Stan Lee’s company blasts Bill Maher for ‘disgusting’ remarks

Stan Lee’s Pow Entertainment has slammed Bill Maher for his “frankly disgusting” remarks regarding Lee’s legacy.

Lee’s team posted an open letter on Monday kindly explaining to the TV host that “comic books, like all literature, are storytelling devices.

“When written well by great creators such as Stan Lee, [comics] make us feel, make us think and teach us lessons that hopefully make us better human beings,” said the letter.

Following Lee’s death on Nov. 12, Maher published a blog post five days later lamenting the state of the country for being in “deep, deep mourning for a man who inspired millions to, I don’t know, watch a movie, I guess.”

Lee was best known for co-creating characters such as Spider-Man, the X-Men and more.

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Comic book icon Stan Lee has a relaxed chat during the 2016 Festival of Books in Los Angeles.

  (Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Stan Lee, a renowned creator of many classic Marvel Comics characters, puts his handprints and footprints in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX (formerly the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre) along Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on July 18, 2017.

  (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

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Comic book legend Stan Lee, left, co-creator of the Black Panther superhero, poses with Chadwick Boseman at the “Black Panther” premiere on Jan. 29, 2018, in Los Angeles.  (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press)

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Stan Lee poses for photographers on the red carpet, left, and on stage at the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange” in Los Angeles in 2016.

  (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images | Rich Polk/Getty Images)

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Stan Lee holds a proclamation for Stan Lee Day —Oct. 7, 2016 — by the city of New York onstage at Madison Square Garden.

  (Nicholas Hunt / Getty Images)

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Josh Reddick of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo with comic book writer Stan Lee after Lee threw out the first pitch before a game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium in 2016.

  (Harry How / Getty Images)

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Actress Jennifer Lawrence and Stan Lee attend the 20th Century Fox panel during Comic-Con International 2015 at the San Diego Convention Center.

  (Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images)

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Writer and comics legend Stan Lee attends the 2011 premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Marvel’s the Avengers” at the El Capitan Theatre.

  (David Livingston / Getty Images)

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Stan Lee arives at the premiere of Paramount Pictures’ and Marvel’s “Thor” at the El Capitan Theatre in 2011.

  (Kevin Winter / Getty Images)

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Marvel comic creator Stan Lee films a cameo for “The Amazing Spider-Man 2.”

  (Steve Sands / Getty Images)

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“Wolverine” actor Hugh Jackman, left, talks to legendary comic book creator Stan Lee after an interview at Comic-Con International 2008 in San Diego.

  (Denis Poroy / Associated Press)

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Marvel comic book creator Stan Lee poses with a painting of himself and Spider-Man at his home in Los Angeles in 2002.

  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

RELATED: An illustrated tribute to Stan Lee and his career »

In his post, Maher explained that although he had “nothing against comic books,” the entire medium was just “kid stuff,” suggesting the people grieving Lee’s death struggle to handle “grown-up things.”

“I don’t think it’s a huge stretch to suggest that Donald Trump could only get elected in a country that thinks comic books are important,” Maher concluded.

Lee’s camp pointed out that Maher had a right to believe whatever he wanted to about comics. However, they took issue with his dismissal of Lee’s impact on comic book fans.

“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,” they said in the letter.

Lee’s camp urged Maher to think about the platform he has access to because “with great power there must also come -- great responsibility.”

This is not the first time Maher has gotten upset over adults partaking in what he perceived as “a kid thing.” Last year, the TV personality made headlines for using a racist slur during a live taping of his HBO show while discussing adults who dress up for Halloween. Maher later apologized for using the epithet.

Read Pow Entertainment’s full letter here.

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown