Stan Lee is undoubtedly one of the most iconic personalities in the history of comic books. Known for introducing several comic book characters, Stan Lee has created a number of superheroes that became highly popular in later years.

Collaborating with prominent artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Stan Lee co-created characters for Marvel Comics like Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, the X-Men and Thor.

As the world celebrates the 93rd birthday of the legendary comic book writer, here are some of his comic characters that became the icons of comic book industry and influenced other comic book characters and stories across the world.

Spider-Man

Unarguably one of the most loved comic book characters of all times, Spider-Man was co-created in 1962 by Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, who designed the character based on Lee's idea. Soon the character became popular and one of the symbolic superheroes of Marvel Comics.

Iron Man

Another prominent Marvel character, Iron Man, was created by Stan Lee and designed by Jack Kirby in 1963. Unlike most characters, Iron Man's alter ego, Tony Stark, was a rich millionaire, which added depth to his stories.

Thor

The character of Thor is based on the Norse mythological deity of the same name — the Asgardian god of thunder who possesses an enchanted hammer named Mjolnir. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first appeared in "Journey into Mystery #83" (1962).

Fantastic Four

The "Fantastic Four" is a team of fictional superheroes considered the first superhero team to appear in a comic book. Again jointly created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, "Fantastic Four" is one of the highest grossing comic book series ever.

Hulk

First appearing in "The Hulk #1" (1962), the Hulk is a monstrous green humanoid whose rage overpowers him. Stan Lee created him collaborating with Jack Kirby as an antihero who doesn't follow rules. Like the other characters created in 60s, the Hulk garnered enormous popularity and has achieved cult status among comic book fans worldwide.

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