‘Superheroes will never be the same again’

There’s just one topic that’s been dominating the conversations around the world, virtual and otherwise, which is — ‘Will the world of comics be the same without Stan Lee?’ A question haunting his countless fans even in Mumbai. Their world seemed to have come to a standstill suddenly, with the passing of the unrivalled legend of the comic world, at the age of 95, on Monday morning. Stan’s vision gave wings to the dreams and imagination of those who wanted to be a superhero or be superhero-like, by making a difference in people’s lives.
Called ‘The Man’ and ‘Smilin’ Stan’, he was often considered the real superhero who fired up imaginations across generations. Mumbaikars, in fact, go a step ahead and call him the ‘God of Superheroes’. In some cases, even parents share a passion for Stan Lee and his works with their children.
‘How could the God of superheroes die?’ Those who were kids once, now share their passion with their brood. Like writer Ashish Kaul and his 12-year-old daughter Ananya, who’ll miss the comic book legend. Says Ashish, “My memories of Stan Lee takes me back to my early childhood in Kashmir. We would eagerly wait for the next

Spider-Man

comic, which would take a month to arrive. I had a collection of over 400 comics, which got destroyed in the fire during terrorist attacks in Srinagar. He also inspired me when I created the hero of my first book.” Adds Ananya, “No one wrote stories about good triumphing over evil better than Stan Lee; it inspired us to be better human beings. How could the God of superheroes die?” Sharing the sentiment with his daughter, Ashish laments, “It’s unbelievable that he is no more. Superheroes will never ever be the same again.”

For photographer Sachin Narkar, Stan’s comics were part of his growing-up years. “Spider-Man has always been my favourite character. So, like a crazy fan, I would imitate him all the time when I was a kid. This would irritate my father beyond words. One day, he burned everything — the collection and the props,” he recalls. The photographer now has company in his son Arush, 9, who is an avid Avengers fan. “Arush has a collection of his favourite superheroes —whether it is toys, caps, T-shirts etc. He never misses an Avenger film, which I enjoy watching, too.”
Mamta Chitnis Sen, artist, has a huge collection of Stan’s comics and this passion is shared by both her daughters. “Spider-Man,

Hulk

,

Iron Man

... I have all of them. While I’m more of a comic book person, my daughters connect with the movies,” she informs. Says her 16-year-old daughter, Tonoya, “I felt bad when I heard the news. We would look forward to the surprises that he lined up... I guess, there will be no more surprises to look forward to in comic now.”

Muskaan Peswani, 16, is not only an ardent comic book fan, but also collects goodies. “Stan Lee has been an important part of my growing up years. His stories were a part of our daily lives. The fact that we are never going to be able to see a Stan Lee cameo again is just not okay,” she says. Her parents Sanchi and Rajesh have also been fans of the legend’s works. “His death is like the end of an era. I had a huge collection of his comics and his stories of good versus evil were like life lessons for kids,” says Sanchi.
Anushree Patni describes her husband as a 37-year-old kid who’s been mourning ever since he heard the news of his favourite man passing away, “He has no collection, but is a big gaming enthusiast and knows the superhero universe inside out.”
‘I’ll miss seeing him pop up in cameo roles in his films’Among the many things that came to Simona Terron’s mind with the news of the legend’s death, was Stan’s penchant to make fleeting appearances in his movies. Says the media professional, who’s been a fan ever since she watched the Spider-Man cartoons on TV as a child, “When I heard the news of his death, I wondered if I’d miss him popping up in cameo roles in all the new movies. However, I won’t be surprised if he has inserted a clause in his will, stating that he is to be digitally inserted, posthumously.”
If Simona swears by Spider-Man, then businessman Jay Shringarpure’s favourite character is Iron Man. He says, “I am an avid fan of Stan Lee’s work. Without him behind these characters, the movies would never have been possible. He gave the world imagination and hope that every person can be a superhero. And there was always a message, where the good always won over the bad.”
Adds Simona, “His work always revolved around the themes of the internal struggle of the good and evil, but my favourite theme of his was the concept that every single one of us has the potential to be a hero.”