Very good point, @shayne. I actually like that aspect of the comics created by Lee (and some others from the competing universes). I think that the mythological aspect and the politica aspect of the characters and stories created by Lee and his contemporaries have allowed many people, who might not have gotten involved or interested in history/politics otherwise, to get a sense of the complexities and importance of the real issues behind the fantastic elements of the stories.
Lee was a visionary who saw the potential of an art form that was more like a hobby back then.