I learned of the passing of Stan Lee earlier this afternoon.  My son texted me from school to tell me.  I was too heartbroken at the time to read any articles about it.  Here it is hours later and I am still upset.

I am pretty sure the internet is being flooded with condolences and memories from comic book fans around the world.  Well I am adding to that mix.

Stan Lee was the creator and co-creator of many comic book superheroes and villains.  Thor and the Hulk have been two of my favorite Marvel Comics superheroes since I was a child.  Both comic book characters were created by Stan.  Doctor Octopus, Doctor Strange, Loki, Kingpin, and Black Panther are also favorite comic book characters of mine by Marvel that were either created, or co-created, by Stan.

My family met Stan “The Man” Lee at the Detroit Fanfare, a comic book convention in Dearborn Michigan, in 2010.  Not only was that the first year for Detroit Fanfare, it was also Stan Lee’s first time in Michigan in 20 years.

We had VIP tickets which included autographs, photo ops, and Stan’s Q&A panel.  Stan signed my Spider-Man omnibus.  We took a family photo and a photo with just Stan and my son, who was 8 years-old at the time.

I saw Stan three years later at Motor City Comic-Con in Novi, Michigan.  It was hot outside and the line was wrapped around the building.  Stan was met by a round of applause as he exited his vehicle and entered the building.  I was especially loud because he walked right in front of me.

Okay.  I am ending this blog post here because the tears are coming back.

Today is a sad day for the comic book community.  We have lost one of our greatest superheroes of all time, Stan Lee.

Stan Lee will be forever missed but never forgotten.

Excelsior!

P.S.  If you are a true comic book fan then you will NOT rush to list your Stan Lee signed items on eBay.  Cherish them because they can never be replaced.