STAN LEE – THE ORIGINAL SUPERHERO

Stan Lee, the creative behind iconic Marvel Comics and the architect of beloved superheroes, has passed away at age 95. Lee has said that he felt what he did “was not very important”, comparing his talents to those of humanitarians and doctors, but his legions of fans would beg to differ. My husband is a huge fan of Lee’s creations including Spider-man, the X-men, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther and Fantastic Four and I have no doubt that as soon as my 1-year-old son is old enough, he too will be a passionate fan. Superheroes are more than mindless entertainment, they take us on journeys far beyond the daily grind and they inspire little girls and boys to think big. They’ve also made billions and created blockbuster careers for Robert Downey Jnr, Tobey Maguire, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, Hugh Jackman and many more. But what I think is so valuable about superheroes is that their stories transcend age and cultural background, telling stories of facing adversity and winning – most of the time. I feel really comfortable with my son growing up believing in superheroes, just like my mum would have with me. Lee was a true creative and a wonderful storyteller who will be missed; the celebrity tributes have already started flowing. Vale, Stan Lee! We’ve got lots to read in this week’s issue – don’t miss Jennifer Aniston’s candid chat on p. 26, where she talks about her challenging upbringing, and learn about all things skin and anti-ageing in our Face Book feature on p. 51. From lunchtime treatments to makeup magic, there’s a little something for everyone. Keshnee Kemp @keshnee