Stan Lee’s Company Slams Bill Maher As ‘Disgusting’ For Mocking Mourning Marvel Fans

Stan Lee’s company POW! Entertainment has issued a response to Bill Maher’s blog post disparaging comic book fans mourning Lee and questioning the legacy of the late Marvel icon.

Last week, comedian and political commentator Bill Maher wrote a post on his official blog in which the Real Time host criticized grieving fans who regarded comics book as important works of art and literature, concluding that he believed Donald Trump could only be elected President of the United States “in a country that thinks comic books are important.” Now, Pow! Entertainment has released a response in which the company follows Stan Lee’s lesson of tolerance and respect by defending Bill Maher’s right to his opinion while countering his “disgusting” comments by highlighting how the Marvel Comics’ legend has inspired millions through his works and his life:

Mr. Maher: Comic books, like all literature, are storytelling devices. When written well by great creators such as Stan Lee, they make us feel, make us think and teach us lessons that hopefully make us better human beings. One lesson Stan taught so many of us was tolerance and respect, and thanks to that message, we are grateful that we can say you have a right to your opinion that comics are childish and unsophisticated. Many said the same about Dickens, Steinbeck, Melville and even Shakespeare.

But to say that Stan merely inspired people to “watch a movie” is in our opinion frankly disgusting. Countless people can attest to how Stan inspired them to read, taught them that the world is not made up of absolutes, that heroes can have flaws and even villains can show humanity within their souls. He gave us the X-Men, Black Panther, Spider-Man and many other heroes and stories that offered hope to those who felt different and bullied while inspiring countless to be creative and dream of great things to come.

These are but a few of the things we the fans of Stan Lee also consider “adulting,” because life both as a child and grown-up can indeed be a struggle. Stan is the author of millions of happy childhood memories and the provider of so many of the positive tools of adulthood.

Our shock at your comments makes us want to say “‘Nuff said, Bill,” but instead we will rely on another of Stan’s lessons to remind you that you have a powerful platform, so please remember: “With great power there must also come — great responsibility!”

-Team Stan

What do you think of PW! Entertainment’s response? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

In 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby launched Marvel as it is known today with The Fantastic Four and went on to create some of the most beloved heroes and villains in comic book history, including Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, Black Panther, The Incredible Hulk, and The Avengers. Today, Lee’s Marvel characters are the subjects of some of the most successful and acclaimed comic books films, most of which feature cameo appearances by the legend himself.

Stan Lee was laid to rest in a private funeral. He is survived by his daughter J.C.