Eight years after his death, Stan Lee will be at L.A. Comic Con, in the form of AI, and fans are not happy: “Even in death, they won’t let the guy rest”

Since Stan Lee passed away in 2018, the world hasn’t been the same. His presence at events and conventions was always celebrated, given his pivotal role in shaping both comics and popular culture. Yet even in death, the creative force behind Marvel’s most iconic characters—including Spider-Man, Thor, Daredevil, Hulk, and the Fantastic Four—seems unable to rest.

This weekend, Stan Lee will “return” at L.A. Comic Con through a series of holograms powered by AI, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The digital recreation will let fans “meet” and interact with the hologram for three minutes at a cost of $15–$20. “We’ll never put words in his mouth that aren’t in line with things he spoke about in his lifetime,” said Bob Sabouni, Head of Stan Lee Legacy Programs for Kartoon Studios and a former Marvel executive. “Fortunately, with decades of footage capturing his thoughts on so many subjects, we can build a voice that stays true, not always word for word, but always faithful in spirit, context, and intent.”

The public response, however, has been largely negative to this initiative by Proto Hologram and Kartoon Studios. Comments on Reddit include, “Even in death, they won’t let the guy rest. It’s all pretty dystopian.” On the other hand, there are also comments such as “This is wrong and incredibly disrespectful. There’s a reason we say ‘Rest in Peace’ when someone passes away,” and “This is just as bad as all the elder abuse he got in his twilight years.”

Prior to his death, Lee, aged 95, sought to sue POW! Entertainment, who sold the rights to Stan Lee’s name and likeness to Kartoon Studios, claiming that there was a conspiracy to “fraudulently steal” his name and likeness and benefit financially at his expense.

The story behind the abuse of Stan Lee

Criticism goes beyond claims of disrespect. Many see this initiative as a continuation of the exploitation and mistreatment Lee endured in his later years. Earlier this year, a Kickstarter campaign was announced for the documentary ‘Stan Lee: The Final Chapter,’ which shows how he was treated in his final years despite his advanced age.

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