Introduction

If you ever wished you could ask Stan Lee one more question, L.A. Comic Con 2024 offered the next best thing. Inside a glowing display box on the show floor, an AI-powered Stan Lee avatar chatted with attendees about comics, creativity, and the Marvel universe. This experience offered a glimpse into how digital replicas and holographic displays are moving from novelty to mainstream fan engagement.

What happened at L.A. Comic Con

• The “Stan Lee Experience” was a 1,500-square-foot booth where fans could have brief conversations with a responsive, photo-realistic avatar of the Marvel legend. Entry started at around $15 plus fees.
• Designed for interactive Q&A, the installation allowed groups to ask questions and some attendees to have short one-on-one chats and take selfies with the avatar.
• This activation highlighted a growing trend of using AI and holographic telepresence at fan events, museums, classrooms, and even in healthcare.

Why it’s not exactly a “hologram”

Although many called it a hologram, the display wasn’t one in the classic, laser-etched sense. It was a life-sized, transparent-front display from Proto Inc. that projects a three-dimensional-looking image. This device can either “beam in” a live person or play interactive, software-driven content. Essentially, it’s an avatar in a box, using depth and clever lighting to create a convincing effect.

How the AI Stan Lee works

• Training Data and Voice: The avatar was built using decades of Stan Lee’s own words from interviews, public appearances, writings, and his famous “Stan’s Soapbox” columns to generate authentic, context-aware responses.
• Large Language Model with Guardrails: The avatar is powered by a specialized large language model (LLM) trained exclusively on Lee’s works. It doesn’t crawl the web and is designed to stay on-topic, avoiding subjects like politics or sports to remain true to his public persona.
• Hardware and AI Partners: Proto Inc. provided the display unit and telepresence platform, while Hyperreal, led by digital-human pioneer Remington Scott, developed the avatar and AI. Scott is well-known for his groundbreaking work in performance capture, including on the character Gollum.

What you can do inside the experience

• Group Q&A: Participate in 10-15 minute facilitated sessions where the avatar answers fan questions about comics, characters, and the creative process.
• One-on-One Time: Enjoy brief solo chats designed to feel personal, while staying within the avatar’s established knowledge base.
• Photos and Souvenirs: Pose for pictures with the avatar and browse official merchandise at the adjacent booth.

Who made it happen

• L.A. Comic Con and Comikaze Entertainment: CEO Chris DeMoulin led the initiative to bring an AI Stan Lee to the convention, aiming to introduce his world to both new and longtime fans.
• Proto Inc.: The creator of the life-sized display box used for the avatar, specializing in remote “beaming” for events and interactive experiences.
• Hyperreal: The digital human company that created the avatar’s AI and performance system, founded by motion capture and digital human expert Remington Scott.

Why the “voice” sounds like Stan — and where it won’t go

The avatar is designed to echo what Stan Lee said or wrote during his lifetime. The AI draws from vetted transcripts and footage to create real-time responses that match his unique style and themes. Crucially, built-in guardrails prevent the system from inventing opinions on topics Lee never publicly discussed. The goal is to be “faithful in spirit” rather than a simple recording, a key distinction for maintaining authenticity and ethical standards.

A quick reality check on ethics and consent

Whenever a famous figure is digitally “revived,” questions of permission and dignity naturally arise. In this case, “Stan Lee Universe”—a joint venture between Kartoon Studios (formerly Genius Brands) and POW! Entertainment—manages the rights to Lee’s name and likeness. This isn’t new territory; in 2022, Marvel licensed these rights for use in films, TV, and theme parks, demonstrating that formal frameworks for his image already exist.

California law has also evolved. Two 2024 bills, AB 2602 and AB 1836, now mandate detailed consent for creating digital replicas and require permission from the estate for using the likeness of a deceased performer. While these laws don’t give automatic approval to every project, they establish clear expectations for consent and estate control that projects like this must respect.

Not everyone loved it

Reactions were mixed, ranging from delighted nostalgia to clear discomfort. While some fans felt the avatar perfectly captured Lee’s energetic showmanship, others found it unsettling or “dystopian.” This debate reflects a broader conversation in entertainment about when a digital replica celebrates a legacy and when it crosses an ethical line.

Beyond the show floor: where this tech is headed

Proto’s devices are already being used for live “beaming” at events and in corporate settings, with the company emphasizing privacy and compliance for uses in sensitive fields like healthcare. The team at L.A. Comic Con also pointed to future applications in museums, classrooms, and retail. Imagine a historian answering questions from inside a display case or a designer walking you through a 3D prototype.

How the system stays in bounds

• Curated Training Data: Only content directly attributable to Stan Lee, from his writings to taped interviews, is used to generate replies.
• Topic Filters: Guardrails prevent the avatar from discussing subjects Lee did not publicly address.
• Iterative Tuning: Like any AI, the system’s responses are continuously refined with more vetted examples and prompt adjustments.

What it costs and how to see it

At L.A. Comic Con 2024, the Stan Lee Experience was a timed, ticketed add-on costing about $15 plus service fees. The event ran from September 26-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. For future events featuring similar technology, always check the official programming schedule for location and session times.

Why this matters for creators, studios, and fans

• For Fans: AI avatars offer a new way to access the voices of beloved creators, allowing people to ask questions and receive context-rich answers drawn from their actual words.
• For Rights Holders: This project highlights the importance of proper licensing and responsible stewardship, showing that established and evolving frameworks can guide these efforts.
• For the Industry: New laws and union priorities are reshaping how digital replicas are made and used. Expect clearer rules on consent, estate involvement, and other constraints that balance innovation with respect for performers.

A brief primer on the tech partners

• Proto Inc.: Known for its Epic and M devices, which are self-contained displays for lifelike “holoportation,” live beaming, and interactive content, Proto emphasizes its enterprise-grade security and compliance features.
• Hyperreal: A studio specializing in high-fidelity digital humans and virtual identities, led by Remington Scott, whose career includes pioneering performance capture for major film and game franchises.

How to think about authenticity

Is the AI avatar “really” Stan Lee? Of course not. It’s a computational model of his public persona, wrapped in a convincing visual performance. However, when the source material is carefully curated and the system is designed to stay true to what he actually said, it can serve as an honest extension of his voice—a living archive that can answer back. This approach doesn’t replace human artists; it helps contextualize their work for new generations and new mediums.

Tips if you plan to try a similar experience

• Ask Concrete Questions: The avatar is at its best when discussing topics Stan Lee covered extensively, like Spider-Man’s origin, the power of storytelling, or his collaborations with artists.
• Avoid Off-Topic Subjects: The system’s guardrails will likely deflect questions about politics, sports, or other unrelated current events.
• Listen for the Cadence: Part of the experience is hearing how the AI channels Stan’s signature rhythm and humor, all within the bounds of his published remarks.

The stakes: where law and culture meet

California’s 2024 laws, AB 1836 and AB 2602, establish critical protections for performers’ digital replicas. They require informed consent, union representation in contracts, and explicit estate approval for deceased artists, while still permitting expressive uses when proper permission is granted. Projects like the Stan Lee avatar exist at the intersection of what is technically possible, legally compliant, and culturally accepted, and the conversation is far from over.

Key takeaways

• The avatar is an AI system trained exclusively on Stan Lee’s own words, presented in a lifelike Proto display with digital human technology from Hyperreal.
• Clear licensing and consent frameworks are crucial, and these are rapidly evolving both in California and across the entertainment industry.
• Expect to see this technology in more places beyond conventions, including museums, classrooms, and even clinical settings.

FAQs

Q1) Is this a real hologram?

Not in the strict scientific sense. It’s a high-resolution, life-sized display in a box that uses lighting and perspective to create a convincing hologram-like illusion.

Q2) What powers the AI avatar?

A specialized large language model trained only on Stan Lee’s verified writings and interviews, with guardrails to keep its answers authentic to his public commentary.

Q3) Who authorized the use of Stan Lee’s likeness?

The rights are managed by Stan Lee Universe, a venture linked to Kartoon Studios and POW! Entertainment. Marvel licensed rights from this entity in 2022 for specific uses.

Q4) What did it cost to see the Stan Lee Experience at L.A. Comic Con?

During the 2024 event, tickets for the experience cost approximately $15 plus fees.

Q5) Could this technology be used elsewhere?

Yes. Proto’s platform is designed for live “beaming” in various settings. Organizers have suggested potential uses in museums, classrooms, labs, and retail.

Further reading and sources

• L.A. Times coverage of the Stan Lee avatar at L.A. Comic Con: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-09-26/stan-lee-ai-hologram-los-angeles-comic-con-avatar
• The Wrap report and video highlights from the booth: https://www.thewrap.com/stan-lee-ai-hologram-debuts-at-la-comic-con/
• Reuters overview of the debut and public reaction: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/ai-hologram-spider-man-creator-stan-lee-debuts-la-comic-con-2025-09-26/
• Kartoon Studios press release on Marvel’s 20-year licensing deal for Stan Lee’s name and likeness: https://ir.kartoonstudios.com/press-releases/detail/1162/genius-brands-signs-20-year-deal-with-marvel-studios-to
• California Governor’s announcement on AB 2602 and AB 1836: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/09/17/governor-newsom-signs-bills-to-protect-digital-likeness-of-performers/ and enrolled bill text: https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB1836/id/3021237
• Proto Inc. product overview: https://protohologram.com/
• Hyperreal overview and founder background: https://www.hyperreal.io/ and https://www.remingtonscott.com/about

Conclusion

For a generation that knew Stan Lee through his movie cameos and convention appearances, the AI avatar is both a fitting tribute and a fascinating test case. It demonstrates how thoughtfully curated AI, clear legal stewardship, and convincing display technology can preserve a creator’s voice for new fans—without pretending to resurrect the person himself. As culture and law continue to catch up with technology, expect to see more experiments like this, along with greater public scrutiny.