[An AI-powered interactive hologram of Stan Lee (1922-2018), revered “comic book writer, editor, publisher and producer” “best known for his work with Marvel Comics,“ will be present at this year’s Los Angeles Comic Con to have conversations with attendees and (as Design TAXI reports in the short story below), “make impromptu appearances throughout the convention…, from introducing panels to surprising fans on the floor.” The plan has the support of Lee’s estate, but some fans and technology writers are critical. A writer at The Gamer is particularly adamant:

“If ‘hey, this is the devil’s work’ isn’t compelling to you, at least recognize how dangerous this whole thing is. Do we think it’s good that a tech company can make a seemingly accurate and lifelike representation of anyone and make it say whatever they want it to? Maybe you don’t think pretending to be Stan Lee at Comic-Con is evil, but surely you can imagine someone using this technology to do something you do think is evil, right? Would you like Proto Hologram to make an AI version of you? Or, say, any political figure past or present.”

According to IGN, “marvel fans have voiced their distaste for the idea — calling it ‘gross,’ ‘incredibly disrespectful,’ and ‘f***ing weird.’” The author of an article in Gizmodo has a more balanced but still critical take that provides important context:

“Stan Lee Legacy Programs head Bob Sabouni assured [The Hollywood Reporter] that the hologram wouldn’t say anything that isn’t ‘in line with things [Lee] spoke about in his lifetime, [letting us] build a voice that stays true, not always word for word, but always faithful in spirit, context, and intent.’

Even so, that doesn’t take away from the fact that Stan Lee died in late 2018 months after reports circulated of people in his social circle trying to capitalize on his decades-long success for their own ends in very weird ways. (One source at the time described the whole ordeal as ‘a fucking mess,’ which just says it all.) This can’t help but fall into that territory, compounded by the fact that he can’t say no or even be duped into consenting as he could’ve toward the end of his life—and that’s not getting into the recent controversies and concerns surrounding AI and its relationship to the dead.”

For more on the technology being used, see the websites of Proto Hologram and HyperReal. –Matthew]

[Image: Source: Gizmodo]

Marvel’s Stan Lee comes back to life as AI hologram you can interact with at LA Comic Con

By Enter Stage Rite
September 24, 2025

Stan Lee is back in the spotlight, though not quite in the way fans might expect. Nearly seven years after his death, the Marvel co-creator will “appear” at Los Angeles Comic Con 2025 as an AI-powered hologram, offering attendees a chance to chat with a digital recreation of the man who helped bring Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men to life.

The event, dubbed the Stan Lee Experience, promises three-minute conversations and photo ops with the hologram inside a 1,500-square-foot booth, with tickets priced between $15 and $20.

The technology behind the spectacle comes from Proto Hologram and HyperReal, with backing from the Stan Lee estate. Organizers say the hologram has been trained on decades of archival footage to mirror Lee’s personality and speech patterns. Rather than generating new material, the AI is designed to respond in ways that match the tone, context, and intent of what Lee actually said during his lifetime.

Kartoon Studios, which oversees Lee’s legacy programs, has stressed that the hologram will avoid fabricated or inappropriate commentary, focusing instead on themes that reflect his spirit.

The setup won’t be confined to the booth alone. Organizers have hinted that the holographic Lee may also make impromptu appearances throughout the convention (from September 26 to 28), from introducing panels to surprising fans on the floor. The intention is to make the experience feel more organic, as though Lee is once again walking the halls of Comic Con and engaging directly with the community.