bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Josh Ye

Ravi Hiranand

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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”
 

For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.



Women sumo wrestling was popular pastime in ancient China until rise of Confucian ethics

Dying Chinese man, 61, leaves US$43 million fortune to young wife, enrages ex-wife’s family

Chinese man, 90, cycles across country after tragic losses of wife, son, daughter-in-law, grandson

Growing Pains meets the ‘kill line’: a new Chinese hot take on the American dream

Trending in China

Marvel legend Stan Lee leaves a mark on China

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)

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

A group of Chinese makers -- DIY enthusiasts who like to build things themselves -- are recreating these Marvel gadgets in real life.  (Picture: CCTV)



We don't know the whole story about Stan Lee's health but the old man always put on a smile for fans. (Picture: AFP) 


Abacus

Culture

Tech

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


Stan Lee, the creator of unforgettable heroes beloved by kids and the adults they grew up to be, passed away at age 95. But his legacy lives on... even in China, where people are notably picky about which Western franchises they embrace. Star Wars, for instance, never really picked up. Marvel films, on the other hand, have proven to be box office hits. During his last years, Lee turned much of his attention to China, traveling to the country and creating a superhero inspired by a Chinese pop star. The man is being remembered on Weibo, where one fan mourned, “Time is the ultimate supervillain.”


Marvel legend Stan Lee leaves a mark on China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}One of the Spider-Man and Iron Man creator's last new superheroes was inspired by "China's Taylor Swift"

.css-jfmysa{display:inline;word-break:break-word;}.css-1ankfgb{cursor:pointer;display:inline;word-break:break-word;}How Weibo became China’s most popular blogging platform

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

How Weibo became China’s most popular blogging platform