I should have been prepared for this death. I thought he would have passed sooner, just after Joan died. The man was 95, not exactly young. And yet...here I am fighting to keep tears back. The first thing I ever read was a comic book. Many of my favorite heroes growing up were co-created by him. When I was a kid, I would hear his voice for the opening narration for Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends, and it was like an old friend was talking to me, telling me another great story. His books and those that came after helped shape the man I became - someone who tries his best to do what's right, even in when it's difficult. Stan was the greatest ambassador for comic books ever, and his passion for the medium seemed to validate my undying love for sequential art. Knowing that he was out there defending our love of comics was some comfort to a young, overweight kid like me who got bullied for reading comic books. He showed us that fair play, equality, and most of all, love, were so very important for the human race. He created characters who were not just super, but also flawed. They faced the same day-to-day issues that the rest of us faced. They made mistakes. And yet, they kept going. All I want to say is, thank you, Stan. Thank you for everything you gave us. The world seems a little less brilliant without you in it. Excelsior.
