Stan Lee, the creative mastermind behind the Marvel comic books, has died aged 95.

He was responsible for iconic characters including Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Black Panther and The Fantastic Four.

Marvel became the world's most popular publisher of comic books, and the basis for a long series of Hollywood blockbusters based on the characters, including The Avengers movies, in which Lee made cameo appearances.

His daughter J.C. said an ambulance rushed to his Hollywood Hills home on Monday morning and he was taken to hospital, where he died.

She said: "He felt an obligation to his fans to keep creating. He loved his life and he loved what he did for a living. His family loved him and his fans loved him. He was irreplaceable. My father loved all of his fans. He was the greatest, most decent man."