Stan Lee's POW! Entertainment Responds to Bill Maher's "Disgusting" Comments
Bill Maher recently made comments criticizing comic books and Stan Lee that set the geek community on fire, and even though Maher isn’t saying anything about it, there’s no doubt that he’s feeling the heat.
In case you missed what he said, you can read about it here. Maher basically went off on how adult comic book fans don’t give up “kid stuff” and went on to say that they have “pretended comic books were actually sophisticated literature.”
It’s too bad that he feels that way because comic books are great literature. Anyway, Lee’s POW! Entertainment were not happy with Maher’s comments and they’ve released a response. This is is the open letter that they posted on their site:
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
That’s solid statement and the perfect way to address Maher’s ridiculous comments. I doubt Bill Maher will respond to this. It’s just a shame that he feels the way that he does. The guy was obviously never a fan of comic books or the characters. If he ever was he would never say the things that he said.
I doubt he’s ever really read a comic book, and if he has, it’s a shame that he lost that childlike wonder.
With the scrooge that Maher has become, maybe it’s time he’s visited by three spirits during the holidays.