In a world where comic books created a safe place for people, Stan Lee made it easier by  creating a world where there’s no discrimination, judgment or ageism.

Comic books have been called “fantasies” and that they’re read only by “nerds” or “losers.” Those statements couldn’t be any more wrong. 

People read comic books to escape reality. The reader can enter a world where literally anything is possible, and anyone can be anybody. If the world was perfect, there wouldn’t be a need to escape, but we don’t live in a perfect world.

We live in a world where you’re treated differently because of your beliefs, your social status, the clothes you wear, your sexuality and even the color of your skin.

Lee addressed racism in a 1968 edition of Stan’s Soapbox and said, “Bigotry and racism are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today. But, unlike a team of costumed super villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot, or a zap from a ray gun. The only way to destroy them is to expose them—to reveal them for the insidious evils they really are.”

Stan Lee created a world where none of that bigotry was welcomed. It was a world where people felt like they belonged.

He created the “X-Men,” who were a group of mutants who had special skills and abilities and were rejected by society, because they were different than normal humans. That sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it?

Each member had been discriminated in society and faced backlash because of who they were, and Professor X was their leader. He was extremely smart, powerful mind abilities and was wheelchair bound. It showed that people with disabilities can still make a difference in the world.

During the 60s and the height of the civil rights movement, Lee created the “Black Panther,” which was the first superhero of African descent. He knew the backlash that could come to creating him, but he did it anyway because it was the right thing to do and he believed everyone should be treated equally.

The Black Panther defied all stereotypes and showed that anyone can be a hero and make a difference in the world regardless the color of their skin.

Lee’s characters are relatable. They were just people trying to change the world for the better.

None were more relatable than Spider-Man. Peter Parker was just a teenage boy who had got bitten by a spider and gained super abilities. He was just a kid in high school with a sense of duty and faced the same daily problems as the youth today face.

Spider-man showed it didn’t matter what you were facing in life or what age you are, you can always stand up and help others.

Lee once said, “A hero is a guy who does more than the average man would to in order to right a wrong, to take care of an injustice and to protect somebody. A hero is someone who really risks his life to help other people.”

Lee created a world where there was justice for all. Everyone was treated equal.

Most importantly, he showed us how to live our lives. When given the circumstances his characters faced, they always helped other people. It’s the perfect blueprint for us to live by.

Lee will certainly be missed, but his legacy will last forever. His actions to fight injustice will continue to live on and it is our responsibility to continue to fight.