por Jules Shane<\/p>\n
With the death of Stan Lee, the comic world mourns the loss of one of the most influential and insightful minds the industry has ever known. From humble beginnings at Marvel\u2019s predecessor, Timely Comics, Lee made his writing debut with Captain America #3 in 1941, using the pen name \u201cLee\u201d as opposed to his last name Lieber.<\/p>\n
He would go on to help create some of the most iconic heroes from the American silver age of comics. The artist was also known as a towering business magnate, leading the Marvel company through tough times as the industry faltered in the \u201970s and \u201980s, eventually becoming the face of Marvel Comics.<\/p>\n
His influence on American pop culture is as pervasive as it is colorful, and his cameo appearances in what has become the largest film franchise in history have become a mainstay with audiences.<\/p>\n
Bob Koppy, the owner and purveyor of Empire Collectibles in City Heights, shared the appreciation of Lee\u2019s knack for the business element of comics.<\/p>\n
\u201cStan Lee excelled at being a promoter and a face for Marvel Comics during the 1960s,\u201d Koppy said.<\/p>\n
But as much as he did for promoting Marvel and its properties, Koppy noted Lee\u2019s impact on the heroes and stories the company sold.<\/p>\n
\u201cLee was responsible for bringing the X-Men to Jack Kirby and for bringing a little more characterization to the Fantastic 4 so that everyone wasn\u2019t just getting along as friends all the time,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n