Marvel legend Stan Lee leaves a mark on China

One of the Spider-Man and Iron Man creator's last new superheroes was inspired by "China's Taylor Swift"

Trending in China

Josh YeandRavi Hiranand

Published: 8:45pm, 13 Nov, 2018

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“It’s like the Marvel Universe lost one of its heroes.”

Tributes like that have been flowing across social media, as fans mourn the death of Stan Lee, creator of so many iconic Marvel superheroes.

But that quote didn’t come from Twitter. It’s not from a Facebook user in the UK. It’s from Weibo.

How Weibo became China’s most popular blogging platform

Chinese users are flooding the platform to pay their respects to the Marvel legend. At one point, three of the top ten trending topics on the site were about Stan Lee, a man whose work was beloved in China.

Stan Lee always had a smile for his fans. (Picture: AFP)

He was even compared to a homegrown hero, the famed fantasy novelist Jin Yong. The author of many martial arts epics -- one of the most-read writers in the world -- passed away just last month.

One netizen wrote, “Jin Yong said, ‘The strongest swordsman stands up for his country and his people.’ And Stan Lee said, ‘With great power comes great responsibility.’”

BOX OFFICE SUCCESS

Marvel films dominate the global box office, and they’ve started to gain real traction in China. Avengers: Infinity War made US$200 million in its opening weekend in China, the second-biggest opening ever.

It’s notable because not all Western films do well in the country. Star Wars, for instance, may be popular almost everywhere in the world -- but it’s not that popular in China.

A group of Chinese makers -- DIY enthusiasts who like to build things themselves -- are recreating these Marvel gadgets in real life. Now let's hope she doesn't snap her fingers. (Picture: CCTV)

And beyond box office receipts, his characters entered pop culture, inspiring China’s makers to create real-life versions of famous Marvel gear -- like Doctor Strange’s spells or the Infinity Gauntlet wielded by Thanos.

CREATING HEROES FOR CHINA

While Lee was lauded for the diversity of his superheroes, such as Black Panther, he created precious few Asian characters during his run at Marvel. Arguably two of the most famous are The Mandarin and Wong -- a supervillain and a sidekick.

The Mandarin and Wong Chu are major villains in the Iron Man series whereas the Radioactive Man is a foe of Thor. And you probably know Wong from the films. (Picture: Marvel)

But in the later years of his life, Lee spent time creating heroes for China.

Unveiled just last month, one of Lee’s last superheroes is Jewel. Inspired by the artist G.E.M., often called China’s Taylor Swift, Jewel is a world-touring pop star by day and an ass-kicking superhero by night.

She’s one of a slate of superheroes from Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment, which was acquired by Chinese company Camsing International Holding Ltd last year. Camsing also says it’s creating two films based on Lee’s new properties, called Legacy and The Imaginator.

WALKING BRAND AMBASSADOR

Just a year ago, Lee toured China, promoting his new work. But he didn’t need to attend promotional events to spread his brand. Whether he was visiting the Great Wall or eating Peking duck, his familiar figure, distinctive voice and beaming smile makes him a walking brand ambassador for Marvel.

Stan Lee visited China last year. (Picture: Tencent/Chalixiaoyixiao)

And fans couldn’t help but refer back to the rich fiction Lee built to mourn his passing.

One said, “The old man has many parallel universes. He’s just left one of them.”

Another took a more bittersweet tone.

“Time is the ultimate supervillain.”

Stan Lee reveals a new superhero inspired by “China’s Taylor Swift”

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