From executives and editors-in-chief, and from the public relations staff to creators on the front line, a common thread among many Marvel employees for decades were receiving surprise notes from Stan Lee.

Long after he left the day-to-day operation of the comics publishing operation and well after he made the move to California, Stan would dash off congratulatory or encouraging missives.

They were often hand-written, and to many they became wonderful reminders of their time at Marvel or their friendship with Stan.

Accompanying this article is one such note, a quick word of praise to writer-artist Walter Simonson referring to his then-in-progress epic run on Marvel’s Thor.

“Addressed to me, it arrived at Marvel not long after I began writing and drawing Thor in 1983. To say you could have knocked me over with a feather is an understatement. I was amazed Stan even knew who I was. But as a fan and eventual professional whose start as a Marvel Comics reader began with Journey Into Mystery #120, starring Thor, this meant more to me than I can say. It was a generous and surprisingly personal gesture on Stan’s part. It hangs on the wall of my studio to this day, a constant reminder to try to do good work and to try to get better. Thank you, Stan. Excelsior, indeed.”
– Walter Simonson