RI fans remember comic book icon Stan Lee

November 12, 2018 11:38 pm

CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — At the Time Capsule comic store, it’s not just another Monday night. Owner Robert Yeremian is reflecting on the passing of comic book giant Stan Lee, who died Monday at 95.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Stan, his creations, the reason we’re all here in this whole business,” said Yeremian. “His passion for comics just oozed out of him.”

From Spider-man to Ironman to the Avengers, fellow artists say what set Stan Lee’s characters apart was their humanity.

“Before him superheroes were like these paragons of virtue. Stan lee gave them all these personal foibles,” said Steve Ahlquist of Providence, who created the comic series “Oz Squad.”

For Ahlquist, Stan Lee was a source of inspiration from a very young age.

“As a kid Stan Lee was like maybe one of the most important people in the world. He created dozens of comic characters that I really adored,” said Ahlquist. “And more than that, when he wrote he didn’t write down to me.”

Just two years ago, Stan Lee came to Rhode Island Comic-Con, leaving organizer Michael Gianfrancesco starstruck.

“I said, ‘Mr. Lee, it’s an honor to meet you, I don’t know what else to say.’ And he said in that Stan Lee voice, ‘thank you young man,'” said Gianfrancesco.

The then-93-year-old was electric on stage.

“The place exploded,” said Gianfrancesco. “He loved it. He seemed like he was having so much fun.”

For Gianfrancesco, who’s an English teacher at North Providence High School by day, Stan Lee’s characters are part of the lesson plan–just one way this comic icon will live on for decades to come.

“He was tough, he was smart, he was talented, he was creative. He was Stan Lee,” said Gianfrancesco.