Stan Lee Talks About Creating Superheroes and Achieving Immortality at Fan Expo

Stan Lee is 90 years old.

Before I discuss any part of his panel at Fan Expo on Thursday, I just have to point that out with awe and wonderment. 90. Years. Old.

What will amaze you even more is that he still has the energy, charisma and wit of a man literally a quarter of his age. Stan had the first major panel that kicked off this nerdtastic Fan Expo weekend in Toronto and he did not disappoint. Coming out to meet a massive crowd with a genuine smile and cheer, Stan then proceeded to charm and entertain for an hour straight.

Subway is not only the sponsor, but the secret to a long, happy Stan Lee-life.

The panel started with Stan letting us know that he won’t be doing one of his standard Marvel cameos in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Turns out he was scheduled to shoot his cameo this weekend in Montreal but couldn’t disappoint the fans so came out to Fan Expo instead. Guess the newest X-Men film will be as Stan-less as The Wolverine, which he explained he didn’t cameo in because the filming location (way down in Australia) was “too far to swim”.

Taking audience questions, Stan told some lovely and sincere stories about creating characters and working in comics, explaining that he didn’t create most of his iconic characters out of love, but mostly because his boss at the time kept telling him he had to make more characters and he was just doing his job. He also offered up some relationship advice to us youngsters (“always take out the garbage”) and did some adorable gushing over how great Robert Downey Jr. is as Iron Man.

This photo is here only to remind you how 90 year old Stan Lee arrives at red carpet events. Like a boss!

Stan also talked about the new superhero he has created, The Annihilator! But you won’t be seeing him in comics, the Annihilator was made as part of a co American-Chinese production, which Stan says has an actor in place for the lead but no director as of yet. Wondering what the Annihilator’s power is? So is everyone else. Stan isn’t saying anything yet, except that he thought of a new superpower that no hero’s ever had before.

Every time I see Stan Lee at conventions I always sadly think “well, this will be his last” but I’m always pleasantly surprised when he’s back again next year as vibrant and excitable as the year before. I theorize that Stan secretly has a Wolverine-like healing ability, but an audience member asked Stan outright what he thought was the secret to a long life.

Stan’s quick reply: “Don’t die.”