Lee got his start in comics in 1939, just ahead of service in the US Army, but he's best known for working with Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and other legends to create a string of definitive superhero comics in the 1960s, beginning with Fantastic Four and including the likes of X-Men, Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Daredevil, Thor and, of course, Spider-Man. It wasn't just that they were memorable characters -- it's that they were imperfect characters who had lives outside of their heroics and could serve as social commentary. He stopped writing comics in 1972, but his role as publisher and spiritual leader of Marvel lasted for much longer.

There's little doubt that Lee's stories have had lasting effect on the media landscape, whether or not you've read the comics. They've been present in movies for decades (frequently with Lee in cameo roles), and the success of Marvel's early Cinematic Universe led Disney to acquire the company in 2009. It's going to be crucial to Disney's upcoming streaming service, too. Netflix, meanwhile, wouldn't quite be the same without its take on Daredevil and its own take on the Marvel universe. And then there's games -- while the track record for Marvel games is hit or miss, the new Spider-Man title is widely regarded as one of the best titles in any genre.

It's also notable that Lee was frequently a fan of cutting-edge technology. He started an internet-based superhero studio in 1998 which, while short-lived, came well before online comic publishing hit the mainstream. He unveiled a YouTube channel in 2012, and was publishing digital-focused projects like God Woke and Backchannel in his final years. Simply put, he was eager to adapt to new formats throughout his life. He'll be sorely missed, but his legacy will likely live on for many years to come.