stan lee

Earlier this week, pop-culture icon and longtime Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee was honored with a special ceremony that imprinted his handprints and footprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, the first ceremony held of its kind at this venue.

The 94-year-old was also recently commemorated as a Disney Legend at the D23 Expo, along with the late Carrie Fisher of ‘Star Wars’ fame.  Lee was joined at the ceremony by a wide cross-section of other Hollywood talent who owe part of their success directly or indirectly to Lee’s work at Marvel.  According to reports, attendees included current Marvel chief Kevin Feige, director James Gunn, writer/director Kevin Smith, comic book artist Todd McFarlane, ‘Black Panther’ film star Chadwick Boseman, and ‘Star Trek’ star Nichelle Nichols.

Lee, seemingly always one with a quick quip, said at the ceremony:

“I thank you from the bottom from my heart, and I’ve always wondered about that expression. Why is the bottom of your heart more important than the top of your heart? I thank you from my whole heart.”

If you’re unfamiliar with or unaware of why Lee would be receiving this honor – or if you’re just not sure you’re familiar with his most major accomplishments, here’s a succint summation of Lee’s contributions to the pop-culture world, via Wikipedia:

“An American comic-book writer, editor, and publisher, who was formerly executive vice president and publisher of Marvel Comics. In collaboration with several artists, including Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Hulk, Doctor Strange, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Daredevil, Thor, the X-Men, and many other fictional characters, introducing a thoroughly shared universe into superhero comic books. In addition, he challenged the comics’ industry’s censorship organization, the Comics Code Authority, indirectly leading to it updating its policies. Lee subsequently led the expansion of Marvel Comics from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.

He was inducted into the comic book industry’s Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995. Lee received a National Medal of Arts in 2008.”

Lee  will be honored again this coming weekend with a special ceremony at the San Diego Comic Con.