Just Imagine... is a comic book published by the American company DC Comics. It was the first work for DC Comics by Stan Lee, co-creator of numerous popular Marvel Comics characters, in which he reimagined several DC superheroes including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and The Flash. As an in-joke, Lee changes several of the civilian names of most famous DC superheroes to alliterative ones in reference to Lee's tendency to use them for his Marvel Comics characters.
BATMAN:
Batman, real name Wayne Williams, debuted in Just Imagine Stan Lee with Joe Kubert Creating Batman (September 2001). Creators Stan Lee and Joe Kubert based this version on the character created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane.
Like the original, this Batman has no superpowers. 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, Kevlar costume and sensors to magnify sound and cape-like bat wings to glide.
Wayne Williams' father was a policeman who was killed in an ambush. Wayne is framed for a crime, so he 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.
While incarcerated, Williams learns his mother has died and blames Handz. After rescuing the warden during a prison riot, he was given a full pardon. On the outside, Williams is on the run from Handz, so, to keep a low profile, he shaves his head. Williams needs money, so he becomes a wrestler under the name "Batman", never unmasking in public. In a few short weeks, "Batman" has become a superstar in wrestling and has become extremely wealthy. He searches for Grant and entrusts him with his secret identity. Wayne 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, Wayne 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:
Wonder Woman, real name 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.
Maria is an activist, protesting against the corporate excavation of an ancient Incan holy site near her village. The CEO has a plan: gain power from the site and take over the world. When Maria'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. The CEO gains demonic powers from artifacts at the site, and then travels to Los Angeles. Maria finds the staff of Manco Capac, granting her the powers of the Incan Sun God, and uses them to pursue and defeat him. She then decides to remain in Los Angeles, taking on the name of Wonder Woman.
SUPERMAN:
Lee's version of Superman, real name 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 character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
His powers include super-strength and super-speed. Salden was the weakest member of the Kryptonian Police Force. He used a flying harness and managed to capture a dangerous criminal in a teleportation lab. However, the criminal put Salden and himself on a one-way trip to an insignificant little blue-green planet: Earth. The two men arrive separately, both discovering they have enhanced physical abilities. The criminal sets himself up as the king of a jungle tribe.
Earth is too primitive, but it has the potential to develop the technology Salden needs to return to his homeworld. 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.
Comments (0)
See all