Stan Leehas left an undeniable mark on the comic industry, its creators, and the countless fans who have connected to his work. Still a relevant icon today, Stan’s philosophy about why people will always love superheroes is as perfect now as it was when he first said it.
A theory posited by Stan years ago, as recounted in an article byThe Guardianaround the time of his death, Stan believed that people can’t get enough superhero stories for one simple reason: they’re just like fairy tales.
Stan Lee Thinks Readers Love Superheroes Because They’re Like Fairy Tales
People Outgrow Them, But Never Stop Loving Them
Passing away in 2018 at the age of 95, Stan Lee got his start in the comic industry as an assistant at Timely Comics, the precursor to Marvel Comics. Going on to co-create virtually the entire Marvel Universe alongsidelegendary artists such as Steve Ditko, Jack Kirby, Bill Everett, and more, it’s safe to say Stan knows superheroes:
“My theory about why people like superheroes is that when we were kids, we all loved to read fairy tales. Fairy tales are all about things bigger than life: giants, witches, trolls, dinosaurs and dragons and all sorts of imaginative things. Then you get a little bit older and you stop reading fairy tales, but you don’t ever outgrow your love of them.”
Speaking about how fairy tales are “bigger than life” and full of “imaginative things,” Stan nails the similarities between superhero comics and these fantastical stories. Featuring mutated and gamma-irradiated characters, gods from different planes of existence, and beings from alternate worlds, comics take after the witches and dragons and wish-granting genies of fairy tale lore in not-so-subtle ways.
As Stan notes, once people get older, most will stop reading fairy tales, and, by extension, comics. But even if one’s connection to these stories fades or is completely lost, people never really outgrow their love for them. Just ask anyone to speak about their feelings on older Disney films or specific eras of comics, and it’ll be obvious.
Because of all the characters he’s co-created over the years, most of the love people have for superheroes isthanks to Stan himself. Throw in the fondness he had for the people who read his work, and it’s clear thatStan’s apt comparison of superheroes and fairy tales comes from a place of understanding and perspective.
How Superheroes Continue To Capture Adult Imaginations
Stan Believed Superheroes Remind Fans of Being Kids
Superheroes have been around for almost 100 years, with their popularity in pop culture remaining as prevalent as ever. And like the fairy tales that have stayed relevant for decades and sometimes even centuries, Stan knows that at the center of every person is a kid longing to feel the wonder and adventure these stories provide.
From the creation of the MCU to the recent success ofDC Comics’ Absolute Universeto all the other superhero stories that didn’t originate with either DC or Marvel, likeThe BoysorInvincible, getting their chance to shine, there’s a little something in the genre for everyone.
Through the medium of film, television, video games, or the very comic books where they originated, superheroes, much like fairy tales, will never truly go away. And if they do, they’ll simply morph into some new form of storytelling that will continue to inspire and comfort fans around the world for decades to come.
ThoughStan is no longer with us, his impact as a creator and human being is still felt today. By connecting superheroes in comics to fairy tales of yesteryear,Stan Leesuccinctly explained why fans are so fond of stories that make them believe a person really can fly,thwip, and yes, evensnikt.
