Dubai: Children and children-at-heart couldn’t believe their eyes as comic book legend Stan Lee kicked off the fifth annual Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC) by answering questions for an exclusive crowd of just under 200 people.
As Marvel Comics founder Lee spoke to the crowd via Skype from his California home, the hall at Dubai World Trade Centre buzzed with excitement.
“I wrote stories that I would want to read so really I was just trying to please myself,” Lee said while laughing with the crowd. “I didn’t write stories that my boss wanted me to write – when I wrote what I wanted; they started selling and that made me happy and I hope it made the fans happy too.”
Even through an initial sound delay, it was easy for the hard-of-hearing 93-year-old to connect with the audience.
“My favourite cameo was in Avengers with Thor,” he told the room. “He was pouring shots and I asked for one even though it was too strong for a mortal man. They carried me out in the next scene.”
From settling viral debates between whether Wolverine’s adamantium claws were stronger than Captain America’s vibranium shield (adamantium won without a second thought) to explaining how “Flyman” could have been Spiderman as we know him, Lee was on a mission to take everyone out of their universe and bring them to his.
But before the Q&A began, the room of cosplayers, children and media were already in a Marvel state of mind.
This is because Lee and his team had chosen Dubai’s MEFCC as the place to premiere a five-minute sneak preview of a project that involved the comic book legend among other famous names like Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Anthony Mackie and Todd McFarlane, the creator of “Spawn”.
Max Anderson, Lee’s longtime pal and assistant of 14 years, hinted that the mini-film contained clues for the next Marvel production.
“There are always new comics and new movies coming out – but I can’t talk about them,” Lee said when asked about upcoming projects. “But you can bet there are stuff coming out soon.”
“And I hope next year I’ll be able to be there in person to explain them all to you.”
Joseph Gedeon is an intern at Gulf News.
