Comic-Con

Bill Maher just got a famous "Spider-Man" quote dropped on his head after he attacked Spidey's creator, Stan Lee ... accusing him of making Americans so dumb they elected Donald Trump.

Stan Lee's company, POW! Entertainment, responded to Maher's blog about the late, great Marvel honcho ... saying Bill's opinion "that Stan merely inspired people to 'watch a movie' is in our opinion frankly disgusting."

Stan's team added, "Countless people can attest to how Stan inspired them to read, taught them that the world is not made up of absolutes, that heroes can have flaws and even villains can show humanity within their souls."

And, their coup de grace ... "We will rely on another of Stan’s lessons to remind you that you have a powerful platform, so please remember: 'With great power there must also come -- great responsibility!'"

Attendees at Comic-Con's 2018 Cosplay immediately kicked things into third gear Day 1 with their studio-quality costumes ... trust us, they're incredible.

Comic-Con kicked off Thursday in San Diego and tons of fans flooded the city showing off their super fashion sense. It's pretty awesome ... from some freakishly realistic-looking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Flash to an adorable family rocking The Incredibles' costumes.

Stan Lee's finally revealing why he's had to bail on his throngs of Marvel Universe fans lately -- the comic book legend is fighting pneumonia like Spidey fights crime.

The Marvel co-creator recorded a personal message filmed by his friend and filmmaker, Keya Morgan, to update everyone on his health. You can tell the normally energetic 95-year-old is having a tough time ... but he reassures fans he is getting better.

As we reported ... Stan has been dealing with a string of issues besides his lungs recently -- from missing money, to a face-off with his former body guard and a heart health scare.

On the flip side, the "Black Panther" box office has gotta make him smile. As Stan puts it ... "Excelsior!"

6:11 PM PT -- A spokesperson for Stan said he, "is doing well and feeling good, he is staying there for a few days for some check ups as a safety precaution."

Stan Lee was rushed to a hospital after falling ill at home ... TMZ has learned

Sources close to the comic book legend tell us ... Lee was taken to Cedars-Sinai Wednesday night after suffering shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat. We're told he's still there, but in stable condition.

The 95-year-old canceled 2 major convention appearances last year for an illness, though he never revealed the specifics of his health struggles.

We've reached out to a rep for Lee ... so far, no word back.

And the award for best drunken Comic-Con video goes to .... Ezra Miller, aka The Flash!

Ezra, who plays the speedy guy was swarmed by fans Saturday night in San Diego, and dropped some Flash trivia on them ... regarding booze. The way he explains it, his "Justice League" character can't help but handle his liquor.

Not sure that's true for Ezra though. Anyway, one fan wasn't buying it and jokingly asked to smell Ezra's breath. He got way more than a whiff of his breath ... he got a full-on kiss!

Fan appreciation is what Comic-Con's all about.

Joe Jonas is probably used to needing a little extra muscle to keep hordes of adoring fans at bay, but at an event like Comic-Con ... his girlfriend Sophie Turner's the main attraction.

The couple was spotted out in downtown San Diego Friday night, after the "Game of Thrones" star hit up the event with Jonas during the day. In case you didn't know ... Sansa Stark's kind of a big deal.

So who is Turner's real-life Brienne of Tarth? We're told it's that dude walking a few steps in front of her and Joe.

Gotta keep the Lady of Winterfell safe.

Sam Heughan knows this about Comic-Con -- it's a hunter's paradise, if ya catch our drift.

The "Outlander" star was at LAX Thursday giddy about hitting up the nerdy shindig in San Diego. The show's taking its cast down there and, while he's ready to promote the show, it seems Sam knows a thing or two about the debauchery that goes on down there, too.

It's already lore about how much fans hook up, but Sam's got a feeling celebs are getting in on the action too. He even admits there's one gal he's eyeing heading into the weekend.

Halle Berry just showed up her "Kingsman: The Golden Circle" co-stars ... by taking their shots of whiskey and raising them a whole damn glass.

Halle and the cast were on a panel at San Diego's Comic-Con Thursday when they started passing around shots. Channing Tatum poured her about 5 shots worth into a pint and, after intense peer pressure from the crowd ... she slammed it!

More proof she's definitely not pregnant ... if ya needed that.

A Texas woman got a dream marriage proposal ... assuming her dream involved 7,000 sweaty strangers, the "Supernatural" cast and a bunch of references to the show.

It all went down Sunday at Comic-Con, and "Supernatural" fan Colin Chavez tells TMZ his viral moment got the attention of the network. After his gf said "yes" and the panel wrapped up ... he says a Warner Bros. rep said the cast wanted to hook the couple up with show-themed engagement presents ... which they're sending out to them.

Check out the video ... you know this guy's a real fan -- after his girlfriend says "yes," he stays up there to ask questions about the show.

Oliver Stone ain't afraid to give you the cold hard truth ... when it comes to how he spent his downtime at Comic-Con.

The Oscar-winning director was in San Diego repping his new film, "Snowden," when he shot down a photog trying to ask questions ... in a totally friendly drunk kinda way.

One of the 'Hobbit' villains got drunk, and knocked a guy out cold during a Comic-Con after-party, and ended the night in handcuffs ... according to cops and witnesses.

According to police docs, obtained by TMZ, Manu Bennett was hanging with a bunch of people in a San Antonio hotel room ... drinking and having a good time ... until he was asked to leave. Witnesses told police that Bennett -- who played Azog in the 'Hobbit' -- had too much to drink.

Before Bennett left the room he stared down the other guests, and when one of them dared to ask, "What?" ... witnesses say the actor unloaded a knockout punch to the guy's face.

The victim's nose was broken and bleeding. Cops showed up and went to Bennett's hotel room. At first he didn't remember the fight, but then claimed he was defending himself.

Bennett -- who also stars in "Arrow" and the "Spartacus" TV series -- was arrested and booked for assault.

There's only one man who could bring Wolverine, Gambit, Deadpool and Magneto together for one EPIC SELFIE -- Stan Lee ... and TMZ has video of Marvel's finest assembling for the iconic shot.

It all went down at Comic Con -- where the following people joined the comic book legend on stage:

-- Hugh Jackman (Wolverine)
-- Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique)
-- Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool)
-- James McAvoy (Professor X)
-- Miles Teller (Mr. Fantastic)
-- Olivia Munn (Psylocke)
-- Kate Mara (Invisible Woman)
-- Jamie Bell (The Thing)
-- T.J. Miller (Weasel)
-- Michael Fassbender (Magneto)
-- Nicholas Hoult (Beast)
-- Sophie Turner (Jean Grey)
-- Channing Tatum (Gambit)

BTW, -- Michael B. Jordan (The Human Torch) is also in the pic ... see if you can find him!!!

(Yeah, they need more black superheroes).

Ben Affleck put the turmoil of his marriage aside, and went right into Hollywood salesman mode ... charming the hell out of Batman fans at Comic-Con.

Ben and the rest of the cast of "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" just held their news conference down in San Diego -- and you'd never know he just decided to end his 10-year marriage to Jennifer Garner.

He did make one subtle reference to his personal troubles ... while still wearing his wedding ring. Watch Ben explain how director Zack Snyder convinced him he was perfect for the role. And his story about running into a former Batman is classic ... even if he's told it before.

We have a winner for BIGGEST Comic-Con nerd -- it's gotta be Dwight Howard ... who's roaming San Diego as "Predator."

Yeah, unless there's a 7-footer dressed as the Alien (which would be awesome) ... we're guessing 6'11" Dwight is king of the hill for cosplay fans this weekend.

Check out the clip ... Dwight told us about all the time and effort he put into his get up. Hint: not much.

If there are 2 things Harrison Ford knows how to do ... it's landing planes, and making entrances -- he did one of those to enormous applause at Comic-Con.

Harrison got back together with his 'Star Wars' cohorts Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamil Friday evening in San Diego, and it was just like old times ... except they're all much older.

This was 72-year-old Harrison's first public appearance since the crash landing in March ... and he looks to be in great shape.

By the way -- freakin' nameplates on the table? If you don't know ... don't go.

Adrianne Curry says an overzealous, over-creepy Comic-Con fan got way too intimate with her friend's ass … simply because she was wearing a sexy costume.

Pretty sure that guy will never do that again, since Adrianne busted out a bullwhip on the guy! NOT in a good way, either.