Stan Lee was instantly recognizable – his voice, his distinctive glasses, and his creative style set him apart. He didn’t just co-create some of the most famous comic book characters ever; he became a champion for comics themselves, and for all the heroes and villains born from Marvel. For decades, he was the star of San Diego Comic-Con, and even with his memorable cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his popularity continued to grow. Even eight years after his passing, Stan Lee remains a beloved figure.
After Stan Lee passed away, troubling reports of elder abuse surfaced, casting a shadow over his final years. Now, the company managing his post-Marvel creations, Stan Lee Universe, has partnered with AI firm ElevenLabs. This deal allows ElevenLabs users to create new content featuring Lee’s voice and likeness using artificial intelligence. However, many fans are upset about this new venture, feeling it exploits his legacy.
Stan Lee Added to Generative AI Marketplace and Fans Hate It
ElevenLabs recently announced on their website that users can now access a recreation of Stan Lee’s voice through their Iconic Marketplace for personal creative projects. They’ve also launched the “Stan Lee Book of the Month Club,” where a digitally recreated Lee will read classic books. This includes not only his voice, but also his likeness – allowing users to create personal, non-commercial images and videos featuring him. The original announcement has since been removed from their website.
According to Chaz Rainey of Stan Lee Universe, Stan Lee always prioritized connecting with his fans – whether through his comics, at events, or even brief appearances. This new partnership aims to continue that legacy. Fans often shared that they ‘heard’ Stan’s voice while reading his comics, and now, with ElevenLabs’ technology, that experience can become real. ElevenLabs allows them to preserve and share his voice, image, and passion for storytelling, staying true to his spirit and giving fans a way to connect with him personally.
It seems ElevenLabs and Stan Lee Universe misjudged how fans would react to their recent announcement. Almost immediately, fans voiced their disappointment online, pointing out a troubling pattern: others profiting from Lee’s legacy, similar to concerns about exploitation during his final years.
Look, I’ve been seeing a lot of backlash online, and honestly, I get it. One commenter put it bluntly – they said Stan Lee would be horrified by what’s happening. And it’s a sentiment I’m seeing echoed everywhere. The core of the issue seems to be that people feel like turning a vibrant, passionate figure like Stan Lee into a digitally recreated persona just…lacks respect. It feels less about honoring his legacy and more about a corporation trying to capitalize on it, and that’s rubbing a lot of fans the wrong way. They want to remember the man, the soul, not a digital imitation.
One user wondered if they’ll eventually see a robot version of Stan Lee signing autographs at comic conventions, questioning where the line will be drawn.
As a fan, it really struck me when someone pointed out that letting AI companies use a deceased person’s voice and likeness is just repeating the problems they faced in life. It’s not about if the technology can do it, but who made the agreement, and if they even had the right to sell someone’s identity when their family has been fighting over the estate for six years now. It feels really unsettling.
The announcement that ElevenLabs would be adding Stan Lee’s voice to its library – alongside voices of living celebrities like Michael Caine and David Hasselhoff, and deceased figures such as Judy Garland and John Wayne – quickly faced strong criticism. Since the announcement, ElevenLabs has removed the official news release from its website, and Stan Lee no longer appears in searches on their voice marketplace. While ElevenLabs still has posts about the feature on social media, fans continue to voice their disapproval.
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2026-05-27 22:41