With the world still reeling from the news of Stan Lee’s passing, heartfelt tributes from fans and acquaintances have been flooding social media at an overwhelming rate, with Chris Hemsworth being one of the many Marvel stars to show their gratitude towards the late, great comic book writer.
The actor best known for his run as Thor in the MCU tweeted a photo of Lee wearing the helmet and wielding the hammer of the character he helped create. Accompanying the photo are a few words from Hemsworth thanking the man for his contributions to the superhero genre.
“RIP my friend. Thank you for the incredible adventures your stories took all of us on. My love and support goes out to all your friends and family”
The Marvel version of Thor made his comic book debut in 1962 courtesy of Lee and his colleagues Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby. Fast-forward to 2011 and Hemsworth is wielding the hammer himself in the character’s first big screen outing. And though the actor’s stint in the MCU just might be coming to a close with next year’s Avengers 4, the God of Thunder will probably always be his defining role in the eyes of many a filmgoer.
Of course, the Australian star hasn’t been the only Avenger to show his appreciation for the writer who helped make the Marvel franchise what it is today. Chris Evans, for instance, praised the late publisher for how he “provided both young and old with adventure, escape, comfort, confidence, inspiration, strength, friendship and joy.” Mark Ruffalo, meanwhile, tweeted that Lee’s work “let us be extra human… superhuman even,” while Robert Downey Jr. kept his message short and personal, simply writing: “I owe it all to you,,, Rest In Peace Stan…”
It’s evident that Stan Lee and his work left a profound mark on countless fans, and so long as his characters are still having their stories told on the page and screen, his legacy will live on.