Legendary Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee dies

Legendary Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee, who created characters including Spider-Man, the X-Men and Hulk, has died aged 95, reports Evening Standard. 

Lee's daughter JC confirmed he died after being taken to hospital on Monday.

"He felt an obligation to his fans to keep creating," she said in a statement.

"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."

She did not mention Lee's cause of death but the TMZ celebrity news website said an ambulance was called to Lee's Hollywood Hills home early Monday and that he died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre.

Lee, who was known for making numerous cameo appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was a writer, editor and publisher at Marvel.

He also created or co-created Iron Man, Thor, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Daredevil and Ant-Man, as well as numerous other characters.

Among those to pay tribute have been Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr, Captain America actor Chris Evans and the DC Comics official Twitter account.

As a writer and editor, Lee was key to the ascension of Marvel into a comic book titan in the 1960s when, in collaboration with artists such as Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he created superheroes who would enthral generations of young readers.

Lee created the modern superhero with the invention of the Fantastic Four with Kirby in 1961.

He went on to create characters including Spider-Man, Hulk, the X-Men and the Avengers with Kirby and Ditko.

His comic book heroes conquered the mainstream with Marvel properties from Iron Man and Thor becoming huge Hollywood blockbusters.

Well into his 90s, Lee had cameos in many of the films and made regular appearances on the red carpet and at comic book conventions.

The last 18 months had been turbulent for Lee and he lost his wife Joan in July last year after 69 years of marriage. A series of health scares followed.

The comic book legend had been rushed to hospital with a heart scare in February of this year. After an overnight stay, he was released from hospital and told fans he was on the mend and “feeling great.”

In August this year, he was the subject of a protective order that prevented his onetime business manager from coming within 100 yards of him for three years.

Keya Morgan, a New York based memorabilia collector, had taken charge of Lee’s affairs after his wife died.

Morgan was accused of “isolating” Lee from his relatives in his old age but denied the allegations.

The order also prevented Morgan from contacting Lee’s daughter JC and his brother Larry Lieber.