts
Nick Fury
Rhino
Quicksilver
Juggernaut
Scarlet Witch
Harry Osborn
Doctor Strange
Fantastic Four –
Karen Page
Invisible Woman
Odin
MODOCK
Mister Fantastic
Heimdall
Blob
Ego the living planet
Hela
Dormammu
Ant-Man
Enchantress
J. Jonah Jameson
Human Torch
Iceman
Kingpin
Kraven the Hunter
Falcon
Sandman
Iron Man
Beast
Scorpion
Groot
Hawkeye
Norman Osborn
Hulk
Galactus
Daredevil
Doctor Doom
Captain Marvel
Black Panther
Magneto
Lizard
Aunt May
Loki
Professor X
She Hulk
Mary Jane Watson
Gwen Stacy
Adam Warlock
The X Men
Vulture
The Sinister Six
Wasp
Thor
Shocker
Super-Skrull
Toad
Yondu
The Thing
The Skrulls
Warren Worthington III
Uncle Ben
Spider-Man
Inhumans