In this June 28, 2017 file photo, Stan Lee arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of “Spider-Man: Homecoming” at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File
Celebrities in the country were among those who mourned the passing of Marvel’s revolutionary comics creator Stan Lee at 95 years old.
Lee is credited for breathing life back into the comics industry in the 1960s by leveling up the plots and costumes of superheroes, creating grounded characters such as Spider-Man, X-Men and Black Panther, the first black superhero in mainstream comics. He tackled issues such as bigotry and racism in his works and continued to speak up against such issues well into his old age.
Singer Leah Navarro and actor Khalil Ramos used “Excelsior!” in their tributes to Lee, a term that the writer used to end his comic book columns. He explained in a 2010 tweet that it meant “upward and onward to greater glory!”
“Excelsior! Thank you @TheRealStanLee for filling our hearts with courage, hope, and the belief that there is a super hero inside each of us through your marvelous stories,” said Navarro.
Excelsior! Thank you @TheRealStanLee for filling our hearts with courage, hope, and the belief that there is a super hero inside each of us through your marvelous stories. https://t.co/7WYgNwRncN
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) November 12, 2018
“EXCELSIOR! Thank you, Stan Lee for bringing joy and creativity to my life,” wrote Ramos.
EXCELSIOR! Thank you, Stan Lee for bringing joy and creativity to my life #RIPStanLee
— Khalil Ramos (@TheKhalilRamos) November 13, 2018
“Rest In Peace, Stan Lee, and thank you,” said Broadway actress Lea Salonga.
Rest In Peace, Stan Lee, and thank you.
— Lea Salonga (@MsLeaSalonga) November 12, 2018
“Thank you, Stan Lee,” actress Sue Ramirez said.
THANK YOU, STAN LEE 😔♥️ https://t.co/vWcQLjqtUZ
— Sue Anna Dodd (@sueanna_dodd) November 12, 2018
Singer Ogie Alcasid and actor Enrique Gil each dedicated Instagram posts to the Marvel legend.
Ramon Bautista and Gretchen Ho both shared their favorite quotes of Lee in their tributes.
“‘I don’t have inspiration. I only have ideas. Ideas and deadlines.’ – Stan Lee, idol ikaw ang inspiration namin (you are our inspiration),” wrote the comedian and host.
"I don't have inspiration. I only have ideas. Ideas and deadlines." – Stan Lee, idol ikaw ang inspiration namin
— Ramon Bautista (@ramonbautista) November 13, 2018
“Thank you for all the adventures on screen, #StanLee. And your courage to tell them,” said the “Umagang Kay Ganda” TV host.
Thank you for all the adventures on screen, #StanLee. And your courage to tell them. pic.twitter.com/lGLJMT3GDH
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) November 12, 2018
The quote she shared came from one of Lee’s interviews with the Washington Post: “I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic-book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end. I feel that if you’re able to entertain, you’re doing a good thing.” JB
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