Legendary Stan Lee Returns as an AI Hologram at LA Comic Con

Legendary Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee, who died in 2018 at the age of 95, is returning to Los Angeles Comic Con as an AI-powered hologram. This new attraction will appear at the event, which will take place from September 26 to 28, 2025. Fans will be able to enter a special 140-square-meter pavilion where the Stan Lee hologram will answer questions and engage in conversation. Admission to this section, called the Stan Lee Experience, costs between 350 and 460 Czech korunas, depending on whether tickets are purchased in advance or at the venue. Additional experiences, such as taking a photo together or having a private three-minute conversation with the hologram, will require an extra fee, much like celebrity meet-and-greets or autograph sessions.

Hologram Technology

The hologram was created by Proto Hologram, a company specializing in interactive digital likenesses. The rights to Stan Lee's likeness are managed by Kartoon Studios, a company focused on expanding his legacy. Bob Sabouni, head of Stan Lee Legacy Programs at Kartoon Studios and a former Marvel executive, emphasized that the hologram will not say anything Stan Lee himself would not have said during his lifetime. The dialogue is based on decades of archival footage in which Stan Lee spoke about comics, characters such as Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Daredevil, and his view of the world. The goal is to remain faithful to his spirit, context, and intent, even if not always literally word for word. The hologram will appear in a rectangular enclosure and may also make surprise appearances outside the pavilion, such as introducing panels. A demonstration of the holograms is shown below.

Fan Reactions and Criticism

Reactions to the project quickly became divided. Some fans see it as a tribute and a way to keep Stan Lee present among them, praising the innovation for reviving memories of his cameos in Marvel films and his role in comic book culture. Others call it unethical, describing it as exploitation or even something disturbing, as though it were a digital resurrection without the deceased's consent. Critics point to the risks of artificial intelligence, which may occasionally give incorrect answers, and recall past controversies involving Stan Lee, including allegations that he was mistreated in the final years of his life at similar events. Nevertheless, the hologram has attracted attention and become part of discussions about the future of celebrity legacies.

Stan Lee and His Love of Comic Con

Stan Lee was the king of comic conventions for decades. In a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said that Los Angeles was the center of the entertainment world for him and that Comic Con simply belonged there. Now, almost seven years after his death, the hologram will allow a new generation of fans to experience a piece of that energy. Kartoon Studios is planning further uses of his likeness, such as trading cards or the restoration of his wax figure at Madame Tussauds in New York. The project will therefore not end at Comic Con but will open the door to broader commercial use. Fans attending the event will have the chance to speak with the man who shaped the superhero stories they love.

Source: futurism.com