The image of Stan Lee that most of us hold in our heads is the smiling, energetic "Generalissimo" popping up in a Marvel movie cameo. He was the grandfather of geek culture. But the reality of his last few years was significantly darker, and a recent crowdfunding attempt has torn open some old, painful wounds.
What Really Happened With the Stan Lee: The Final Chapter Kickstarter?
Basically, in early 2025, a filmmaker and former assistant to Stan Lee named Jon Bolerjack launched a campaign on Kickstarter. The goal? To raise $300,000 to finish a documentary titled Stan Lee: The Final Chapter.
Bolerjack wasn't just some random fan. He spent about four years in Stan's inner circle, acting as an assistant and, as he claims, a protector. During that time, he kept his camera rolling. He says he captured the "drama and duplicity" of the people surrounding Stan—hucksters and business managers who were allegedly fighting over Stan’s fortune and signature while the legend himself was in a state of physical and emotional decline.
The pitch was simple: help me finish this movie so I can show the world the truth and get Stan some posthumous justice.
But the internet didn't exactly give him a standing ovation.
Why the Backlash Was So Intense
If you’ve followed the news since Stan's passing in 2018, you know the stories of elder abuse were already out there. We heard about Keya Morgan and Max Anderson. We heard about the missing money and the isolation from his daughter, J.C. Lee.
So when Bolerjack showed up in 2025 asking for $300,000, people had questions.
- The "Why Now?" Factor: Critics immediately asked why this footage wasn't handed over to the police or the FBI during the actual elder abuse trials. If Bolerjack had "proof" on camera, why wait seven years after Stan died to put it behind a paywall?
- The Rewards Problem: Honestly, this was the weirdest part. The Kickstarter rewards included high-priced collectibles and "tours" of LA locations where the abuse happened. Strangely, many of the tiers didn't even include a digital copy of the film itself. It felt, to many, like a secondary market for Stan’s memorabilia rather than a film production.
- The Insider Dilemma: Some fans argued that if Bolerjack was there filming the abuse, he was essentially a bystander—or worse, part of the "parasitic entourage" he was now claiming to expose.
It was messy. Very messy.
The Abrupt Cancellation and New Funding
The campaign didn't reach its goal. By April 2025, it had raised about $84,000—nowhere near the $300k target. Then, suddenly, Bolerjack pulled the plug.
He didn't cancel because he gave up. He claimed that because of the "overwhelming amount of press" and global attention the Kickstarter received, "generous outside support" stepped in. Essentially, he found private investors to foot the bill.
This move actually fueled more suspicion. Some skeptics in the comic book community, particularly on platforms like Reddit, felt the Kickstarter was just a "temperature check" or a way to drum up publicity to sell the distribution rights to a major streamer like HBO or Netflix.
The Reality of Stan's Final Days
It’s important to separate the controversy of the filmmaker from the tragedy of the subject. Stan Lee was co-creator of Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers. He was a titan.
Yet, by 2017 and 2018, he was being dragged to conventions while visibly exhausted. There’s a particularly heartbreaking clip from the documentary trailer showing Stan sitting in a corner, facing a wall, ignored by the very people who were supposed to be caring for him.
He was reportedly in financial ruin near the end. Think about that. The man who built the foundation for a multi-billion dollar cinematic empire was allegedly being fleeced for his signatures at $120 a pop.
What This Project Means for Fans Today
Whether or not you support the Stan Lee: The Final Chapter project, it raises a massive conversation about how we treat our icons.
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The documentary promises appearances by industry legends like Rob Liefeld and Roy Thomas, who have seen some of the footage and reportedly found it gut-wrenching. There is a desire among fans to see the "villains" of Stan's final years held accountable, even if it's just in the court of public opinion.
However, the ethics of turning a man's suffering into a "rollercoaster" documentary for profit will always be a sticking point.
Actionable Insights for Concerned Fans
If you're following this story and want to support Stan’s legacy without getting caught in the crowdfunding drama, here is what you can do:
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- Focus on the Work: Support the estates of the creators who didn't get the "corporate megaphone" Stan had. Read about Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. Their families have fought for years for proper recognition.
- Support Elder Abuse Charities: Instead of buying a signed comic from a questionable source, consider donating to organizations like the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA).
- Wait for the Raw Truth: If the film eventually lands on a reputable streaming service, watch it with a critical eye. Distinguish between the "raw footage" and the narrative the filmmaker is trying to craft.
- Verify Memorabilia: If you are buying "Stan Lee Signed" items, use reputable third-party authenticators like CGC or Beckett. The market for Stan's signature in his final years was notoriously tainted by "ink-stripping" and forced signings.
The story of Stan Lee's "final chapter" isn't a superhero movie. There aren't always clear heroes who fly in to save the day at the last second. Sometimes, there's just a lot of grey area and a legacy that deserves better than what it got.