Warning! Spoilers for The Flash #771 by DC Comics below.
Nearly two decades ago, Stan Lee worked with DC Comics to create his own version of the Justice League, with the Marvel legend providing his own takes on Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and more. While his team seemed to fade into obscurity over time, DC just confirmed Lee's Justice League roster still exists as one member will make a surprising cameo in the upcoming Infinite Frontier #1.
Stan Lee's Just Imagine... series boldly reinvented major DC Comics heroes, giving them new secret identities and backstories. Batman became Wayne Williams, a professional wrestler who was falsely accused of killing his father. Meanwhile, Superman was Salden, whose powers didn't blossom until after he arrived on Earth. Meanwhile, the Flash, AKA Mary Maxwell, had a hilariously silly origin, as she gained superspeed by injecting herself with hummingbird DNA in an effort to save her from a life-threatening disease. Lee also had new takes on Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Shazam!, Robin, Catwoman, Aquaman, and Sandman.
In previews for Infinite Frontier #1 by Joshua Williamson, Xermanico, and Romulo Fajardo Jr., Barry Allen's Flash can be seen running across the multiverse, as he encounters a number of different versions of heroes on alternate Earths. Allen speeds by different realities, such as Kingdom Come's Earth-22, as well as Huntress on Earth-2. And on one Earth, he can be seen zooming past a version of Wonder Woman holding a spear. That version of the hero, named Maria Mendoza, is actually from Stan Lee's Just Imagine... universe, confirming his take on the characters still exist in DC's multiverse.
Mendoza's blink-and-you'll-miss cameo might not seem like a huge deal, but her appearance is a great way to honor one of the most legendary and influential comic creators of all time. DC's Infinite Frontier era is taking the publisher in a bold new direction with an Omniverse, where, in terms of canon, everything seems to matter. Remembering Lee's Justice League is a nice way to pay homage to the time the Marvel icon tried his hand at DC's most popular characters.
Does this mean Lee's Just Imagine... heroes and universe will play a big part in the Infinite Frontier era for DC Comics? It's unlikely. But, by acknowledging their existence, the comic confirms Lee's take on the heroes are still out there and could come back in a future storyline. It would be really cool to see the characters star in a one-shot or play a small role in a multiversal tale. Regardless of whether his Justice League shows up again, it's fun to see Stan Lee's DC Comics' creations live on in the comics.