JUST IMAGINE - How Stan Lee Created a DC Universe
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In this video, Owen explains the real-world story behind Stan Lee and DC Comics 2001 limited series, 'Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the DC Universe', and how the Marvel icon reinvented characters such as Batman, Superman Wonder Woman and beyond.
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@3ambreakbeats977
4 жыл бұрын
Great video
@Metalbloodlord
3 жыл бұрын
@Eric Sledge Do you hate Doomsday clock
@h.jlathem2194
2 жыл бұрын
Just imagine Stan lee re-imagining Batman’s rogues gallery just imagine a Stan lee version of the joker that ought to be crazy
"So I thought to myself, how can I outshine Jack Kirby at DC Comics, too? And then, boom, 'Just Imagine' came into my mind." - Stan Lee
@srstriker6420
4 жыл бұрын
Matt Draper have you heard of Justice league the nail?
@daniescott3000
4 жыл бұрын
Jack Kirby wasn't that successful at DC though, he was a phenomenal artist but his writing left a *LOT* to be desired. They needed each other in order to create the magic they did.
@gabrielhughes8221
4 жыл бұрын
@@daniescott3000 well jack Kirby wasn't just a artist he was also the writer and the editor. He was know as the king of Comics. Yes stan Lee got the name and Bio. Of the characters but Jack Kirby take the shape and image on that characters
@williamhollaway1960
4 жыл бұрын
@@samswingler6498 that was the joke geez
@bobdylan1968
4 жыл бұрын
@@samswingler6498 he steals credit after the artists die lol.
"Cmon it can't possibly be that weir-" *Batman looks like an actual bat* "....................................."
@carlosalmonacid8958
4 жыл бұрын
But he's still completely human. The costume just resembles a real bat more
@zenmaster8826
4 жыл бұрын
Carlos Almonacid Would be even more weird then..lol
@astrothewolfman
4 жыл бұрын
Was batman bitten by a radioactive bat?
@carlosalmonacid8958
4 жыл бұрын
Hezekiah Joseph nah, just a wrongly imprisoned man with a pet bat and inventor for a best friend
@cptfreeman8966
4 жыл бұрын
The Silencer ikr? He looks like an actual bat now but he’s STILL just a dude in a suit? 🤦🏾♂️
Honestly I would like to see each company do reimaginings of the others lead characters, outside of the characters that were expies of the others characters.
@etthelost
4 жыл бұрын
That would be cool! At this point it might as well happen.
@leonardosantana5636
4 жыл бұрын
Thats what all their copycat characters are for haha
@ItsButterBean1020
4 жыл бұрын
Imagine DC’s take on Thor and Hulk
@bluetaigax1747
4 жыл бұрын
Imagine if its valiant
@DavidTSmith-jn5bs
4 жыл бұрын
Regarding Marvel doing something similar, two words: Squadron Supreme.
Ngl I would be more terrified seeing Stan’s Batman than the original Batman. That suit’s fucking terrifying to look at 😱
I believe that if a writer want to create his own original version of pre-existent characters, they should be as similar to the original as Stan Lee's DC was.
Gotta say I really dig Wonder Woman’s, Flash and GL designs here and would love to them return in a future story
@sergiocable
3 ай бұрын
In a Multiversal story they could do it in Honor of Stan Lee.
I really enjoyed how Stan really tried to reinvent the characters. He didn't just take the characters and change a few details, he started from the ground up. And honestly, from what I've seen thru are pretty cool.
Bob Kane: "Spiderman would have been more successful if I had stolen it" *fixed*
@maxalaintwo3578
4 жыл бұрын
Lmao gottem
@Cervando
4 жыл бұрын
Ironically Spider-Man was based on DC's Tarantula, who also climbed walls and ceilings, as well as shooting webs to swing from and trap villains. Most telling, he was even referred to as Spiderman by the media in his comics.
@WeAreTheDraiken
4 жыл бұрын
@@Cervando I think your wrong , if you listen to when Lee talked bout how he came up with spiderman it was just off his head, he at first didn't think the character would be much of anything since his editor at the time said it wasn't a good idea to give a superhero problems PR make him a teenager. He said he go the idea from watching a fly or insect (can't really remember , cause I was a kid when I heard the interview) , but that calling the character "flyman" or "insectman" , (really can't remember the original name) , didn't sound good , but then he saw a spider and came up with spiderman , which sounded way better.
@johnlawful2272
4 жыл бұрын
Both companies have issues of disrespect especially towards Jack kirby
@1980Triumph
4 жыл бұрын
@@Cervando - Spiderman is a ripoff of several characters including The Spider Queen and The Fly.
DC comics should make a tribute to Stan Lee by making a remake of these comics with updated art.
@RoyalKnightVIII
2 жыл бұрын
Or maybe just some new stories with em
@kelvinsantiago7061
2 жыл бұрын
@Supermanfan 2003 I'm all in for that!.
@leopardtree2249
2 жыл бұрын
Just add them to the main universe. They are completely different other than super hero names
@kelvinsantiago7061
2 жыл бұрын
@@leopardtree2249 a crossovers with the justice society would be dope.
@SeelkadoomandJokic00
Жыл бұрын
Welp
I love these versions of the characters, and honestly wouldn’t mind seeing them get some more love. R.I.P Stan “The Man” Lee. I still miss him today
@crossmckinney3017
4 жыл бұрын
@Bearly Legal because he likes his works and his cameos are funny and he's a chill guy
Someone does remember Stan Lee's Just Imagine !
You know, bringing these characters back as part of a special imprint would be a cool way for DC to boost sales. They could get all of their biggest talents to rework the origins for these characters a little, publish a miniseries about each of them, and then based on which titles sell the best launch an ongoing series about them. Considering how big of a figure Stan Lee has become to the general public, announcing that DC is "paying tribute to Stan Lee" by bringing back the characters he made would probably bring them a lot of publicity.
@tersan5043
2 жыл бұрын
Late to the party but yes to this.
@SeelkadoomandJokic00
Жыл бұрын
It's weird they didn't do a special imprint of this. BUT HEY they just released a 100 page Earth 6/Just Imagine special with stories of these characters.
@maxleon61702
Жыл бұрын
Some facts of sorts.
My friend had the Batman and Superman Just Imagine comics. I remember hating them as a kid.
@cptfreeman8966
4 жыл бұрын
😂😂
@laughslapproductions4690
3 жыл бұрын
They look terrible lol
Damn, say what you will about the characters, but that Cassaday art in the finale is gorgeous.
@OwenLikesComics
4 жыл бұрын
Cassaday's art is always spectacular, and here was no exception!
2:14 i think what Bob Kane meant to say was 'If I actually bothered to draw it, it would be more successful'
If DC had done this to Marvel, the big bad would be called "Secret."
@symbiotegod2069
4 жыл бұрын
No it would be called "Infinity"
@mr.knightthedetective7435
4 жыл бұрын
In an alternate universe, DC writers came to Marvel to work on the Avengers. Iron-man is turned into someone who actually transforms his body to be iron, Captain America has two smaller shields each on one arm, Thor is a being from higher Dimension and Spider-Mans powers work only during the night.
@sussyangel7492
4 жыл бұрын
@@mr.knightthedetective7435 What happened is that canon?
@mr.knightthedetective7435
4 жыл бұрын
@@sussyangel7492 Hell no it's not "canon" it was just a hypothetical speculation
@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770
3 жыл бұрын
Symbiote God Secret Infinity!
I wish Stan tackled more DC characters & teams like Joker, Harley Quinn, Green Arrow, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Firestorm, Jonah Hex, Power Girl, Hawkman, Teen Titans, Metal Men, Zatanna.
@RobProb-X
2 жыл бұрын
Firestorm. Atom. Tarantula.
Jack Kirby created most of marvels best works and characters, then he created the fourth world for DC. He is highly underrated
I always wondered how he kept getting paid despite not working for the company in his latter years. Love Stan. It’s crazy how much I miss a dude I never even met.
DC Characters so iconic, people stay making their versions or using them as jobbers or even to show strength scale.
@MUISHAGGY572
4 жыл бұрын
That's because DC is the original superhero comics. Other companies are trying to reinvent the wheel while DC started it all.
@laughslapproductions4690
3 жыл бұрын
Jason Todd Superman is the OG superhero. Same with Batman. They were at least 5 years ahead of marvel. A lot of marvel characters are ripped off from DC.
Pretty crazy that Stan Lee actually wrote for DC even one time given marvel and DCs bitter and longstanding rivalry
I even have imagined the Justice league as universal monsters
I've heard of Just Imagine, but never read it or knew any of the backstory behind how it came to be. Really Interesting stuff, I'll have to check it out!
Have you thought about doing a video on the whole Tangent line of DC comics?
@OwenLikesComics
4 жыл бұрын
That's an interesting idea
@DavidTSmith-jn5bs
4 жыл бұрын
@Jm Gonzales The Tangent characters have the same names as the established DC characters but they're different. Like Green Lantern as a woman with an ancient magic lantern...
Concept wise, those characters were pretty good. The Superman concept had some flaws, and a lot of Lee-isms, but was fundamentally good.
Did not know this series existed, amazing stuff!
@stevenlennon12
2 жыл бұрын
i liked it
@stephenking5852
Жыл бұрын
I learned about it from Stan Lee’s biographical comicbook.
I think this series would have worked out better if Stan's artists functioned as real equal collaborators, that brought their own ideas to the table, and Stan would listen and adjust. The way it was done in the past. I think these ideas have some meat on the bone but they needed more work-shopping and editing to fully realize them as breathing characters that leap off of the page. Stan was never a solo act but he was great at giving characters heart but it was up to the artist to conceive of those heartfelt ideas as dynamic and iconic figures. (Without knowing the actual details of the development process this is all conjecture.)
He certainly had plenty of imagination. And cameos.
But the biggest creator of marvel is jack Kirby
@disposable_hero1725
4 жыл бұрын
Yep Stan role in Marvel is more figure head, he was a mascot, yet people are under the impression that he created most of it. I just hate it when due to the MCU everyone thinks he single handly created comics.
@Jcsj_
3 жыл бұрын
@@disposable_hero1725 only casuals think that. its understandable tho casuals dont really know who created what comics.
@spider-jonah-man7148
3 жыл бұрын
Marvel would have never become what it is today without Lee. Cirby never liked the spot light, while Lee pushed the marvel brand into that Light.
@BlackStoneAnimations
3 жыл бұрын
Eh but stan wrote alot of iconic characters
@MelianLimGachaVideos
3 жыл бұрын
@@BlackStoneAnimations Yeah, he wrote some Marvel characters’ stories while Jack Kirby drew them.
I would prefer at least one book focusing on each dimension. One for Just Imagine, one for Earth 1, one for Tangent, and one for the Great Disaster.
Just Imagine was one of my most beloved series. With all of its flaws, it was sheer entertainment. The origins were all fresh and the build up to the villain was perfect.
I would love to see an animated movie based on the Just Imagine series
Man I miss Stan Lee
Always entertaining and informative! Thanks Owen!
Subscribed think its pretty cool that Stand Lee tried his hand at the characters. Backstory are okay, costumes could use some work. Robin as Atom is kinda dope.
Great video! It's weird how such an interesting portion of comics history is often forgotten.
@disposable_hero1725
4 жыл бұрын
It's more Weird that comic history is more distorted, Stan lee did not create the amount of Marvel people think he did, yet he toke credit for it. It like the old Mafia tactic of putting their name on a music song to get song writing credit royalties.
I really like the design of Wonder Woman in this ♥️
Seeing how Stan lee was able to do his own take on the DC universe is a lot of me going back on stuff like W.I.T.C.H. he-man and she-ra and Gi joe going into their stuff and seeing what new takes and idea to work with and what new origins that could work
I remember randomly finding the Superman issue in my dad's comic collection and reading it, thinking "wtf is this". It wasn't bad just mediocre so I honestly forgot about it until I came across this video. Thanks for the retrospective!
Man, Stan Lee was the GOAT even at DC Comics, Thanks for the story! Glad to hear about Stan Lee's AU version of Justice League and how he saw them!
This has to be a good video about Stan Lee who made Marvel comics and it's superheroes but also did a DC comic books on his take and I have to look up to him as my inspiration.
@brandonamezquita4501
2 жыл бұрын
Nah.
@Slyarno2795
2 жыл бұрын
@@brandonamezquita4501 Piss off no one cares for you if you want to start a fight.
I've come across this channel today I'm amazed given the content and video quality your subs numbers deffo need to be higher!
@OwenLikesComics
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much, Moshin!
I think these characters deserve an animated adaptation.
Stan's little one shot project had a lot of great artists working with him on it.
To say that you make amazing content, is an understatement. 😉 Continue doing what you do. :)
@OwenLikesComics
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much, Carlos❤️
This just sounds so much fun to read
The green lantern one was my favorite
I had ALL of them. 2 sets, one to read and share with the 2nd to preserve. Sadly I have lost many of my comics to hurricanes and I'm slowly rebuilding my collection.
I truly enjoyed this run. I as much as I would like to see these characters in the more stories especially Wayne Williams batman I think the little time capsule it is on should left alone
i bought every issue as they came out. i enjoyed the series and maybe its time to dig through the many long boxes and give it a much needed reread
Another great video👍🏻
@OwenLikesComics
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
Stan Lee's energy was so infectious, I love his interviews. Uk
The reimagined versions just look way too generic to me and that Batman looks terrible lol
@skidooshlayman12
4 жыл бұрын
That's racist!
@anasloyal
4 жыл бұрын
@@skidooshlayman12 how is bad costume a racist
@Jeffreydefinitelynotdahmer
4 жыл бұрын
Jack Crater very bad
@viktorvaughn8192
4 жыл бұрын
@@anasloyal it's a joke
@silverhusky7993
3 жыл бұрын
I think the Batman costume has potential, especially on an African-American. It would be harder to find where the mask stops and where the face begins, giving the illusion that it's a huge fucking bat beating the shit out of you.
I’d still love to see some sort of a continuation of this universe, I think it’s interesting (even if the stories may not have been absolutely amazing)
His reinventions were so good. Robin > Atom is dope.
I honestly love the designs of the characters
It would be fun that these were in the DCAU and I guess heard of else world where Batman is a vampire and superman is a Frankenstein’s monster
@nuttypotatoe1210
3 жыл бұрын
So basically manbat and bizarro?
@srstriker6420
3 жыл бұрын
Nutty Potatoe12 not really
Great video! Can you make a video about genius brands joint venture with Stan Lee POW into Stan Lee Universe
I’m so glade that someone has finally decided to do an in-depth video on Stan Lee’s take on the classic DC Comics characters. His version of the DC Universe definitely has that Stan Lee trademark quirkiness! I can totally see Stan Lee’s take on these DC characters coexist in the Marvel Universe. I know that a large group of people found this series to be a bit underwhelming but personally I thought these books were a whole lot fun! I seriously enjoyed Stan’s Just Imagine! With that being said I’m definitely going to reread the whole series because I own them all! I suggest to those who’ve never read the Just Imagine to pick them up. I believe they’re compiled into 3 or 4 paperback volumes. It’s totally worth the money!
A good and fun idea to put Stan Lee on that job! The series is rather interesting and shows Lee´s talent for creating and/or re-creating characters. Good ol fun as they say.
Watching this after reading the Tales of Earth-6 Book they released today. Hope they continue making stories with these characters. Like, continue making Tales of Earth-6 specials or making it a Monthly series. I enjoyed the book.
@OwenLikesComics
Жыл бұрын
Oh that's exciting, I'll have to check that book out!
Some interesting ideas Stan created. I don't think any of the re-imagined characters are as visually appealing as the originals. Successful character design is harder than people think.
Rip Stan you and Chadwick are pure heart and are Herous
@bobchipman7737
3 жыл бұрын
❤❤❤❤
I love his Wonder Woman idea for sure. Not sure how Ifeel about the others but would love to read this one day.
This just proves how much Lee needed Kirby, Ditko and others to create anything worthwhile.
@unigenius
4 жыл бұрын
I think that's an unfair judgment. Because, at this point, Stan had been doing comics for over 60 years and everything has been done every which way. So when this came around, I believe he was aiming for something that wasn't just a reimagining derivative of the main stories that everyone knows. But also isn't just moving over Marvel character origins over onto DC characters. He really did try to create whole new origin stories that left out as much of the original characters as he could, but also didn't sound like someone we knew.
@jordanscott4543
4 жыл бұрын
If you looked at Kirby’s work when he was working at DC you’d say the same about him
@Cervando
4 жыл бұрын
@@unigenius Imaginative? How? His Batman was almost identical to Manbat.
@Cervando
4 жыл бұрын
@@jordanscott4543 Really? He did some excellent work at DC. Ever heard of the New Gods? However he was resented by some colleagues due to past legal issues and them feeling threatened and was forced to work in titles hd had little interest in.
Great video! I love the Just Imagine universe, specifically Wonder Woman and Aquaman. I was so happy Morrison brought them into the multiverse.
DC and Marvel are both amazing in their own ways, there's something that separates them though. DC characters could never fit into the Marvel universe and Marvel characters could never fit into the DC universe. They're each unmistakably the products of their respected companies.
John Buscema did some great artwork on Stan Lee's take on Superman, especially when Buscema was best known for his romance & sword & sorcery work.
I would like Warner Bros and DC animation to do some animated short adaptations of these stories as a late tribute to Stan Lee!
@28 You mean it can't be overstated. If it can't be understated it means that no matter how little you say, you said too much. But beyond that pedantic detail, this was a very interesting video! Thank you for you effort.
@OwenLikesComics
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you, I appreciate the correction on that phrase too!
I recently a few years ago got the giant Omni book of just imagineAnd Love it from cover to cover since I’m a long time marvel fan but I also enjoy what DC has to offer.And if I could’ve gotten Stanley’s autograph I would’ve had him sign my copy of just imagine.I really wish DC had more faith in this series and promoted it a little bit more.
His version of Superman was awesome. I also liked the JLA issue and the Secret files issue.
@mitchbray6637
3 жыл бұрын
@LaVerdadEsMuyCatólica wow.
Honestly I thought his reinvention of Batman and Green Lantern we're interesting although I did find his Superman and Wonder Woman reimagining has to be that interesting and the Flash felt boring. Thanks for making this video Own and you're saying it wrong it's Stan the Man Lee
I'm really fond of the colorful JAKQ-esque Flash redesign
Am I the only one who thinks Green Lantern in here looks like Dr. Manhattan?
Just Imagine Universe exists on the DC Megaverse on the original Multiverse it’s designation was Earth-901, on the 52 Multiverse was Earth-27 and on the New 52 Multiverse is Earth 6.
I loved his take on Batman. Such a shame that it only had a few issues
But curious Owen what is the reimagining of Aquaman Catwoman and Shazam and their back stories
That sounds fuckin' cool
Stan Lee: Just imagine Batman but he’s Man-Bat. What DC should have said: Yeah we did that… back in 1970.
I wish more of these has been made…
I honestly really liked those characters better then anything made nowadays atleast they felt original...
Apparently someone at DC did watch this video since they released a new anthology comic starring all of Stan Lee DC characters. Kinda wish that they'd do more with them, tbh.
I rewatched Linkara's review of the Superman book and I noticed a line from that version of Lois Lane, who is Superman's agent, saying "I've already had offers from Warner Bros, Universal, Disney, and the networks are falling all over themselves." So, Stan basically predicted the Cinematic Universe Wars! LOL.
Next: Just imagine Kevin Feige's DC Cinematic Universe.
dope
I enjoyed the series. A great take on DC classics.
I hope, I can find these books.😀
I’m very interested in the design he gave Batman, I think a more hyper realistic cowl would look great with the right tweaks.
I know I'm in the minority, but I was a Big fan of this run. 👍
I really like that Wonder Woman.
I think the reason why just imagine was forgotten was because they were reimagined versions of well loved characters
Have you ever thought about doing a video on Justice League: Gods and Monsters?
also, they, hummingbird did appear in multiversity as well and the crisis
Good to know
I was trying to think of what an inverse of this would look like; a well-known DC personality reinterpreting the Marvel Universe. Neil Gaiman's 1602 series was the closest thing I could think of, but that's kinda shaky since Gaiman isn't as intertwined with DC anywhere near as much as Stan Lee was with Marvel, and while Gaiman has written quite a bit for superheroes he's not mainly thought of as a superhero writer
Love the design of Flash
I am a huge fan of the Justice League but I wouldn't mind seeing Stan Lee's version of these iconic characters in an all-new comic book series I think it would be pretty cool.
I actually like some of stan Lee's justice league origins better.
@wolfgang6442
3 жыл бұрын
I think they deserve an animated movie treatment!