Stan Lee co-created the Marvel universe, so it’s safe to say the comics legend, who died Monday at age 95, knew a thing or two about making a good superhero costume. That skill set came in very handy in a 2009 gag on NBC’s “Late Night,” when Jimmy Fallon tried, and failed, to impress Lee with his own superhero idea.
In the 2009 clip, shared by a Fallon fan and retweeted by Fallon’s official Twitter account, Fallon traveled to San Diego Comic-Con 2009 to pitch several comics luminaries on his environmentalism-themed superhero, “Recharger.” A hodgepodge of discarded parts powered by solar energy, Recharger has the ability to recharge anyone’s phone in an environmentally friendly way.
Unfortunately, the costume looked ridiculous, not only because it was skintight and lemon-lime, but also because the power outlet is on the wearer’s butt.
Fallon showed off his idea to several nerd bigwigs, including Joss Whedon, Jon Favreau and DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns. But the funniest moment came when he brought Recharger concept art to Stan Lee.
“Did this come out of your own mind?” Lee asked. “Your own twisted, gnarled, mixed-up mind?”
Luckily for Fallon, by the end of the sketch, Lee came around. Because as anyone who has ever attended Comic-Con knows, power outlets are few and far between and worth whatever it takes to get access, even if it’s through Jimmy Fallon’s butt.
Watch below. And it goes without saying, rest in peace, Stan.
RIP Stan Lee
Here’s a sketch he did with Jimmy Fallon on #LNJF 💛 pic.twitter.com/oEa7b76c6I— cath ♡ (@catheb) November 12, 2018