Robert Downey Jr. took to social media to honor the late Stan Lee's memory on what would have been the Marvel godfather's 98th birthday. Since first appearing as playboy-turned-superhero Tony Stark in 2008's Iron Man, Downey became the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reprising his role in ten films. Tony Stark sacrifices himself to save the day in Avengers: Endgame, the epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga. Though adamant fans were hopeful that Iron Man would return, Downey has confirmed that he's retiring the role as Tony Stark's story is concluded.
Downey's twelve-year tenure as Marvel's poster boy pales in comparison to the late Stan Lee, the writer who made Marvel Comics the worldwide phenomenon that it is today. In the early 1960s, Lee and his associates, the late Steve Ditko and Jack Kirby, revolutionized the comic book world by creating imperfect individuals with extraordinary powers instead of the flawless do-gooders that had previously defined the genre. Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the X-Men are but a few of his beloved creations, and Lee's iconic persona became almost as well-known as theirs, with his large eyeglasses and enthusiastic catchphrase, "Excelsior!"
Downey shared an image to his Instagram of himself alongside the legendary writer on the set of Captain America: Civil War. Lee is wearing a Fed-Ex uniform, ready to film his cameo delivering a package to Tony Stark, misreading his name as "Tony Stank." Downey references the gag in his caption and writes out the message written on Iron Man's prop heart, "Proof that Tony Stark has a heart." See the image below:
Lee not only originated the core of Marvel's catalog, but he also encouraged expansion into other media, helping to turn Marvel into a massive franchise. He cameoed in multiple films after officially exiting the franchise in the 90s, and Marvel Studios has no intention of ending the tradition. Downey's Instagram post is a friendly reminder of what Lee stood for. A great storyteller, businessman, and proponent of diverse and meaningful representation standing there in his Fed-Ex uniform with a big grin on his face, Lee exudes a sense of childlike playfulness more than anything else.
Two years after his death, Lee is still an icon in popular culture; a statue of his likeness appears as an easter egg in Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Twenty years after his death, Lee's memory will no doubt be honored as earnestly as it is today. Though his characters outlive him, his persona is inextricably linked to them. All the good he stood for, seeing the potential for heroism within everyone, everywhere, will make the hearts of true believers warm for generations to come.
Source: Robert Downey Jr. via Instagram
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