Meet Stan Lee Again? AI Hologram Offers Fans a Unique Experience at Comic Con
Stan Lee, the legendary creator who defined comic conventions for decades, is set to make a posthumous return nearly seven years after his death at the age of 95. The Marvel icon will appear as an AI-powered hologram at L.A. Comic Con, giving fans a chance to interact with the digital version of the beloved creator.
Hologram Experience Offers Paid Interactions
Fans visiting the Stan Lee Experience will be able to step inside a 1,500-square-foot enclosed booth, where the hologram will simulate conversations using AI. Tickets for the experience range from $15 to $20, depending on whether they are purchased in advance. Much like meeting a celebrity in person, attendees will have opportunities to pay for photos with the hologram or engage in a three-minute, one-on-one conversation with the AI recreation of Lee.
The announcement has already sparked backlash from some fans, who view the hologram as an unsettling commercialization of the late creator’s legacy. One fan shared their reaction online:
I feel bad for Stan Lee. Even in death he isn’t safe from being exploited. I wish i got to meet him when he was alive, but i’ll never stoop this low to meet a fake like this.
I feel bad for Stan Lee. Even in death he isn't safe from being exploited. I wish i got to meet him when he was alive, but i'll never stoop this low to meet a fake like this.
— Ethereal Wind (@NSilverwind) September 20, 2025
Celebration or Exploitation?
The Stan Lee Experience is presented as a celebration of Lee’s contributions to comics and pop culture, but critics argue that monetizing interactions with a digital recreation of someone who has passed is insensitive. The AI-powered hologram is designed to simulate conversations with attendees, blurring the line between homage and exploitation.
Despite the backlash, L.A. Comic Con organizers defend the experience as a way to honor Lee’s enduring influence. Still, the attraction raises broader ethical questions about posthumous AI recreations and the commercialization of deceased celebrities within fan-driven spaces.
As fans continue to debate the appropriateness of the hologram, it seems certain that Stan Lee’s digital presence will provoke both excitement and controversy, much like the creator himself did during his lifetime. Attendees will soon decide for themselves whether the AI tribute feels like a genuine celebration or a questionable exploitation of a comic book legend’s legacy.
