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Just Imagine...
Cover to Just Imagine Stan Lee's Batman, art by Joe Kubert.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
ScheduleMonthly
FormatMiniseries
Publication dateSeptember 2001 -September 2002
No. of issues13
Creative team
Written byStan Lee
Artist(s)John Buscema
Joe Kubert
Jim Lee
Dave Gibbons
Kevin Maguire
Jerry Ordway
John Byrne
Gary Frank
Scott McDaniel
Chris Bachalo
Walt Simonson
John Cassaday

Just Imagine... is a comic book line published by DC Comics. It was written by Stan Lee, co-creator of several popular Marvel Comics characters,[1] in which he re-imagined DC superheroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and the Flash.

Development

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In July 2000, it was reported Stan Lee had signed a deal with DC Comics to produce a 12 issue miniseries of one-shot Elseworlds taking place within a shared universe that would feature reinterpretations of established characters within the DC Universe before culminating in a final Crisis one-shot.[2]

While the contract with Lee was for 12 issues, editor Mike Carlin said that depending on the sales for the books a 13th Secret Files and Origins issue might be produced.[2] Michael E. Uslan, a longtime friend of Lee's and former executive of DC who still held sway with the company due to producing the Batman films, approached Lee about doing the series with Lee welcoming the opportunity.[2] At the premiere of Batman in 1989, Uslan saw Lee and longtime friend Bob Kane talking and decided to approach the two wherein Lee said he would be interested in collaborating with Uslan on a big project someday.[3]

According to Uslan, after watching Lee and Kane, this led to Uslan asking a hypothetical question of "what if Lee had been hired by DC instead of Marvel Comics?", but the nature of Lee's contract with Marvel prevented Uslan from pursuing this project at the time.[3] When Toy Biz bought Marvel in the wake of the company's Bankruptcy in 1999, the company renegotiated Lee's contract with Marvel, and while Lee's salary was severely reduced it also allowed Lee to pursue freelance work outside the company such as establishing Stan Lee Media.[2][3] After Uslan confirmed that Lee was no longer Marvel exclusive and was open to the idea of working for DC, Uslan met with then DC Comics President Paul Levitz, where he presented a two-page proposal for the project with Levitz enthused about the idea.[3]

The announcement was met with a variety of reactions across the industry and the comic reading fan base with rumors initially circulating the project was Lee's revenge for having his role in Marvel pared down with Toy Biz executives embarrassed and furious with the announcement.[3] Lee dismissed these rumors stating:

I'd never do anything to hurt Marvel, they’re family. You don’t do things to hurt your family.[3]

The line-up of DC reinterpretations was initially supposed to include a new take on the Teen Titans to be drawn by Walt Simonson.[2] Another reinterpretation to be announced but never come to fruition was a new take on the Legion of Super-Heroes.[3] Alex Ross was approached to create cover art for the miniseries, but declined as he felt both the miniseries and The Dark Knight Strikes Again were the wrong direction for DC to take describing the events of overly gimmick focused and a sign of creative stagnation.[2] The covers were instead provided by Adam Hughes.[2] Mike Mignola was also supposed to contribute to the series, but had to drop out due to his work load.[3] George Pérez was also initially announced as being slated to draw the final Crisis issue of the series.[2]

Batman

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In Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert - Creating Batman (October 2001), Batman is known as Wayne Williams instead of Bruce Wayne. Creators Stan Lee and Joe Kubert based this version on the characters created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger.

Unlike Bruce Wayne, Wayne Williams is African-American instead of Caucasian. He is in excellent physical condition and has a vast personal fortune, allowing him access to custom equipment, including night vision lenses, a Kevlar costume, sensors to magnify sound, and a wingsuit/hang glider hybrid cape to glide.

Wayne Williams' father was a policeman who was killed in an ambush. Williams is framed for a crime and vows revenge on "Handz", the gang leader who set him up. In prison, Williams befriends a scientist named Frederick Grant, who teaches him how to "develop his mind", as well as sewing and bodybuilding.

Williams learns that his mother has also died while he is incarcerated, and he blames Handz for her death. After rescuing a warden during a prison riot, he is given a full pardon. After his release, Williams is on the run from Handz and keeps a low profile by shaving his head. Williams needs money, so he becomes a wrestler under the name of Batman, never unmasking in public. In a few short weeks, Batman becomes a superstar in wrestling and attains extreme wealth. He searches for Grant and entrusts him with his secret identity. Williams has the money, skill, and strength to fight Handz, but Frederick Grant has the technical know-how, so the two become partners. To keep a low profile, Williams gives Frederick a mansion and acts as his bodyguard. Batman eventually finds and fights with Handz, who accidentally falls to his death in the conflict. No longer seeking vengeance, Batman begins a mission of justice to fight crime and protect the innocent from villains like Handz.

Wonder Woman

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Wonder Woman, whose real name is Maria Mendoza, debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jim Lee Creating Wonder Woman (October 2001). Creators Stan Lee and Jim Lee based this version on the original DC character created by William Moulton Marston.

Mendoza is an activist who protests against the corporate excavation of an ancient Incan holy site near her village. The CEO Armando Guitez has a plan: gain power from the site and take over the world. When Mendoza's father is kidnapped by the CEO and taken to the excavation, Maria follows, only to arrive too late to prevent her father's death. Guitez gains demonic powers from artifacts at the site, and then travels to Los Angeles. Mendoza finds the staff of Manco Cápac, granting her the powers of the Incan sun god, and uses them to pursue and defeat Guitez. She then decides to remain in Los Angeles, taking the name Wonder Woman.

Superman

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Superman, whose real name is Salden, debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema Creating Superman (November 2001). Creators Stan Lee and John Buscema based this version on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Salden's powers include great strength and immaculate speed, but was considered the weakest member of the Kryptonian Police Force. He uses a flying harness to capture a dangerous criminal in a teleportation lab, but the criminal sends Salden and himself on a one-way trip to Earth. The two men arrive separately, both discovering that they have enhanced physical abilities. The criminal sets himself up as the king of a jungle tribe before eventually confronting Salden.

Earth is too primitive, but it has the potential to develop the technology that Salden needs to return to his home world. The problem is that there are too many obstacles to the peaceful future necessary for technological advancement: war, crime, poverty, etc. Salden decides to become a superhero in order to rid the world of these impediments and calls himself Superman.

Green Lantern

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Green Lantern, real name Len Lewis, debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee and Dave Gibbons Creating Green Lantern (December 2001). Creators Stan Lee and Dave Gibbons based this version on the original character created by Martin Nodell and Bill Finger.

A professor is looking for something called "the Tree", mentioned in Norse legends as Yggdrasil and in Christianity as the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He finally traces the plant to an area in Africa. When he finds the Tree, agents working for the Reverend Dominic Darrk (who appears in all 13 issues of Just Imagine), the leader of the Church of Eternal Empowerment, who are also searching for the Tree, shoot him and leave him for dead. The Tree shows the professor its history, which includes a race of pre-humans, and grants him its power to "serve as a light in these dark times".

The Flash

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The Flash, real name Mary Maxwell, debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee and Kevin Maguire Creating Flash (January 2002). Creators Stan Lee and Kevin Maguire based this version on the original character created by Gardner Fox and Harry Lampert.

A typical college girl whose father is a scientist, Mary's life was very dull, and she longs to be a superhero like in the comic books she reads. She also has a life-threatening disease that slowly drains her energy. One day, enemies from her father's past, who are part of an organization named STEALTH (Special Team of Espionage Agents Licensed to Target and Hit), find and kill him. Before he dies, though, he injects Mary with the DNA of a hummingbird to save her from her wasting disease. This grants her the ability to travel at super-speed and she calls herself the Flash.

JLA

[edit]

Lee's version of the Justice League debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee and Jerry Ordway Creating JLA (February 2002). Each titular character of the previous five issues serve as the members.

Darrk is trying to summon a being called Crisis to Earth so that he can take over the planet. To this end, he creates some henchmen in the form of the Doom Patrol, consisting of Blockbuster, Parasite, and Deathstroke. Darrk's young son Adam Strange notifies Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash of Darrk's intentions. Darrk, beaten by the five heroes, mortally wounds Adam and flees, bluffed into doing so by Green Lantern, who (unbeknownst to Darrk) is too weak to fight because his strength has been drained by the Parasite. Adam has powers too, and promises the heroes that he will return in some form. He then dies and the heroes officially become the Justice League.

Secret Files and Origins

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Just Imagine Stan Lee...Secret Files and Origins (March 2002) contains the story "The Coming Crisis", where the National Exposer interviews the members of the Justice League. They explain their origins and warn Earth of Darrk's threat. Wonder Woman gets a hint of the League's future.

The issue also contains profiles of each hero, Darrk, and the Church of Eternal Empowerment.

Robin

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Stan Lee's version of Robin, co-created with John Byrne, is an embittered teenager who works for Darrk. Darrk sends Robin out on various assignments, all the while promising him something in return; the book opens with Robin attempting his current assignment: kill the Batman.

Shazam!

[edit]

Lee re-imagines the original Captain Marvel/Shazam! premise by having the hero be a mild-mannered Interpol agent, Robert Rogers. Teamed with the beautiful, and much tougher, fellow agent Carla Noral, the two of them are in India searching for the megalomaniacal master criminal Gunga Kahn. This version is co-created with Gary Frank and is based on the Bill Parker–C. C. Beck character.

In a back-up story plotted by Michael E. Uslan, scripted by Lee and Uslan and drawn by Kano, an orphaned American boy in India, at the same time as the adventures of Shazam, heroically saves a village from starvation with the help of a local boy named Zubin Navotny. The boy's name is Billy Marvel and he and Zubin are made honorary captains in the Peace Corps by an ambassador named Batson, thus making the boy "Captain Marvel".

Aquaman

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Marine biologist Ramon Raymond is experimenting with dolphin DNA to see if humans can live underwater and decides to use himself as a test subject. When he swims through a glowing patch of seawater, he finds he can now transform into a being of living water. This version is co-created with Scott McDaniel and is based on the Mort Weisinger-Paul Norris character.

Catwoman

[edit]

Supermodel Joanie Jordan and her cat Ebony are struck by strange green lightning, creating a link between them and giving Jordan catlike abilities, including super-agility, heightened senses, and razor-sharp claws. This version is co-created with Chris Bachalo and is based on the Bob Kane/Bill Finger character.

Sandman

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On a crewed mission to investigate Saturn's largest moon Titan, astronaut Col. Larry Wilton is out on a spacewalk when his tether is cut by his traitorous colleague, Maj. Bryan Bleier. Left for dead, Wilton drifts into a mysterious green cloud and finds himself in a bizarre realm that he had dreamt of as a child. It is here that a beautiful girl named Melana grants him the powers of the Sandman. This version is co-created with Walt Simonson and is based on the Gardner Fox-Allen Bert Christman character.

Crisis

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Crisis debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Cassaday Creating Crisis (September 2002).

When one of the Inca hawk runes is stolen, Wonder Woman summons all of Earth's new heroes. The Sandman arrives with Darrk's body and warns them that Crisis—now Darrk's master—is coming. Worse still, the Justice League has a traitor in their midst.

In this issue, which is the end of the story, there are other versions of some of DC's other characters: the Oracle, the Phantom Stranger, Hawkman, and the Atom.

Collected editions

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  1. Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Book 1 Archived 2012-09-02 at the Wayback Machine (2004-01-01/2020-03-11): includes Just Imagine Stan Lee with Dave Gibbons Creating Green Lantern #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jerry Ordway Creating JLA #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jim Lee Creating Wonder Woman #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema Creating Superman #1, and Just Imagine Stan Lee with Kevin Maguire Creating The Flash #1.
  2. Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Book 2 Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine (2004-06-09/2020-12-30): includes Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Byrne Creating Robin #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Gary Frank Creating Shazam! #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Scott McDaniel Creating Aquaman #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Chris Bachalo Creating Catwoman #1, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Walter Simonson Creating the Sandman #1, and Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Cassaday Creating Crisis #1.
  3. Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Book 3 Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine (2004-06-09): Includes Aquaman, Sandman (with Walter Simonson), Catwoman (with Chris Bachalo), Crisis (with John Cassaday).
  4. Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Omnibus Archived 2012-12-12 at the Wayback Machine (2013-12-11): Includes Book 1, Book 2, and Book 3.

References

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Just Imagine...

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Just Imagine... is a comic book series published by DC Comics in 2001–2002, featuring reimaginings of the publisher's iconic superheroes as written by Marvel Comics co-creator Stan Lee in collaboration with various DC artists. The series consists of a line of one-shot special issues, each focusing on a different character or team, such as Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema Creating Superman, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jim Lee Creating Wonder Woman, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Kevin Maguire Creating the Flash, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Dave Gibbons Creating Green Lantern, and Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jerry Ordway Creating JLA. These stories present alternate origins and interpretations of the heroes, blending Lee's signature narrative style—known from his work on characters like Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four—with DC's established universe, often resulting in fresh takes like a female Flash or a scientist-turned-Superman. Originally released as individual prestige-format comics, the series was a promotional crossover effort between DC and Lee, marking one of the few times the writer ventured beyond Marvel to reinterpret rival publisher's properties. Additional one-shots covering characters like , , and Shazam were published in 2002 and later collected in trade paperbacks and hardcover editions, including Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the Book Two (2003), with reprints following Lee's death in 2018 to preserve his contributions. The project's artistic lineup, featuring luminaries such as and , highlighted the collaborative spirit, though reception varied, with praise for innovative designs like the reimagined but criticism for occasionally derivative plots. Overall, Just Imagine... stands as a unique "what if" experiment in , bridging the legacies of two major publishers through Lee's imaginative lens.

Overview and Development

Concept and Origins

The Just Imagine... series represents a unique collaboration between Stan Lee, the legendary co-creator of many Marvel Comics icons, and DC Comics, launched in 2001 as a line of one-shot prestige format issues where Lee reimagined DC's flagship superheroes from the ground up, treating their names and core archetypes as starting points for entirely original concepts unbound by existing continuity. This initiative stemmed from film producer and comic writer Michael Uslan, who proposed the project to Lee shortly after Marvel's exclusive contract with him lapsed, allowing the industry icon to explore work outside his longtime home. DC Comics embraced the opportunity to leverage Lee's star power and Marvel-honed storytelling style to attract crossover audiences, positioning the series as a bridge between the rival publishers' fanbases while expanding the DC Multiverse with a new Earth-6 designation for these alternate interpretations. Central to the series' creative genesis was Lee's deliberate approach of crafting fresh origins without deep immersion in DC's established lore, drawing instead from his Marvel background to infuse the heroes with grounded, relatable backstories as ordinary individuals thrust into extraordinary circumstances in contemporary settings. This "no prior knowledge" mindset enabled innovative redesigns, such as transforming archetypal figures into diverse protagonists facing modern societal issues, while blending Lee's signature soap opera-like interpersonal drama and themes of personal responsibility—epitomized by echoes of "with comes great responsibility"—with DC's mythic heroism. The overarching narrative premise involved a sentient Earth selecting and empowering these everyday people as champions against global threats, emphasizing ecological awareness and in a way that honored Lee's collaborative with top artists like and . DC's strategic goals extended beyond mere novelty, aiming to celebrate Lee's legacy through high-profile pairings that showcased his ability to revitalize icons for new generations, resulting in 13 issues released from August 2001 to September 2002 that prioritized conceptual reinvention over canonical fidelity. This event marked Lee's first major work for DC, fulfilling a long-standing industry curiosity about how the Marvel maestro would interpret the "distinguished competition," and it laid the foundation for later tributes like the 2022 anthology Tales from Earth-6.

Publication History

The Just Imagine... series was first publicly announced in April 2000, when entered into a creative agreement with DC Comics to reimagine the publisher's major superheroes in a of one-shot stories. The project marked Lee's debut work with DC, following his long tenure at . The series launched in August 2001 with Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman, released on August 31. Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema Creating Superman followed on September 19, 2001, initiating the core lineup of 10 solo character one-shots issued on a roughly monthly schedule through early 2002. Subsequent releases included Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jim Lee Creating Wonder Woman in October 2001, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Dave Gibbons Creating Green Lantern in November 2001, and continued with issues for The Flash, Aquaman, Shazam!, Robin, Catwoman, and The Sandman, concluding the solo entries by February 2002. These included team-up specials such as Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jerry Ordway Creating the Justice League of America in April 2002 and the one-shot crossover finale Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Cassaday Creating Crisis in September 2002. A companion guidebook, Just Imagine Stan Lee... Secret Files and Origins #1, was published in March 2002 to detail the reimagined characters and universe connections. The initial run concluded in September 2002 with no further original issues produced, though the stories were collected in trade paperbacks in 2002 and 2003. Following 's death on November 12, 2018, DC announced in November 2019 plans to re-release the full series in new omnibus editions, Just Imagine Creating the Book One (March 2020) and Book Two (October 2020), marking the first major reprinting since the originals.

Solo Character Reimaginings

Superman

In the Just Imagine... series, is reimagined as Salden, a dedicated law enforcer from the high-gravity planet , who crash-lands on during a pursuit of a murderer and adopts a heroic identity to combat crime while adapting to his new world. Written by and illustrated by , the one-shot Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Superman was published by DC Comics in September 2001. Salden serves as a "Lawbringer," Krypton's in a society of cybernetically enhanced beings, where he witnesses the brutal slaying of his Lyella by the escaped criminal Gorrok. Using a specialized flying harness, Salden chases Gorrok into , but their spacecraft is damaged and crashes on , where the planet's weaker gravity amplifies their physical capabilities, endowing Salden with , speed, invulnerability, and enhanced senses. Taking the human name Clark Kent to blend in, he first reveals his powers publicly at a circus , earning the moniker from onlookers, and resolves to use his abilities to enforce justice on until humanity's technology allows his return home. Gorrok, meanwhile, allies with the shadowy Darrk to provoke a global war, setting Salden on a path of confrontation that blends personal vengeance with broader heroic duty. This version diverges from the canonical by rooting his origin in an interstellar police chase rather than an infant's escape from a doomed world, with powers stemming from gravitational differences instead of yellow solar radiation absorption. Salden's abilities include flight assisted by his harness, telescopic vision for reconnaissance, and rapid language acquisition to navigate society, emphasizing his role as an outsider enforcer rather than an adopted everyman. Supporting elements include , reinterpreted as a sharp-witted government agent who aids his investigations, while the story avoids traditional foes like in favor of Gorrok as the primary antagonist driven by chaos and domination. Themes of profound personal loss, cultural adaptation, and the burdens of vigilantism underscore Salden's arc, portraying heroism as a reluctant extension of his law enforcement ethos. Stan Lee's narrative employs his signature melodramatic flair, delving into Salden's emotional turmoil over his wife's death and his isolation on Earth, while building tension through high-stakes action sequences and moral dilemmas about interfering in human affairs. The issue concludes on a forward-looking note, teasing Salden's integration into a larger of reimagined heroes, hinting at collaborative in the Just Imagine... universe without resolving his quest for justice against Gorrok.

Wonder Woman

In the "Just Imagine..." series, Wonder Woman is reimagined by as Maria Mendoza, a courageous Peruvian and for her people's heritage who transforms into a mystical warrior to combat corruption and ancient evils threatening the modern world. The one-shot issue, titled Just Imagine Stan Lee with Creating Wonder Woman, was released on sale in October 2001 with a of January 2002, written by and illustrated by with inks by Scott Williams and colors by . The story centers on Maria Mendoza, a resident of the impoverished village of Santa Alaya near the ancient Incan ruins of Cuzco, Peru, where she works to preserve cultural artifacts amid exploitation by local crimelord Armando Guitez. Guitez, driven by greed, murders Maria's father, Judge Mendoza, and others who oppose his land grabs, escalating the conflict when he activates an ancient Incan hawk rune that grants him demonic powers, transforming him into a massive blue-skinned monster. Aided briefly by American pilot Steve Trevor, who helps her flee the destruction but is ultimately killed by Guitez's forces, Maria discovers the long-lost staff of Manco Cápac—the Incan sun god—in the ruins, which envelops her in golden light and empowers her as Wonder Woman. She confronts Guitez in a climactic battle over Los Angeles after pursuing him to the United States, using her newfound abilities to impale and incinerate him with divine lightning, restoring peace. Maria's redesign draws from Incan mythology rather than Greek roots, portraying her as a human empowered by a divine artifact rather than an immortal Amazon, emphasizing themes of cultural preservation and personal empowerment against systemic oppression. Her powers include superhuman strength, durability, agility, and reflexes derived from the staff, which also allows her to glide short distances and channel energy blasts; the staff itself is versatile, morphing into a costume, shield, sword, or bola-like lasso for combat and utility functions such as teleportation or scrying. In Lee's vision, this version of Wonder Woman embodies feminist ideals through Maria's independent fight for justice and her role as a protector of the vulnerable, highlighting her transition from a powerless idealist to a global heroine without relying on traditional elements like an invisible jet or a war god antagonist. The narrative underscores peace advocacy by focusing on her defense of indigenous heritage and community against exploitation, setting her apart as a culturally grounded symbol of resilience.

Batman

In the Just Imagine... series, Stan Lee's reimagining of Batman, titled Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman, was published by DC Comics in September 2001. The story was written by and illustrated by , marking a bold departure from the traditional Bruce Wayne origin by centering on , an African American former convict who transforms into a crimefighter after personal tragedy. The plot follows , whose father, a dedicated , is gunned down while pursuing a criminal . , Williams confronts the killer, Handz Horgum, but is framed for and imprisoned. While incarcerated, he hones his physical prowess, befriends a named Frederick Grant who becomes his ally, and draws inspiration from bats to devise a vigilante persona. After earning a by heroically intervening in a , Williams enters under the ring name "Batman," rapidly achieving fame and fortune that funds his war on crime. He dons a high-tech, bat-themed suit developed by Grant, confronts Horgum in a climactic showdown, and draws the attention of the sinister Reverend Darrk, setting up future conflicts. This narrative echoes the broader trend of DC icon redesigns in the Just Imagine... series, where Lee reinterprets heroes from scratch without prior continuity. Key unique elements include the integration of wrestling culture into Batman's origin, portraying him as a who leverages public persona for , and the reimagined as a customized, high-performance vehicle suited for urban pursuits. Alfred's counterpart, Frederick Grant, serves as a loyal inventor with a background in advanced rather than traditional service, providing Batman with gadgets like enhanced armor and surveillance tools. The story emphasizes themes of redemption and in a gritty, crime-infested city, diverging from elements to focus on street-level gang warfare. Batman's character redesign abandons the classic and for a more armored, wrestler-inspired with a lifelike, oversized bat head that enhances intimidation while incorporating tech for protection against firearms and melee attacks. Villains are reimagined accordingly, with Horgum as a brutish enforcer and Darrk as a cult-like leader plotting against the hero, including a vampiric twist in later interpretations though not central here. Lee's writing style infuses a noir atmosphere with moral quandaries about vengeance versus justice, delivered through dynamic, shadowy artwork by Kubert that heightens the tension of and personal vendettas.

Green Lantern

In the Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe series, is reimagined as Leonard "Len" Lewis, an archaeology professor at a university who embarks on an expedition to in search of , the mythical . The one-shot issue, written by with art by (pencils) and (inks), was released on December 17, 2001. During the journey, Lewis is betrayed and shot by agents of the villainous Reverend Dominic Darrk, a leader seeking to exploit the tree's power for destructive ends; as he collapses into a pool of green mist at the tree's roots, Yggdrasil revives him, infusing his body with elemental energies that transform him into the . This version of draws his abilities not from a traditional power ring or interstellar , but directly from the life force of itself, positioning him as a solo guardian of Earth's ecosystems against human exploitation and mystical threats. His powers manifest as a green aura that grants flight, , energy projection in the form of blasts, and telekinetic manipulation, all channeled through intense willpower to preserve the planet's balance—echoing themes of the "" force later canonized in DC lore as the emotional spectrum's willpower element. Unique to this iteration, Lewis's abilities require periodic recharging by communing with sources, emphasizing a symbiotic bond with the environment rather than technological or alien artifacts; he initially operates alone, without a supporting lantern , focusing on immediate Earth-bound dangers like Darrk's and animated monstrosities born from corrupted energies. Stan Lee's narrative frames Lewis's origin as a classic , beginning with scholarly curiosity and personal vulnerability—marked by his average build and unassuming life—evolving into a profound responsibility through trial and empowerment. The story highlights as central to wielding these powers, as Lewis visualizes and manifests natural defenses, such as entangling vines or protective barriers, to thwart invaders, underscoring themes of personal growth and the imaginative potential of human will in . Supporting elements include Darrk as a shadowy mentor-antagonist whose yellow-tinged forces represent and decay, contrasting Lewis's vitality, while the professor's transformation also alters his appearance to a bald, ethereal figure, symbolizing rebirth.

The Flash

In the "Just Imagine..." series, The Flash is reimagined as Mary Maxwell, a college student and avid enthusiast who yearns for adventure beyond her mundane life assisting her father, Phillip Maxwell, in his on sources. The one-shot issue, titled Just Imagine Stan Lee with Kevin Maguire Creating the Flash, was released with a cover date of January 2002, featuring artwork by penciler Kevin Maguire, Karl Story, and colorist . Mary's transformation occurs during a terrorist attack on her father's lab by the shadowy organization STEALTH, led by the ruthless Andrea Zakara, who seeks to exploit the energy research for global domination. Exposed to a mysterious green fog during an earlier trip to Australia, Mary falls gravely ill, prompting her father to inject her with experimental hummingbird DNA in a desperate bid to save her life—an act that inadvertently primes her for superhuman abilities. When STEALTH agents raid the lab, Phillip sacrifices himself to protect Mary, overdosing her with the DNA serum amid the chaos, which triggers a chemical reaction granting her extraordinary speed. Awakening with the power to move at velocities rivaling light, Mary adopts the moniker "The Flash" in homage to her favorite comics, crafting a vibrant red-and-yellow costume that evokes classic superhero aesthetics while incorporating practical elements like a cowl for anonymity. Her abilities include superhuman reflexes, vibrational phasing to pass through solid objects, and the capacity to generate lightning-like bursts from friction, all powered by an internal "speed force" connection derived from the hummingbird-enhanced metabolism. The narrative centers on high-stakes pursuits as Mary hones her powers to thwart STEALTH's scheme to develop technology, aiming to plunder historical eras for unlimited wealth and reshape the timeline. Key sequences depict blistering chases across urban landscapes and into temporal rifts, where Mary grapples with ethical quandaries about intervening in the past—such as preventing personal tragedies versus risking paradoxical consequences that could erase her own existence. Zakara emerges as a formidable , a cunning operative with access to prototype speed-enhancing gear, positioning her as a rival manipulator who mirrors Mary's but wields it for destructive ends. Unlike the aquatic isolation of reimagined heroes like , The Flash's story emphasizes terrestrial and scientific , blending personal loss with triumphant velocity-based heroism in Central City. Stan Lee's contributions infuse the tale with themes of legacy and moral velocity, portraying Mary's evolution from reluctant bystander to proactive guardian through vignettes of training montages and timeline-altering dilemmas that underscore the perils of unchecked speed. The issue concludes with Mary solidifying her role as Central City's swift protector, setting a foundation for potential crossovers while highlighting her vibrational techniques to dismantle STEALTH's temporal devices without fully unraveling history.

Aquaman

In Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe: Aquaman, released with a cover date of June 2002 and illustrated by Scott McDaniel, Stan Lee reimagines Aquaman as Ramon Raymond, a dedicated marine biologist and environmental activist based in Long Beach, California. Raymond, driven by a passion to protect ocean ecosystems, injects himself with experimental dolphin DNA to enhance his diving capabilities and immerse himself in undersea research. During a perilous dive, he is attacked by a shark and flees into a mysterious patch of glowing green substance in the ocean, which interacts with the DNA to mutate his body into a form composed entirely of living water, bestowing upon him extraordinary aquatic abilities and leading him to become Aquaman. This origin shifts the character from royal lineage to a scientifically empowered everyman, emphasizing human ingenuity and ecological urgency over mythical heritage. As , Raymond's powers center on his fluid physiology, allowing him to shift seamlessly between solid human form and animated , rendering him highly durable against physical attacks as he can disperse and . He can propel himself at swimming speeds comparable to , manipulate telekinetically to create waves or barriers, and emit high-pressure jets from his body for offensive strikes, while an innate danger sense—likened to heightened fish instincts—aids in underwater navigation and combat. This redesign eschews derisive tropes like "fish-talking" in favor of portraying him as a proactive eco-warrior, using his abilities to contain oil spills, rescue marine animals, and thwart polluters, including pirate operations that threaten coastal communities and his injured brother Frank. Absent are elements like a royal trident or an advanced underwater kingdom such as ; instead, the narrative highlights a romance-free solo adventure focused on personal transformation and global environmental defense. Lee infuses the story with his signature blend of high-stakes action and moral messaging, featuring epic sea battles against corporate exploiters and natural perils that underscore the fragility of habitats. Quantitative impacts, such as the scale of threats, are conveyed through representative examples like massive slicks endangering , establishing the character's role in broader ecological advocacy without exhaustive metrics. This version positions as a symbol of scientific heroism in an era of environmental crisis, distinct from magical power shifts seen in other reimaginings like Shazam!.

Shazam!

Just Imagine with Gary Frank Creating Shazam! was published by DC Comics with an on-sale date of March 13, 2002, and a cover date of May 2002. Written by with pencils by Gary Frank, the story reimagines Shazam! (originally Captain Marvel) as a mild-mannered adult agent named Robert Rogers who gains transformative magical powers. The plot is set in , where Rogers, a nebbishy agent, attempts to rescue an elderly (revealed as ) from assassins led by the villainous Gunga Khan. In gratitude, bestows upon Rogers powerful magic, activated by uttering the word "Shazam!," which transforms him into a hulking, demonic monster-like hero with immense strength and other magical abilities. Rogers uses these powers to save his fellow agent Carla Noral from Khan, who plans to use a shrink ray to destroy America. Meanwhile, the sorceress Morgana Le Fey, having escaped imprisonment, senses Rogers' new powers and emerges as a looming threat, positioning Shazam as a prophesied champion against mystical evils. This version diverges from the canonical child-to-adult transformation of Billy Batson, instead featuring an adult protagonist who shifts into a monstrous form reminiscent of the , emphasizing and magical destiny over the traditional SHAZAM acronym (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury). Rogers' abilities include , durability, and magical energy projection, channeled through his heroic resolve. The narrative explores themes of sudden empowerment and duty, with Rogers lamenting the separation from his and loved ones due to the isolating of his powers. A backup story introduces Billy Marvel, a young street kid inspired by Shazam to perform heroic acts, but the main tale focuses on Rogers' origin and immediate conflicts. Lee's style infuses action with moral introspection, portraying Shazam as a reluctant beast-hero battling global threats in a standalone .

Robin

In the "Just Imagine..." series, Robin is reimagined as a brooding, agile teenager manipulated by a leader, serving as a foil to the more experienced Batman while showcasing his potential for independent heroism. The one-shot issue, written by with pencils by John Byrne and inks by Terry Austin, was released with a of 2002 and went on sale February 27, 2002. The story centers on an unnamed orphan boy, simply called Robin due to a left with him at the doorstep, who grows up under the influence of Darrk and his Church of Eternal Empowerment. Gifted with exceptional agility and intellect, Robin trains rigorously in and acrobatics, eventually becoming an instructor at the while performing thefts to fund Darrk's schemes. Darrk brainwashes Robin with false promises of reuniting him with his parents, culminating in an assassination attempt on Batman, whom Darrk views as a threat to his growing criminal empire. During their confrontation, Batman uncovers Robin's tragic backstory and the cult's manipulation, breaking the psychological hold and forging a brief alliance. The duo infiltrates Darrk's church to expose him but fails, leading to a dramatic parting where Robin asserts his desire for , rejecting a full partnership with Batman for now. This narrative emphasizes Robin's independence, with villains like Darrk directly tied to his origins, highlighting themes of manipulation and self-discovery over blind loyalty. Visually, Robin eschews the traditional Boy Wonder costume for a practical, urban explorer aesthetic—dark, form-fitting attire suited for stealth and —reflecting his street-smart, detective-oriented approach rather than reliance on brute strength or overt heroism. Stan Lee's contributions infuse the character with a father-son dynamic alongside Bruce Wayne (Batman), portraying as a reluctant mentor who imparts wisdom on and freedom from control, subtly hinting at Robin's trajectory toward a solo path in the broader "Just Imagine..." universe. This reimagining positions Robin as a tech-savvy leveraging intellect and gadgets for crime-fighting, distinct from Batman's gothic .

Catwoman

In Stan Lee's reimagining of Catwoman for the "Just Imagine..." series, the character is reinterpreted as Joanie Jordan, a glamorous yet unfulfilled supermodel in Gotham City who yearns for excitement beyond her high-society lifestyle. The one-shot issue, titled Just Imagine Stan Lee with Chris Bachalo Creating Catwoman, was written by Lee and illustrated by Chris Bachalo, with additional inks by Richard Friend and Bill Oakley; it was published on May 1, 2002, bearing a July cover date. This version shifts Catwoman from her canonical jewel thief archetype to a heroic vigilante, emphasizing themes of personal empowerment and thrill-seeking through feline-enhanced heroism. Joanie's transformation occurs during a dramatic encounter with danger: targeted by gunmen dispatched by the villain Furgo the Skin-Crawler, who intends to exploit her public persona as cover for a bank heist, she flees her with her pet cat, . A bizarre green lightning bolt—part of a global phenomenon granting powers to select individuals—strikes her and , infusing Joanie with cat-like abilities, including , speed, strength, heightened senses (such as dark vision), retractable claws capable of piercing reinforced materials, and a telepathic bond with that allows intuitive coordination. No experimental serum is involved; instead, this accidental empowerment propels her into action, where she first tests her new prowess by defeating the assailants. As , Joanie crafts a sleek custom to mask her identity, topping it with a black wig to hide her natural blonde hair, forgoing the traditional form-fitting cat suit in favor of a more fluid, shadowy ensemble suited to rooftop prowls and swift interventions. She intervenes in Furgo's robbery, using her enhanced jumping ability to leap across city streets and her claws to dismantle threats, ultimately overpowering the villain and preventing the crime without relying on additional weapons like a . The story highlights her moral ambiguity as a self-centered thrill-seeker who justifies lethal force against irredeemable foes while deriving joy from anonymous rescues, all while concealing her secret from her vigilante-loathing father to avoid familial conflict. Lee infuses the narrative with his signature style of seductive intrigue amid elite social circles, portraying Joanie's dual life as a blend of glamour and gritty justice that sets her apart as an independent anti-heroine, with no romantic tension or direct evasion of Batman featured in this standalone tale. This urban, agility-driven heist disruption contrasts briefly with the surreal, dream-realm explorations in the reimagining.

Sandman

In the Just Imagine... series, is reimagined as a mystical guardian of the collective human subconscious, tasked with combating nightmares that threaten to overrun reality. The one-shot issue, released on June 12, 2002, with an August cover date, was written by and penciled by Walter Simonson, who also contributed to the cover alongside colorist Lee Loughridge. This version shifts the character from a pulp-era to a cosmic figure navigating dream realms, emphasizing introspective conflicts rooted in and . The plot centers on Wilton, a dedicated and former sickly child who escapes his frail youth through imaginative stories read by his mother. During a mission to Titan to probe a mysterious cloud linked to a global "sleeping sickness" afflicting millions in comas, Wilton is betrayed by his jealous partner, who severs his during a spacewalk, leading to his death. His consciousness transports him to the Dreamworld, a folklore-inspired realm where ethereal entities reveal him as the prophesied , chosen to oppose the Dreamlord—a malevolent force manifesting as twisted fears that corrupt dreams and spill into the waking world. Revived on with enhanced abilities, Wilton dons a ethereal blending astronaut gear with dreamlike motifs and confronts these invaders, ultimately defeating the Dreamlord to restore balance. Key to this reimagining are 's dream manipulation powers, allowing him to enter minds, reshape nightmares, and summon sleep-inducing sands, directly evoking of the as a nocturnal sprite who sprinkles dust to induce slumber and protect against night terrors. Villains emerge as personalized manifestations of deep-seated fears, such as guilt-ridden phantasms or apocalyptic visions, turning battles into symbolic struggles within the psyche rather than straightforward combat. This approach ties the hero to archetypal mythos while innovating on the concept, portraying the as a battleground where unresolved traumas fuel real-world crises like the sleeping epidemic. The redesign discards Golden Age elements like the original Wesley Dodds' insomnia, sleep-gas pistol, and detective persona, recasting as the of a modern that probes mental fragility and the blurred line between illusion and reality. Supporting characters include Wilton's treacherous colleague, who embodies , and Dreamworld guides like ancient storytellers, underscoring themes of as . Stan Lee's contributions infuse philosophical depth, exploring horrors through motifs of mortality, redemption, and the mind's resilience against inner demons, framing heroism as an internal quest for enlightenment.

Team-Up and Special Publications

JLA

Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jerry Ordway Creating JLA is a one-shot comic published by DC Comics with a of February 2002, written by and penciled and inked by . This issue represents the inaugural crossover event in the Just Imagine... series, uniting the reimagined versions of DC's core heroes for the first time following their individual origin stories. The narrative centers on the formation of the of America (JLA) as these heroes— (Salden), (Wayne Williams), (Maria Mendoza), (Leonard Lewis), and The Flash (Mary Maxwell)—come together to combat a shared threat, emphasizing themes of reluctant alliance and collective heroism. The plot unfolds with Reverend Dominic Darrk, a charismatic cult leader seeking ultimate power, intervening to save three death-row inmates—Brock Smith, Lucinda Radama, and Deke Durgan—from execution by granting them superhuman abilities, effectively creating a villainous trio akin to Parasite, Blockbuster, and . Darrk dispatches them to capture his estranged son, , who possesses knowledge of a powerful cosmic artifact called the Tree of Knowledge. encounters the assault and rescues Adam, who then appeals to the other heroes, highlighting the imminent danger of Darrk's plan to harness the tree's energy for . However, Adam is ultimately killed in the confrontation, spurring the heroes to fully unite against Darrk. The heroes, initially driven by personal motivations, converge to confront the empowered convicts and Darrk himself in a climactic battle that showcases their complementary abilities. Key to the story's dynamics are the personality clashes among the team members, such as Batman's pragmatic clashing with Superman's optimistic , which underscore the challenges of forging unity from diverse backgrounds and origins. Stan Lee's scripting delivers an epic scope, with spotlight moments for each hero's unique powers and backstory before culminating in their coordinated victory, solidifying the JLA's formation with —the Tree of Knowledge—as their symbolic headquarters and base of operations. This emphasis on interpersonal tension resolving into reflects Lee's signature narrative approach, blending high-stakes action with character-driven drama.

Crisis

Just Imagine: Crisis is a one-shot comic book published by DC Comics in September 2002, serving as the climactic conclusion to the Just Imagine... series. Written by Stan Lee with art by John Cassaday, the issue parodies the multiversal catastrophe of DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths by introducing a villainous entity known as Crisis, the Dream Lord, who seeks to merge the waking world with the Dreamworld, thereby threatening the fabric of all realities. This analogue to the Anti-Monitor embodies a cosmic force powered by five Dreamworld sapphires embedded in his armor, causing widespread reality distortions such as merged time and gravity, nightmares manifesting physically, and heroes being trapped in gem-like prisons. The story begins with the theft of an Incan Hawk Rune, prompting Wonder Woman to summon the reimaginined Justice League of America (JLA), including Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Aquaman, and Shazam!, along with additional allies like Robin, Catwoman, and Sandman to confront the encroaching peril. The narrative integrates all major characters from the preceding Just Imagine... one-shots, creating a vast crossover scope that unites the disparate heroes in a desperate bid to restore the . delivers a dire warning by presenting the body of Reverend Dominic Darrk, revealing as his master and unmasking Robin as the traitor and Crisis's grandson, whose involvement in the rune theft heightens internal tensions and personal stakes. Unique elements adapt the Infinite Earths concept to Lee's universe through "reality bubbles" manifested as distorted zones where dream logic invades reality, forcing heroes into sacrifices; for instance, Mark Merlin commits under manipulative influences, underscoring the emotional toll. Building on the prior JLA team-up, the ensemble merges forces in an epic battle, with Robin transforming first into a monstrous Hawk-Man via the rune and later into the Atom through exposure to , enabling him to infiltrate and dismantle Crisis's power source. Stan Lee's twist emphasizes more personal stakes over cosmic abstraction, weaving subplots like familial betrayals and romantic entanglements—such as the incestuous dynamic between Mark Merlin and Morgana LeFey—into the high-stakes conflict, making the threat feel intimately tied to the heroes' lives. The issue culminates in the heroes' victory, with the Atom shattering the sapphires and stabilizing the merged worlds, though subtle hints of lingering Dreamworld influences suggest potential future threats. This resolution not only concludes the series but also solidifies the reimagined universe's cohesion, with Robin's evolution into the Atom marking his integration into the JLA.

Secret Files and Origins

Just Imagine Stan Lee... Secret Files & Origins #1, released in March 2002 by DC Comics, serves as a one-shot companion publication to the Just Imagine... series, offering detailed profiles and insights into the reimagined crafted by . This 48-page special compiles character dossiers that recap the origins of key heroes such as Batman, , , , The Flash, , Shazam!, Robin, and , emphasizing Lee's distinctive interpretations that blend elements with street-level drama, diverging from their traditional DC counterparts. The issue features contributions from , who provided dialogue, and Michael Uslan, responsible for the plot and profile scripting, alongside artwork by prominent creators including on pencils for the lead story, , and for illustrative sections. Central to the is the 22-page lead story titled "The Coming Crisis!", illustrated by Jurgens and inked by , which follows journalists Bill Willard and Maria Mendoza as they uncover the existence and formation of the of America (J.L.A.) in this alternate universe, effectively bridging the solo character spotlights to the subsequent team-up narratives. Beyond the profiles and narrative, the publication includes short backup features and sketches that explore unused concepts and development, providing creator commentary on how Lee's collaborative process with DC artists adapted iconic archetypes into fresh personas. Designed as an encyclopedic fan guide, it elucidates the interconnected timeline of across the series, along with a of terms unique to this , aiding readers in navigating the expansive lore without relying on prior issues.

Collected Editions

Trade Paperbacks

The trade paperbacks of Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe were published by DC Comics following 's death in November 2018, compiling the 2001 one-shot series into affordable softcover editions for renewed accessibility. These volumes divide the solo character issues into two , featuring high-profile s and including supplementary materials such as afterwords and commentaries to contextualize the collaborative . Just Imagine Creating the DC Universe Book One, released on March 17, 2020, collects six key one-shots: Just Imagine with Creating #1, Just Imagine with Creating Batman #1, Just Imagine with Creating #1, Just Imagine with Creating #1, Just Imagine with Kevin Maguire Creating The Flash #1, and Just Imagine with Creating JLA #1. Spanning 352 pages and including artist commentary on working with , the edition carries ISBN 978-1401295837 and retailed for $34.99. Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe Book Two, published on January 5, 2021, gathers six issues: Just Imagine with Scott McDaniel Creating #1, Just Imagine with Gary Frank Creating Shazam! #1, Just Imagine with John Byrne Creating Robin #1, Just Imagine with Chris Bachalo Creating #1, Just Imagine with Walter Simonson Creating #1, and Just Imagine with John Creating #1. This 376-page volume has 978-1779506009 and was priced at $34.99.

Absolute and Omnibus Editions

The primary deluxe collection for Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe is the , a comprehensive that assembles the complete event for the first time in a single volume. Released on December 11, 2013, by DC Comics, the Just Imagine Creating the DC Universe Omnibus spans 728 pages, priced at $75, and collects all twelve original one-shot issues reimagining DC icons—including the ten solo character reimaginings along with the Just Imagine with Creating JLA and Just Imagine with Creating specials—such as Just Imagine with Creating , Just Imagine with Creating Batman, and Just Imagine with Creating . This edition emphasizes archival presentation with high-fidelity reproductions of the artwork by acclaimed illustrators including , Kevin Maguire, and , preserving the visual impact of Lee's collaborative visions. It also incorporates an introduction by himself, offering insights into the creative process behind blending his Marvel-style storytelling with DC's legendary characters, making it particularly appealing to collectors seeking a complete, self-contained retrospective of the series. No Absolute Editions—known for their oversized format, enhanced binding, and extensive extras—have been published for this series to date. Following renewed interest after 's passing in 2018, DC issued updated collections in 2020 and 2021, such as Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the Book One (March 17, 2020; 352 pages; ), which reprints select one-shots and the JLA story, but these lack the deluxe hardcover treatment of the Omnibus.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Response

The Just Imagine... series received mixed , with reviewers praising its innovative reimaginings of DC icons through Stan Lee's lens while critiquing the often shallow narratives and dated dialogue. In particular, Lee's take on as an alien outsider grappling with social prejudice and identity was highlighted for infusing fresh humanistic themes into the character, diverging from the traditional god-like archetype. However, many critics noted that the plots frequently lacked depth, prioritizing spectacle over character development, and Lee's signature verbose, exclamatory style felt anachronistic in the early comics landscape. Specific reviews underscored the series' artistic strengths amid narrative inconsistencies. Tony Isabella, in his column, lauded the art collaborations, describing 's work on Just Imagine with Creating Batman as "wondrous" and a in dramatic storytelling, though he found the supporting elements occasionally clumsy. For Just Imagine with Creating , Isabella praised Buscema's seamless blend of beauty and grit, calling it one of the strongest entries for its impish yet melodramatic tone. In contrast, 's over-rendered visuals on Just Imagine with Creating were seen as drawing undue attention, detracting from the mythic but less cohesive plot. Fan discussions often pointed to the aesthetics—such as exaggerated proportions and glossy finishes—as feeling dated even at release. Sales reflected initial hype around Lee's involvement but waned over time, signaling declining interest. The debut issue, Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman (July 2001), sold an estimated 63,978 copies to North American comics shops, followed closely by Just Imagine Stan Lee with Jim Lee Creating Wonder Woman at 59,011 copies (August 2001) and Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Buscema Creating Superman at 55,102 copies (September 2001). Later entries like Just Imagine Stan Lee with Scott McDaniel Creating Aquaman (28,377 copies in April 2002) and Just Imagine Stan Lee with John Cassaday Creating Crisis (27,879 copies in July 2002) showed a marked drop-off. Critics frequently highlighted standout artistic contributions, with Kubert's gritty, late-career rendition of Batman emerging as a highlight for its emotional weight and dynamic pacing, elevating a otherwise generic street-level origin. Overall, the series was viewed as a fun, non-canonical experiment that capitalized on Lee's but ultimately served more as a novelty than a transformative work in DC's history.

Cultural Impact

The Just Imagine... series served as a unique bridge between fans of Marvel and DC Comics, showcasing Stan Lee's signature style applied to DC's iconic characters and fostering a sense of shared heritage during a period of intense rivalry between the two publishers. By having the legendary Marvel co-creator reimagine heroes like and Batman, the project highlighted possibilities for inter-company creative exchanges, influencing subsequent discussions and limited collaborations in the industry, such as DC's 2022 honoring Lee's work. The reimagined universe was later canonized as Earth-6 in the DC Multiverse, facilitating additional stories within DC's multiversal framework. Following 's death in 2018, DC Comics reissued the series in trade paperback collections starting in , making the stories accessible to new generations and underscoring their enduring appeal. This culminated in the release of Tales from Earth-6: A Celebration of , a 96-page one-shot featuring new stories set in Lee's reimagined by contemporary creators, which commemorated his 100th birthday and further elevated his cross-publisher legacy. These posthumous efforts not only revived interest in the original miniseries but also positioned Just Imagine... as a key chapter in Lee's career, referenced in documentaries exploring his influence on superhero . Beyond , the series encouraged "" explorations of character origins in popular media, inspiring alternate takes on established icons without leading to major adaptations in or television. While direct nods appear sparingly in DC's broader media landscape, the project's emphasis on reimagination has contributed to ongoing fan and creator interest in blending comic universes, reinforcing Lee's role in shaping modern pop culture narratives.

References

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