Stan Lee lives on in Marvel Studios through POW! Entertainment deal

Between POW! Entertainment and Genius Brands International, the 20-year-deal sees the late Stan Lee’s likeness be shown in films, TV, apparel, and theme parks. 

The late figurehead and “The Man” behind Marvel, Stan Lee, who passed away Nov. 12, 2018, will have more posthumous appearances in films and TV series, including apparel and theme park experiences according to the latest report from The Hollywood Reporter.

Marvel has signed a licensing deal for 20 years with Stan Lee Universe in a joint venture between Genius Brands International and POW! Entertainment, which will see Stan Lee’s likeness used in variable media including the aforesaid mediums and commercial products mentioned above in addition to vast amounts of “experiences” and merchandising. However, it was later confirmed that this does not include VR or video games.

The new deal though, may not necessarily mean the return of his notable cameos in films and perhaps the Disney Plus shows by Marvel Studios. The process in which Lee will be digitally resurrected if you will is most likely through archive footage and audio recordings; Marvel has permission, therefore, to use Lee’s name, voice, likeness, and signature exclusively in theme parks, cruise lines, and other merchandise. While this writer is mixed about the approach, we are uncertain as to how the audience and his extended family including his daughter, J.C. Lee, may feel about this.

Stan Lee, his rise to prominence, POW! and Genius Brand

Born Stanley Martin Lieber in Manhattan, New York City, on Dec. 28, 1922, to native Romanian Jewish immigrants, Lee and his younger brother, Larry Lieber, moved to Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Heights after the Great Depression.

Lee became an assistant in Timely Comics (precursor to Marvel Comics) in 1939 to publisher Martin Goodman, thanks to Lee’s uncle Robbie Soloman, Lee’s cousin, Jean Davis (Goodman’s wife) was hired by editor Joe Simon. Lee became a writing filler for Captain America Comics No.3. He graduated from writing filler to working on the actual titles for backup features under the alternate pseudonym “Reel Nats” other than the one he is most famous for in which he co-created a number of characters. At 19, Lee became interim editor before he left for the US Army in early 1942.

After completing military service in 1945, he continued to rise through the ranks from writer and editor-in-chief including the art director and eventually publisher in 1972, succeeding Goodman. Decades past the 50s, 60s, and 70s, Timely evolved from Atlas Comics to the publisher we know today as Marvel and co-created characters such as Spider-Man, Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Fantastic Four and X-Men.

By the late 70s, he became a public figure, the last titles he has written for Marvel was for the characters Silver Surfer and She-Hulk. His last Silver Surfer story was for Epic Illustrated No.1 in 1980. Throughout the 80s, while Lee developed film and series properties as an executive producer, Lee briefly became Marvel’s president, and returned to the role of publisher, until he stepped away during the 90s, his legacy has more than spoken for itself, and beyond that, the rest is history.

Formed in 2001 by Lee, Gill Champion, and Arthur Lieberman, POW! (Purveyors of Wonder) Entertainment is a media production company owned by Camsing International Holding, to develop film, series, and video game properties.

Through POW! LLC, other creations such as Stripperella, Heroman, and Lucky Man were not as successful although the latter was successful in territories across the pond within the UK and Ireland. Genius Brand, a merger between Genius Brands Int’l and A² Entertainment and led by founder, chairman, and CEO, Andy Heyward, is a global kids company.

What are your thoughts on the licensing deal between POW! Entertainment, Marvel, Genius Brand, and Co.? Do you want Stan Lee to appear in cameos digitally once more in various media? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!