8 Amazing Ways Stan Lee Changed Comics Forever

3. He Gave A Voice To The Unheard

Of course, in order to address Marvel's approach to reflecting the world outside our windows, we have to talk about the kind of characters they chose to spotlight.

Peter Parker was just a high school geek who was bullied - an outsider, by any other name. The X-Men, born into a system of oppression simply because they were considered 'different', were also outsiders, and resonated with those who felt as though they too never really fit in.

The characters Lee created alongside Kirby, Ditko and Bill Everett resonated with people the world over for a whole host of different reasons, but the fact that most were flawed, relatable individuals who felt as though they didn't belong empowered so many readers who felt they didn't have a voice.

By spotlighting these kinds of characters, Lee genuinely helped a great many people, as do the writers and artists of Marvel today.