Stan Lee Honored with the Creation of a New Marvel God - Screen Rant

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Warning! Spoilers for The Defenders #4 by Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics found the perfect name for a new god in the universe while honoring the late Stan Lee in the process. In The Defenders #4, a new character named The Pilgrim, the sentient embodiment of the Fourth Cosmos, reveals their colorful form, calling themselves The True Believer. The mighty god names itself after one of Stan Lee's most iconic catchphrases and names for Marvel fans that have been around since the publisher's early beginnings.

Stan Lee has a handful of iconic catchphrases and lines during his storied career at Marvel Comics. From the most recognizable "Excelsior" to "'Nuff Said," the legendary Marvel figure always had his own unique signature phrases. One of his most notable catchphrases came in his editorials, where the publisher's co-founder would often sign off "Stan's Soapbox" by telling the readers "Face Front, True Believers." While Marvel has published series' and other projects with the True Believers name, the catchphrase became one of the ways for Stan Lee to affectionately refer to his fans. Now, a powerful new god in the Marvel Universe is taking the name.

In The Defenders #4 by Al Ewing, Javier Rodriguez, and VC's Joe Caramagna, the Defenders end up in the Fourth Cosmos pursuing Doctor Zota. The Fourth Cosmos features several archetypes which will continue through different futures - including What-Must-Be, an archetype of Galactus. However, When Zota retreats to the Third Cosmos, What-Must-Be turns into What-Can-Be, admitting the Fourth Cosmos must end, but the archetypes can be saved. The cosmic being summons the Pilgrim, who refers to themselves as the sentience of the Fourth Cosmos and The True Believer. The Pilgrim sheds its energy to form the magical Fifth Cosmos while sending the Defenders back in time to the Third Cosmos.

The Pilgrim made only a brief appearance, but their presence looms large over the creation of the Fifth Cosmos and helping the Defenders travel back in time to stop Doctor Zota. It's a nice touch by Ewing and Rodriguez to call the Pilgrim The True Believer, as Stan Lee, the man who coined the phrase, was responsible for creating some of the most magical moments in Marvel Comics history.

For a (seemingly) one-and-done character of such importance to the creation of what would eventually become the Fifth Cosmos in the Marvel Universe, the Pilgrim - who referred to themselves as the True Believer - made quite a stirring impact. Stan Lee would likely be proud to see such creative, passion-filled books of epic cosmic proprotion still being made at the House of Ideas. The Defenders #4 by Marvel Comics is in stores now.

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