Wikipedia

Jim Lee

This article is about the Korean American artist. For other uses, seeJim Lee (disambiguation).

Jim Lee(Korean:이용철;born August 11, 1964) is aKorean-born Americancomic book artist, writer, editor, and publisher. As of 2023, he is the President, Publisher, andChief Creative OfficerofDC Comics.In recognition of his work, Lee has received aHarvey Award,Inkpot Awardand threeWizard Fan Awards.

Jim Lee
Lee seated at a table, smiling
Lee at a December 2019 signing for
DC Comics: The Art of Jim Lee, Volume 1,
atMidtown Comicsin Manhattan
Born(1964-08-11)August 11, 1964(age 60)
Seoul,South Korea
NationalityAmerican
Area(s)Writer, Artist, Publisher
Notable works
All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder
Batman: Hush
Fantastic Fourvol. 2
The Punisher War Journal
Superman: For Tomorrow
Superman Unchained
Justice Leaguevol. 2
Uncanny X-Men
WildC.A.T.s
X-Menvol. 2
AwardsHarvey Award,1990
Inkpot Award,1992
Wizard Fan Award,1996, 2002, 2003

Lee got his start in the industry in 1987 as an artist forMarvel Comics,illustrating titles such asAlpha FlightandThe Punisher War Journalbefore becoming widely popular through his work onThe Uncanny X-Men.On that book, Lee worked with writerChris Claremont,with whom he co-created the characterGambit.That led to a 1991 spinoff series on which Lee and Claremont were the initial creative team. The debut issue,X-Men#1, which Lee penciled and co-wrote with Claremont, became the best-selling comic book of all time, according toGuinness World Records.Lee's style was later used for the designs of theX-Men: The Animated Series.[1]

In 1992, Lee and several other artists founded the publishing company,Image Comics,to publish theircreator-owned comics.Lee published titles such asWildC.A.T.sandGen13through his studio,WildStorm Productions.

In 1998, wanting to spend less time as a publisher and more time illustrating, Lee sold WildStorm toDC Comics,and ran WildStorm as a DC imprint until 2010. During this period, he also illustrated successful titles set inDC's main fictional universe,such as the year-long storylines "Batman: Hush"and"Superman: For Tomorrow"), books (includingSuperman Unchained), and theNew 52run ofJustice League.

On February 18, 2010, it was announced that DC Comics had appointed Lee andDan DiDioas its co-publishers (replacingPaul Levitz). In June 2018, Lee was also appointed the company's chief creative officer, replacingGeoff Johns.In February 2020, when DiDio left the company, Lee became its sole publisher.

Aside from illustrating comics, he has done work as a designer or creative director on other DC products, such as action figures, video games, branded automobiles and backpacks. Outside the comics industry, Lee has designed album covers, as well as the packaging of one ofGeneral Mills'monster-themed cerealboxes for its 2014 Halloween collection. His private commission sketches command high prices ranging up to thousands of dollars.

Early life

edit

Jim Lee was born on August 11, 1964, inSeoul,South Korea.[2][3]In a December 2023 interview, he describes his nostaglic memories of life in that country, where he first began drawing at a young age, usingoil pastelswith an art teacher who visited his home, and developing a love ofMax Fleischer's 1940s animatedSupermanseries. His strongest memory of living in Seoul, however, was when, at the age of 4 or 5, he was hit by a small truck while crossing the street, later regaining consciousness in the hospital in the presence of his father, a doctor. Lee says that the incident increased his parents' sense of protectiveness as he grew older, and summarizes his early years by saying, "Comics. Trauma. Art. That was the be-all, end-all of my childhood."[4]

In the aftermath of theKorean War,Lee's parents desired a better, safer life for their family, and moved to the United States when Lee was in elementary school. They lived inWarren, Ohio,[4]andYoungstown, Ohio,before settling inSt. Louis, Missouri,[5][6]where Lee lived a "typical middle-class childhood".[6]Lee attended River Bend Elementary School inChesterfieldand laterSt. Louis Country Day School,where he drew posters for school plays. Having had to learn English when he first came to the U.S. instilled in Lee with the sense of being an outsider, as did the "preppy, upper-class" atmosphere of Country Day. As a result, on the rare occasions that his parents bought him comics, Lee's favorite characters were theX-Men,because they were outsiders themselves.[5][6]Lee says that he benefited as an artist by connecting with characters that were themselves disenfranchised, likeSpider-Man,or who were born of such backgrounds, such as Superman, who was created by two Jewish men from Cleveland to lift their spirits during the Depression.[5]Lee also connected with Superman because like Lee, Superman was "the ultimate immigrant", which helped him assimilate into American culture, and provided him a sense of "sanctuary" from the pressures he felt as an immigrant who did not fit in, and the shame he felt as a Korean. For this reason, Superman's practice of wearing eyeglasses in order to effect a disguise was something Lee sympathized with, as he felt that he exhibited an "American side" at school, and then his "Korean side" at home. He developed a desire to one day work in comics between the ages of nine and twelve.[4]Though given a Korean name at birth, he chose the name Jim when he became a naturalized U.S. citizen at age 12.[7]

Lee attendedPrinceton University.During his junior year in 1984, Lee drew editorial cartoons for the school newspaper,The Daily Princetonian.[8]Lee's classmates predicted in his senior yearbook that he would found his own comic book company.[5][6]Lee, however, was resigned to following his father's career in medicine, continuing at Princeton by studyingpsychology,with the intention of becoming a medical doctor.[6][9]This was largely influenced by the strict expectations of his parents, whom Lee said were "really aggressive in terms of how they wanted me to find true success," owing to views about security and fear of failure that Lee describes as being typical in Korean households.[4]

In 1986, as he was preparing to graduate, Lee took an art class that reignited his love of drawing, and led to his rediscovery of comics at a time when works such asFrank Miller'sThe Dark Knight ReturnsandAlan MooreandDave Gibbons'Watchmenspurred a renaissance within the American comics industry.[6]After obtaining his psychology degree,[9]Lee, having grown to view a career in medicine to long escalator ride that he did not wish to make,[4]decided to postpone applying to medical school for one year, in order to give himself time to break into comics.[4][6]When he laid out this plan to his parents, it led to a heated argument that prompted Lee to flee his house. His father pursued him and reconciled with him, expressing understanding of his commitment to his dreams. Lee says that this influenced him to refrain from ever placing the same level of pressure on his own children.[4]Earning the reluctant blessing of his parents, Lee vowed that he would attend medical school if he did not break into the comic book industry in thegap yearhe allotted for himself.[6]He set up a smalldrafting tablenext to his bed, and would spend 8 to 10 hours each day drawing, to the point that he suffered from sore knuckles and a pinched nerve that required his father to give him a shoulder brace.[4]

Comics career

edit

Rise to fame at Marvel Comics

edit

The samples that Lee initially submitted to various publishers did not find success.[6]When he befriended St. Louis-area comics artists Don Secrease andRick Burchett,they convinced him he needed to show his portfolio to editors in person, prompting Lee to attend a New York comics convention,[5]where he met editorArchie Goodwin.Goodwin invited Lee to Marvel Comics, where the aspiring artist received his first assignment by editorCarl Potts,who hired him to pencil the mid-list seriesAlpha Flight,seguéing from that title in 1989 toPunisher: War Journal.[6][10]Lee's work on thePunisher: War Journalwas inspired by artists such as Frank Miller, David Ross,Kevin Nowlan,andWhilce Portacio,as well as Japanesemanga.[10]

In 1989, Lee filled in for regular illustratorMarc SilvestrionUncanny X-Men#248 and did another guest stint on issues 256 through 258 as part of the "Acts of Vengeance"storyline, eventually becoming the series' ongoing artist with issue #268, following Silvestri's departure. During his stint onUncanny,Lee first worked with inkerScott Williams,who would become a long-time collaborator.[11]During his run on the title, Lee co-created the characterGambitwith long-time X-Men writerChris Claremont.[12]

Gatefoldcover art fromX-Men#1 (1991)

Lee's artwork quickly gained popularity in the eyes of enthusiastic fans, which allowed him to gain greater creative control of the franchise. In 1991, Lee helped launch a secondX-Menseries simply calledX-Menvol. 2, as both the artist and as co-writer with Claremont.[13]X-Menvol. 2 #1 is still the best-selling comic book of all-time with sales of over 8.1 million copies and nearly $7 million, according to a public proclamation byGuinness World Recordsat the 2010San Diego Comic-Con.[14][15][16][17]The sales figures were generated in part by publishing the issue with five different variant covers, four of which show different characters from the book that formed a single image when laid side by side, and a fifth,gatefoldcover of that combined image, large numbers of which were purchased by retailers who anticipated fans and speculators who would buy multiple copies in order to acquire a complete collection of the covers.[18]Lee designed new character uniforms for the series, including those worn byCyclops,Jean Grey,Rogue,Betsy BraddockandStorm.He also created the villainOmega Red.Lee's style of rendering the X-Men was later used for the designs the television programX-Men: The Animated Series.[1]Actor/comedianTaran Killam,who ventured into comics writing withThe Illegitimates,has citedX-Men#1 as the book that inspired his interest in comics.[19]

Stan Leeinterviewed Lee in the documentary seriesThe Comic Book Greats.

Image Comics and WildStorm, return to Marvel

edit

Enticed by the idea of being able to exert more control over his own work, in 1992, Lee accepted the invitation to join six other artists who broke away from Marvel to formImage Comics,which would publish their creator-owned titles.[9]Lee's group of titles was initially called Aegis Entertainment before being christenedWildStorm Productions,and published Lee's initial titleWildC.A.T.s,which Lee pencilled and co-wrote, and other series created by Lee in the same shareduniverse.The other major series of the initial years of Wildstorm, for which Lee either created characters, co-plotted or provided art for, includedStormwatch,DeathblowandGen13.

In 1993, Lee and his friend,Valiant ComicspublisherSteven Massarsky,arranged a Valiant/Image Comics crossover miniseries calledDeathmate,in which the Valiant characters would interact with those of WildStorm, and of Lee's fellow Image partner,Rob Liefeld.The miniseries would consist of four "center books" (each one denoted by a color rather than an issue number), two each produced by the respective companies, plus a prologue and epilogue book. Wildstorm producedDeathmate Black,with Lee himself contributing to the writing. He illustrated the covers for that book, theDeathmate Tourbookand the prologue book, as well as contributing to the prologue's interior inks.

WildStorm would expand its line to include other ongoing titles whose creative work was handled by other writers and artists, some of which were spinoffs of the earlier titles, or properties owned by other creators, such asWhilce Portacio'sWetworks.As publisher, Lee later expanded his comics line creating two publishing imprints of WildStorm,HomageandCliffhanger(that years later merged and were replaced by a single WildStorm Signature imprint), to publish creator-owned comics by some selected creators of the US comics industry.

Lee and Rob Liefeld, another Marvel-illustrator-turned-Image-founder, returned to Marvel in 1996 to participate in arebootof several classic characters; the project was known asHeroes Reborn.While Liefeld reworkedCaptain AmericaandThe Avengers,Lee plottedIron Man[20]and plotted and illustratedFantastic Fourissues #1–6.[21]Halfway through the project, Lee's studio took over Liefeld's two titles, finishing all four series. According to Lee, Marvel proposed continuing the Heroes Reborn lineup indefinitely, but under the condition that Lee would draw at least one of them himself, which he refused to do. Instead, he accepted an offer to re-imagine and relaunch (in the role of editor) three mainstream Marvel Universe titles:Defenders,Doctor Strange,andNick Fury.[22]Though scheduled to debut in December 1997, these three relaunches never appeared.

Lee returned to WildStorm, where he would publish series such asThe AuthorityandPlanetary,as well asAlan Moore's imprint,America's Best Comics.Lee himself wrote and illustrated a 12-issue series calledDivine Right: The Adventures of Max Faraday,in which an internet slacker inadvertently manages to download the secrets of the universe, and is thrown into a wildfantasyworld.

Move to DC Comics

edit
Lee's renditions of Superman and Batman

Due to declining sales across the U.S. comics industry,[23]and his view that his role as publisher and growing family demands interfered with his role as an artist, Lee leftImage Comicsand sold WildStorm toDC Comicsin late 1998,[24][25]enabling him to focus once again on art.[6][9]He drew a "Batman Black and White"backup story for the first issue ofBatman: Gotham Knights(March 2000).[26]In 2003, he collaborated on a 12-issue run onBatmanwith writerJeph Loeb.[27]"Hush"became a sales success. That same year,UbisoftreleasedBatman: Rise of Sin Tzu,aside-scrollingbeat 'em upvideo gamewhose titular villain was designed by Lee, a fact that served as the main draw to the game.[28][29]

In 2004 Lee illustrated "For Tomorrow",a 12-issue story inSupermanby writerBrian Azzarello.[30]

In 2005, Lee teamed with Frank Miller onAll Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder,[31]a series plagued by delays, including a one-year gap between the releases of the fourth and fifth issues. Lee himself took full responsibility for the delays, explaining that his involvement with theDC Universe Onlinevideo game were the cause, and not Miller's scripts, which had been completed for some time.[32][33][34]All-Staralso drew controversy[35][36]for Miller's dialogue, pacing and depiction of the characters,[37]garnering reviews that were mixed[38]to negative,[37][39][40]though Lee's art was praised,[37]and the book enjoyed excellent sales.[36][41]A total of 10 issues were produced of that series,[38]the tenth issue being released on September 24, 2015.[42]In September 2015 Lee indicated the possibility of returning to the book to conclude it with Miller's originally intended ending,[43]but this series was never produced.[36]

Lee continued to run WildStorm as editorial director, sometimes working on both DC and WildStorm properties simultaneously. In September 2006, Lee returned toWildC.A.T.swithGrant Morrisonas the writer, but only one issue of that series' fourth volume was published.

Lee provided artwork for the album booklet forDaughtry's 2009 albumLeave This Town. In February 2006, it was announced that Lee would be involved with the concept art for the DC Comics online gameDC Universe Online.[9]In 2008, Lee was named the Executive Creative Director of the forthcoming game, which at that time was expected to be released in 2009.[44] In February 2010, Lee andDan DiDiowere named Co-Publishers of DC Comics by DC Entertainment PresidentDiane Nelson.[45][46][47]According to Lee, this did not indicate another move away from the creative side of comics, as his Co-Publishing duties granted him greater creative involvement in the entire DC line and allow him to illustrate titles.[6][48]DC announced they were ending the WildStorm imprint in September 2010.[49]

2010s

edit
Lee at the 2009San Diego Comic-Con

In September 2011, DC Comics instituted an initiative calledThe New 52,in which the publisher cancelled all of its superhero titles and relaunched 52 new series with No. 1 issues, wiping out most of the then-current continuity. Lee and writerGeoff Johns,DC Comics' Chief Creative Officer, were the architects of the relaunch, which was initiated with a newJustice Leagueseries, written and illustrated by Johns and Lee, respectively.[50]The series' first story arc was a new origin of the Justice League, which depicted the return of DC's primary superheroes to the team.[51]Lee's illustration for the cover of issue No. 12 drew media attention for its depiction ofSupermanandWonder Womanin a passionate embrace, a rendition that Lee said was inspired byGustav Klimt's paintingThe KissandAlfred Eisenstaedt's 1945 photographV-J Day in Times Square.[52][53][54][55]

In July 2012, as part ofSan Diego Comic-Con,Lee and Dan DiDio participated in the production of "Heroic Proportions", an episode of theSyfyreality television competition seriesFace Off,in which special effects makeup artists compete to create the best makeup according to each episode's theme. Lee and DiDio presented the contestants with that episode's challenge, to create a new superhero, with six DC Comics artists on hand to help them develop their ideas. The winning entry's character, Infernal Core by Anthony Kosar, was featured inJustice League Dark#16 (March 2013),[56][57]which was published January 30, 2013.[58]The episode premiered on January 22, 2013, as the second episode of the fourth season.[59]

In October 2012, DC Entertainment andKia Motors Americaentered a partnership to benefit We Can Be Heroes, a campaign dedicated to fighting hunger in theHorn of Africa.The campaign involves the creation of eight Justice League-inspired vehicles, on whose designs Lee collaborated. Each vehicle is tied thematically to a member of the Justice League,[60]the first of which was a Batman-themedKia Optima.[61]A Superman-themed version inspired by Lee's art followed in February 2013.[62]

Lee at the August 31, 2011 midnight signing ofFlashpoint#5 andJustice League#1 atMidtown Comics,which initiated DC'sThe New 52initiative

In 2013, Lee designed a new version of theMortal KombatcharacterScorpionfor use in the DC fighting video gameInjustice: Gods Among Us.[63]

On May 4, 2013,[64]DC published aFree Comic Book Daysneak preview ofSuperman Unchained,an ongoing series written byScott Snyderand illustrated by Lee, which was published on June 12, 2013, and intended to coincide with the feature filmMan of Steel,which opened two days later.[65]

In 2013, Lee was announced as a member of a newly formed advisory board of theComic Book Legal Defense Fund,a non-profit organization founded in 1986 chartered to protect theFirst Amendmentrights of the comics community.[66]

In 2014,General Millsenlisted the help of DC Comics to create new designs for itsmonster-themed cerealsin time for Halloween. The designs, revealed on August 6, consisted of a Boo Berry design by Lee, aCount Choculadesign byTerry Dodsonand aFranken-Berrydesign by Dave Johnson. Describing the task of designing a cartoon character, Lee explained, "Drawing simpler characters is a lot more work and harder than drawing something that's more complicated or has a lot of renderings. Every line counts and every distance between the eyes and the ears, it's all super critical."[67]

In February 2015, DC releasedThe Multiversity:Mastermen,the seventh issue ofGrant Morrison'sThe Multiversityproject, which Lee illustrated.[68]That same year, Lee provided designs for a Batman action figure as part of the company's BlueLine Edition series, to be released at that year's San Diego Comic-Con.[69][70]A Superman figure designed by Lee followed in 2016.[71]November 2015 saw the debut of the miniseriesBatman: Europa,on which Lee collaborated with writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali and artistGiuseppe Camuncoli.[72]The book, which was inspired by Lee's time living in Italy,[73]was originally announced by DC in 2004, and intended to feature Lee's painted art over Camuncoli's layouts,[72][74][75]but after a series of delays,[72][76][77]it was published with conventional artwork[72]as a four-issue miniseries to positive reviews.[78]

In 2016, Lee was the main artist on the one-shotHarley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool's Specialsharing art duties on that book with Sean Galloway. That August, DC released the first of eight issues of Lee and writerRob Williams' newSuicide Squadseries, as part of theDC Rebirthrelaunch.[79]

In July 2017, Marvel decided to capitalize on Lee's popularity by releasing 29 of its books with covers reprinting Lee's art for its 1992 Series 1 X-Men trading cards.[80]

In March 2018, Lee and writerJames Tynion IVlaunched the seriesThe Immortal Menas part of DC's New Age of Heroes line.[81][82]That June, following the departure of DC Entertainment'sDiane Nelson,[83]andGeoff Johns' stepping down from his role asChief Creative Officer(CCO) of DC Comics, Lee was named DC's CCO, a role he would assume while continuing to act as publisher with Dan DiDio.[84]

In May and June 2019, Lee, writerTom King,andCWseries actressesNafessa Williams,Candice Patton,andDanielle Panabakertoured five U.S. military bases in Kuwait with theUnited Service Organizations(USO), where they visited the approximately 12,000 U.S. military personnel stationed in that country as part of DC's 80th anniversary of Batman celebration.[85]

On June 5, 2019, Lee and the fashion accessory brand HEX launched aKickstartercrowdfunding campaign for two Batman-branded backpacks designed specifically for comics artists and collectors. The former, the HEX x Jim Lee Artist Backpack, is designed with features specifically for transporting art supplies and portfolios, such as a 11 "x 17" dedicated portfolio cases, waterproof pockets for inks and paints, and organizers for brushes and pens. The latter, the HEX x Jim Lee Collectors Backpack, is designed with features for transporting art collections, such as fleece-lined pockets for comics, a poster tube holder, a pocket for theOverstreet Price Guide,and an anti-theft zipper lock. In addition to the Batman artwork by Lee that adorns both backpacks, the collectors version featuresbatarangzipper pulls.[1][86]

2020s

edit

In late February 2020, following the departure of Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, Lee became the sole Publisher of DC Comics.[87]The following month, amid theglobal COVID-19 pandemic,Lee began a 60-day series of daily sketches, auctioning off the proceeds of each sketch to a different randombrick and mortarstore that had closed as a result of the pandemic.[88][89]The endeavor, which was done in partnership with DC and the BINC Foundation, saw the completion of the final sketch in July 2021. That drawing, which depictedJason Todd,sold for $25,100 oneBay,while the entire campaign raised a total of over $800,000 for beleaguered comics shops.[90]

On November 25, 2021, Lee appeared alongside several other Asian and Pacific Islander celebrities, including actorSimu Liu,tennis playerNaomi Osaka,andTop ChefhostPadma Lakshmi,in the Thanksgiving Day television programSee Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special.[91][92]The program was billed as a celebration of those communities,[93]and introduced the series' first Asian AmericanMuppet,a seven-year-old Korean girl namedJi-Young.The special premiered onHBO Max,PBSKids,Facebook,Instagram,andYouTube,as part of theSesame Workshop's "Coming Together" initiative, which endeavors to educate children about race, culture, andracial justice.It featured Lee showcasing his illustration of Ji-Young interacting with other Muppets.[92]

Lee was promoted to President of DC Comics in May 2023.[94]

In 2024 Jim Lee's art agent, Albert Moy, publicly announced for the first time in 15 years that Lee was accepting original sketch commissions that would be delivered to customers at conventions at which Lee would be in attendance. The prices ranged fromUSD$1,000 for 3.25 "by 7" head shots in profile, to $25,000 to $35,000 for either full recreations of other artists' covers or 11 "by 17", full figure, single character illustrations with substantial backgrounds.[95][96][97]

Technique and materials

edit

Lee is known to useF leadfor hispencil work.[98][99]While inking his own pencils onThe Punisher War Journal,Lee began using acrowquillnibfor the first time.[10]When illustrating full page commissions or sketches, Lee uses thedrybrushtechnique in order to achieve greytone areas with an uneven texture, applyingindia inkto the paper and then rubbing it with a tissue,[100]or by using a brush to fill in areas of black, and then using the brush to effect drybrush effects after it is nearly depleted of ink.[101]To create white highlights, he uses aPentelcorrection fluidpen.[100]

In talking about the artist's work ethic, Lee has said, "Sometimes I wonder if we ever really improve as artists or if the nirvana derived from completing a piece blinds us enough to love what we have created and move on to the next piece. If we could see the work as it is, with years of reflection in the here and now, how many images would end up in the trash rather than on the racks?"[102]

In a March 2024 interview withAgence France-Presse,Lee was asked ifAI-generated artwas a threat to the comics industry. He replied, "We have to figure out a way to live in a world where it exists, and the source material from which it derives its content is properly credited and compensated. But even if it were accepted and someone were going to pay me to use an AI engine to create work, I just wouldn't do it. I don't create art just so I can have something to get paid for. I love sitting down with a piece of paper and a pencil... I enter this fugue state, hours go by and it feels like 15 minutes, and at the end, I have this incredible sense of satisfaction because I went on this journey and I've created something. Typing something into a prompt and getting something two minutes later? I'm robbing myself of the whole point of why I got into this business."[103]

When asked about his artistic inspirations, Lee citedNeal Adams,John Byrne,Kevin Nowlan,Mike Mignola,Art Adams,Milo Manara,andBarry Windsor-Smith.[104]

Praise and criticism

edit

In the February 1991 issue ofAmazing Heroes,writer/artistBarry Windsor-Smithwas being interviewed for his Wolverine storyWeapon X,and touching upon the then-currentX-Mencomics, Windsor-Smith stated:[105]

"I don't particularly read the stuff either, even though there's this great new illustrator on the book named Jim Lee...He's leaps ahead of everybody else as regards new talent. Talk about 'rivet men!" He's a fabulous talent...Jim is new and astonishing. I don't know how old Jim is, I presume he's young, and apart from admiring his wonderful technique — even though it's atrifleoverdone; it makes my stuff look like simplicity — I just love the fabulous style that he does it with. I wonder how he can keep that up as a monthly thing forX-Men."[105]

Five years later, however, after having come to regret working on the "Wildstorm Rising"crossover story arc that ran the previous year in the books of Lee's creator-owned studio,WildStorm Productions,Windsor-Smith expressed a different assessment of Lee in an interview withThe Comics Journal.Windsor-Smith criticized the depth of the work of artists like Lee andRob Liefeld,and those whom they influenced (whom he referred to as "the Liefelds and the Lees" ), stating:

"Your Jim Lees and all this lot, their product hasn't got anything to do with them, you know? There is no emotional investment...I look at Jim Lee's work, and the guy's learning how to draw. He has some craft to what he does...I don't think it has even crossed their minds that comic books can be a medium for intimate self-expression."[106]

The Comics JournalpublisherGary Grothconcurred, stating, "Lee's work is obviously more technically accomplished than Liefeld's, but otherwise it's conceptually comparable." Windsor-Smith added that he had believed in theImage Comics' founders' exodus from Marvel Comics as an important step for creator autonomy and creator rights, and was angered when Lee and Liefeld returned to Marvel to do "Heroes Reborn".[106]

In 2024, following the announcement that Lee would accept commissions to be delivered to customers at conventions, a small subset of fans expressed annoyance for the high prices given by Lee' agent, Albert Moy.[95][97]A majority of the comics industry expressed support on social media for Lee's right to charge these prices including Bengal,Tom Taylor,Fabian Nicieza,andMark Brooks.Many comic book writers and artists also shared many stories of Lee's previous generosity on social media.[107]OnTwitter,comic book writer,Gail Simoneshared a story of how Lee drew free charity sketches in order to coverJohn Ostrander's eye surgery.[108]CBR's Brian Cronin also defended Lee's prices, which he argued were proportionate to the limits placed on his drawing time by his role as DC Comics President, and the level of esteem and demand placed on Lee's art by his status as one of the top artists of all time, much in the same that any business in a free market calculated prices and discounts based on demand. Underscoring this latter point, Cronin observed that Lee was one of only two artists, along withAlex Ross,who had placed in the top five of CBR's 2022 Master Artists List, who were still actively producing comics art. Cronin also pointed out that Lee's art was often re-sold on the secondary market for similar prices, making that pricing on the part of Lee and his agent reasonable. In addition, Cronin stated that Lee did considerable charity work, calling into question the notion that the prices were motivated by greed. Cronin viewed this criticism as part of the broader practice on the part of the public of devaluing the work of illustrators, arguing that such criticism was not leveled at celebrities who charged fans hundreds of dollars for photo-ops and autographs at fan conventions.[97]

Personal life

edit

Lee is married to Carla Michelle Lee.[109][110]In 2012, when Carla was pregnant, Lee included a tribute to her inJustice League#5, writing "I LOVE CARLA" on the shattered windshield of a car onto which Batman jumps.[110]As of November 2016, they had nine children,[4][100]ages 2 to 23.[100]

In the 1990s, Lee bought two pages ofJack Kirbyconcept art, which Kirby had created for a film adaptation ofRoger Zelazny's novelLord of Light,as part of the cover story to smuggle Americans out of Iran during the1980 hostage crisis.Lee purchased the art at aSotheby'sauction via Barry Geller, the producer of the faux film, who was selling it to help pay for his child's college tuition. The CIA operation that rescued the Americans remained classified for another 17 years, and thus Lee had no idea of the pages' historical significance, nor did Geller know their true monetary value when he sold them to help pay his son's college tuition (with Kirby's permission). Both Lee and Geller learned of the true story behind the art years later with the rest of the public. In August 2013, four of Lee's children were headed for college, and he and Carla decided to auction off the art throughHeritage Auctionsin order to pay for their education.[109]

Outside of fan conventions, Lee enjoys traveling and learning new languages. In addition to English and Italian, he speaks some German. He also enjoys scuba diving on occasion.[111]

Awards and accolades

edit

Awards

edit

Other accolades

edit

In November 2022,CBR.compublished its Top 100 Comic Book Writers and Artists Master List, based on 1,023 ballots cast by readers. This was divided into two sublists, one each for writers and artists, the latter of which ranked Lee at number 4. That result was derived from 33 first place votes for Lee, placing him behind onlyGeorge Pérez,Jack Kirby,andJohn Byrne.[117]

Bibliography

edit

Interior work

edit

DC Comics

edit

Vertigo

edit

WildStorm

edit

Image Comics

edit

Marvel Comics

edit

Marvel Comics / Image Comics

edit

Compilations

edit
  • Icons: The DC & Wildstorm Art of Jim Lee(Titan Books, 2010)

Cover work

edit

Aspen

edit
  • Soulfire#4 (variant cover) (2005)
  • Iron and the Maiden#4 (variant cover) (2007)

Dark Horse Comics

edit
  • The Umbrella Academy Dallas#1 (variant cover) (2008)

DC Comics

edit
  • Absolute Superman: For Tomorrow(new cover) (2009)
  • Superman/Batman#10 (variant cover) (2004)
  • Catwoman: The Movie(2004)
  • Countdown to Infinite Crisis(with Alex Ross) (2005)
  • Infinite Crisis#1–7 (2005–2006)
  • Captain Atom Armageddon#1 (variant cover) (2005)
  • Trinity(Vol. 1) #14–18 (2008), #25–27 (2008), #31–33 (2009)
  • Final Crisis Secret Files#1 (2009)
  • Green Lantern(Vol. 4) #50 (variant cover) (2010)
  • Legion of Super-Heroes(Vol. 6) #1–6 (variant covers) (2010)
  • DC Universe Online Legends#0 (2010)
  • First Wave#6 (variant cover) (2011)
  • Action Comics(Vol. 2) #1 (variant cover) (2011)
  • Batman(Vol. 2) #2 (variant cover) (2011), #50 (variant cover) (2016)
  • Flash(Vol. 4) #3 (variant cover) (2011)
  • Team 7(Vol. 2) #1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Justice League#7-8 (2012)
  • Before Watchmen:Comedian#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Minutemen#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Nite Owl#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Rorschach#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Ozymandias#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen: Moloch#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Before Watchmen Dollar Bill#1 (variant cover) (2013)
  • Detective Comics(Vol. 2) #27 (variant cover) (2014)
  • The Dark Knight III: The Master Race#1–9 (variant covers) (2015–2017)
  • The Dark Knight III: The Master Race Collector's Edition#1–9 (2015–2017)
  • Batman/Superman#18 (Flash 75th Anniversary variant cover) (2015)
  • New Suicide Squad#9 (Joker 75th Anniversary variant cover) (2015)
  • Titans Hunt#1 (variant cover) (2015)
  • Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade#1 (variant cover) (2016)
  • Justice League of America(Vol. 4) #9 (variant cover) (2016)
  • Scooby Apocalypse#1–4 (2016)
  • Batman(Vol. 3) #19 (Fan Expo Dallas variant cover) (2017), #45 (variant cover) (2018), #50 (variant cover) (2018)
  • All-Star Batman#8 (Fan Expo Dallas variant cover) (2017)
  • The Wild Storm#1–12 (variant covers) (2017–2018)
  • Kamandi Challenge#8 (2017)
  • Dark Nights: Metal#1–6 (variant covers) (2017–2018)
  • Hawkman Found#1 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Wonder Woman/Tasmanian Devil Special#1 (2017)
  • Batman: Hush - The 15th Anniversary Deluxe Edition(2017)
  • Action Comics(Vol. 3) #1000 (Dynamic Forces variant cover), #1050 (variant cover) (2018)
  • Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman Deluxe Edition(2018)
  • Batman(Vol. 3) #45, #50, #125 (variant covers) (2018–2022)
  • Justice League(Vol. 4) #1–10, 59 (variant covers) (2018–2021)
  • Harley Quinn 25th Anniversary Special#1 (2018)
  • Sandman Universe#1 (variant cover) (2018)
  • Batman / The MAXX: Arkham Dreams#1 (variant cover) (2018)
  • The Immortal Men#2–4 (2018)
  • Batman: Damned#1–3 (variant covers) (2018–2019)
  • Cover#6 (variant cover) (2019)
  • Detective Comics: 80 Years of Batman Deluxe Edition(2019)
  • Detective Comics(Vol. 3) #1000 (Torpedo Comics variant covers), #1027, #1063, #1065, #1067 (variant cover) (2019–2022)
  • SHAZAM!(Vol. 2) #4 (variant cover) (2019)
  • RWBY#1 (variant cover) (2019)
  • GenLock#1 (variant cover) (2019)
  • Wonder Woman(Vol. 5) #750 (variant cover & Torpedo Comics variant covers) (2020)
  • Flash (Vol. 5) #750 (2000s variant cover) (2020)
  • Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular#1 (1940s variant cover) (2020)
  • Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular#1 (2000s variant cover) (2020)
  • The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular#1 (1970s variant cover) (2020)
  • Green Lantern 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular#1 (2010s variant cover) (2020)
  • The Joker 80 Years of the Clown Prince of Crime Deluxe Edition(2020)
  • Green Lantern: 80 Years of the Emerald Knight Deluxe Edition(2020)
  • Robin: 80 Years of the Boy Wonder Deluxe Edition(2020)
  • Sweet Tooth:The Return#1 (variant cover) (2020)
  • Batman/Catwoman#1-12 (variant covers) (2020-2022)
  • Future State: Justice League#1 (Wonder Woman 1984 variant cover) (2021)
  • Future State: The Next Batman#4 (variant cover) (2021)
  • Green Arrow: 80 Years of the Emerald Archer Deluxe Edition(2021)
  • Wonder Woman: 80 Years of the Amazon Warrior Deluxe Edition(2021)
  • Batman/Superman: World's Finest#1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • Batman: One Bad Day(variant covers) (2022-2023)
  • Dark Crisis#1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • Harley Quinn: 30 Years of the Maid of Mischief(2022)
  • Batman: Hush 20th Anniversary Edition(2022)
  • Batman: Gotham Knights - Gilded City#1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • The Riddler: Year One#1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • Harley Quinn Annual2022 (variant cover) (2022)
  • The Death of Superman 30th Anniversary Special#1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • WildC.A.T.s(Vol. 2) #1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo#2 (variant cover) (2022)
  • Batman/Spawn#1 (variant cover) (2022)
  • Nightwing(Vol. 4) #100 (variant cover) (2023)
  • Aquaman: 80 Years of the King of the Seven Seas The Deluxe Edition(2023)
  • Shazam! Fury of the GodsSpecial: Shazamily Matters#1 (2023)
  • Superman: The 85th Anniversary Collection(2023)
  • Titans(Vol. 4) #1 (variant cover) (2023)
  • Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1(variant cover) (2023)
  • Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong#1 (variant cover) (2023)
  • Wonder Woman(Vol. 6) #1 (second printing variant cover) & #3 (variant cover) (2023)
  • Batman(Vol. 3) #146 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Birds of Prey(Vol. 5) #8 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Batman and Robin(Vol. 3) #8 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Superman(Vol. 7) #13 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Batman/Superman Worlds Finest#26 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Catwoman(Vol. 5) #64 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Nightwing(Vol. 4) #113 (variant cover) (2024)
  • Detective Comics(Vol. 2) #1084 (variant cover) (2024)

Dynamite

edit
  • Red Sonja(Vol. 4) #11 (variant cover) (2006), #12 (2006)
  • Boys#30 (variant cover) (2009)
  • Red Sonja: Age Of Chaos#1 (variant cover) (2020)

Image Comics

edit
  • Stormwatch#1-3 (1993)
  • WildC.A.T.s(Vol. 1) #21 (1995)
  • Fire From Heaven#2 (1996)
  • Gen 13Preview Edition(1997)
  • C-23#2 (variant cover) (1998)
  • Spawn#150 (variant cover) (2005), #200 (variant cover) (2011)
  • Image United#1 (variant cover) (2009)
  • Liberty Comics#2 (2009)
  • Tyrese Gibsons Mayhem#3 (variant cover) (2009)

Marvel Comics

edit
  • Alpha Flight#65–66 (1989), #69 (1989), #75 (1989), #87–90 (1990)
  • Conan the Barbarian#218-220, #232 (cover inks), #242 (1989-1991)
  • The 'Nam#34 (1989)
  • The Transformers#53 (1989), #67 (1990)
  • The Punisher War Journal#14-15 (1990)
  • Ghost Rider(Vol. 2) #5 (1990), #26-27 (1992)
  • Wolverine#24,#25, #27 (1990)
  • Captain America#383 (inks) (1991)
  • Guardians of the Galaxy#10 (cover inks) (1991)
  • The Uncanny X-Men#252, #254, #256-258, #260-261, #264, #268 (1989–1990), 286 (1992)
  • X-Factor#62 (1991)
  • Avengers(Vol. 2) #8 (1997)
  • Avengers(Vol. 6) #9 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Old Man Logan(Vol. 2) #26 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Punisher(Vol. 10) #14 (variant cover) (2017)
  • X-Men Blue#1 (variant cover) (2017), #7 (variant cover) (2017)
  • X-Men Gold#1 (variant cover) (2017), #7 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Astonishing X-Men(Vol. 4) #1 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Ms Marvel(Vol. 4) #20 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Thanos(Vol. 2) #9 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Deadpool(Vol. 5) #33 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Invincible Iron Man(Vol. 3) #9 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Iron Fist(Vol. 5) #5 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Generation X(Vol. 2) #4 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Uncanny Avengers(Vol. 3) #25 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Champions(Vol. 2) #10 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Weapon X(Vol. 3) #5 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Doctor Strange(Vol. 4) #23 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Captain America: Steve Rogers#19 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man#2 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Mighty Thor(Vol. 2) #21 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Black Panther(Vol. 6) #16 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Spider-Man(Vol. 2) #18 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Venom(Vol. 3) #152 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Daredevil(Vol. 5) #23 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Defenders(Vol. 5) #3 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Amazing Spider-Man(Vol. 4) #30 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Royals#5 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Cable(Vol. 3) #3 (variant cover) (2017)
  • All-New Wolverine#22 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Jean Grey#4 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Gwenpool#18 (variant cover) (2017)
  • Captain America(Vol. 8) #700 (variant cover) (2018)

Vertigo

edit
  • Transmetropolitan#25–26 (1999)
  • Codename: Knockout#14 (variant cover) (2002)
  • American Vampire#1 (variant cover) (2010)
  • Django Unchained#1 (variant cover) (2012)
  • Sandman Overture#1 (variant cover) (2013)
  • Mad Max Fury Road#1 (variant cover) (2015)
  • Sandman Universe#1 (variant cover) (2018)

WildStorm

edit
  • Wildcats(Vol. 2) #1 (variant cover) (1999)
  • Star Trek Voyager: False Colors(2000)
  • Gen 13(Vol. 3) #0 (variant cover) (2002)
  • Thundercats (Vol. 2) #2 (variant cover) (2002)
  • Skye Runner#1–2 (variant covers) (2006)
  • Ninja Scroll#1–3 (variant covers) (2006)
  • Red Sonja/Claw: Devils Hands#1–2 (variant covers) (2006)
  • World of Warcraft#1–6 (2007–2008)
  • New Dynamix#1–2 (variant covers) (2008)
  • Prototype#1 (variant cover) (2009)
  • Modern Warfare 2 Ghost#1 (variant cover) (2009)
  • Ex Machina#50 (variant cover) (2010)
  • DV8 Gods & Monsters#1 (variant cover) (2010)

Writer

edit

DC Comics

edit
  • Scooby Apocalyspe#1 (2016)

Image Comics

edit
  • Stormwatch#0 (1993), #3 (1993)
  • Darker Image#1 (1993)
  • WildC.A.T.s(Vol. 1) #1–9 (1993–1994)
  • Kindred#1–4 (1994)
  • Stormwatch Sourcebook#1 (1994)
  • Savage Dragon(Vol. 2) #13 (1995)
  • Divine Right#1–12 (1997–1999)
  • Gen 13 Preview Edition(1997)

Marvel Comics

edit
  • Fantastic Four(Vol. 2) #1–12 (plot) (1996–97)
  • X-Men Wrath of Apocalypse#1 (1996)

References

edit
  1. ^abcNolan, L.D. (June 5, 2019)."Jim Lee Launches Kickstarter for Comic Art Backpacks".CBR.com.Archived fromthe originalon June 8, 2019.RetrievedJune 28,2019.
  2. ^Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005)."Comics Industry Birthdays".Comics Buyer's Guide.Iola, Wisconsin.Archived fromthe originalon February 18, 2011.
  3. ^"About This Person: Jim Lee".IGN.Archived fromthe originalon January 19, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 18,2013.
  4. ^abcdefghi"How Jim Lee became a comic legend".Big Think.December 18, 2023. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 4,2023– viaYouTube.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^abcdeKerman, Byron (July 2010)."Comic Genius".St. Louis Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2011.
  6. ^abcdefghijklLee, Jim; Baker, Bill (2010).Icons: The DC Comics & WildStorm Art of Jim Lee.Titan Books.pp. 8 and 10.ISBN978-1845765194.
  7. ^Lee, Jim (November 14, 2017).Batman Hush: The 15th Anniversary Deluxe Edition,DC Comics (Burbank, California), p 308.
  8. ^Lee, Jim (May 19, 2024)."(Untitled)".JimLee.Archivedfrom the original on May 21, 2024.RetrievedMay 21,2024– viaInstagram.
  9. ^abcdeTantimedh, Adi (February 25, 2006)."New York Comic Con, Day One: Jim Lee Spotlight".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2013.
  10. ^abcGaffney, Suzanne. "Co-Conspirators Talk".The Punisher War Journal.Marvel Comics. December 1988.
  11. ^Avila, Mike (October 15, 2020)."Master Inker Scott Williams On Inking Jim Lee & X-Men Deadline Woes".SyFy.Archivedfrom the original on January 23, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 4,2023.
  12. ^Arrant, Chris (August 24, 2020)."Best Jim Lee creations of all time".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on September 28, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 4,2022.
  13. ^Manning, Matthew K. (2008). "1990s".Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 255.ISBN978-0756641238.It was a matter of simple addition. Take Chris Claremont, the writer who had madeThe Uncanny X-Menthe continual hit that it was, and add Jim Lee, the artist who had reinvigorated the title's popularity in recent months...The sum of all these parts wasX-Men#1, the best selling comic book in the history of the medium, selling well over eight million copies.
  14. ^Morse, Ben (August 10, 2010)."SDCC 2010: Marvel Breaks World Record".Marvel Comics.
  15. ^Johnston, Rich(July 22, 2010)."X-Men#1 The Guinness World Record Best Selling Comic Of All Time? ".Bleeding Cool.Archivedfrom the original on October 16, 2013.
  16. ^Cantor, Michael (Producer);Schreiber, Liev(Narrator)Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle.PBS.October 15, 2013.
  17. ^Glenday, Craig,ed. (2013).Guinness World Records 2013.Jim Pattison Group.p.212.ISBN978-1904994879.
  18. ^Miller, John Jackson(November 16, 2010)."X-Men#1, One Piece, and world records ".The Comics Chronicles.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2010.
  19. ^Dietsch, T.J. (October 17, 2013)."NYCC:Saturday Night Live'sTaran Killam DebriefsThe Illegitimates".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on October 18, 2013.Archive requires scrolldown
  20. ^Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 280: "Part of the 'Heroes Reborn' event, Iron Man was relaunched into a new universe courtesy of writers Scott Lobdell and Jim Lee, with pencils by Whilce Portacio."
  21. ^Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 280: "Jim Lee both wrote and drew this Heroes Reborn relaunch title with the help of fellow scripter Brandon Choi."
  22. ^McLauchlin, Jim (August 1997). "Lee Extends 'Reborn' Run".Wizard.No. 72. pp. 18–19.
  23. ^Dominguez, Noah (December 2, 2022)."Jim Lee Pens a Moving Letter to WildStorm Fans".CBR.com.Archivedfrom the original on December 3, 2022.RetrievedDecember 3,2022.
  24. ^Lee, Jim (March 1999). "Welcome and Happy New Year!".Wildcats(vol 2) #1WildStorm Productions,p. 27.
  25. ^Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1990s".DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 286.ISBN978-0-7566-6742-9.In a landmark deal, DC purchased Jim Lee's WildStorm imprint, gaining another super hero universe.
  26. ^Manning, Matthew K. (2014). "2000s".Batman: A Visual History.London, United Kingdom:Dorling Kindersley.p. 248.ISBN978-1465424563.The premier issue showcased the writing of Warren Ellis and the artistry of Jim Lee in the story 'To Become the Bat'.
  27. ^Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 307: "The 'Hush' story arc [begun] inBatman#608 was artist Jim Lee's first major work since he joined DC...Written by Jeph Loeb, 'Hush' brought profound changes to the life of the Dark Knight. "
  28. ^Kendall, G. (June 24, 2018)."When Jim Lee (And A Hyper-Sexualized Nightwing) Invaded Batman: The Animated Series".CBR.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2019.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
  29. ^Beatty, D'Marcus (December 17, 2003)."Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu".Gaming Target. Archived fromthe originalon February 28, 2019.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
  30. ^"Jim Lee".Lambiek Comiclopedia.July 13, 2012.Archivedfrom the original on May 16, 2013.
  31. ^Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 321: "Writer Frank Miller and artist Jim Lee got things started in the first release for the new imprint –All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder."
  32. ^Barringer, John (August 1, 2009)."All Star Batman and RobinUpdate: Jim Lee Interview ".A Comic Book Blog.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2013.
  33. ^MOntgomery, Paul (April 2, 2010)."All-Star Batman and Robinto Conclude Next Year…Sort of ".iFanboy.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.
  34. ^Frankenhoff, Brent(June 6, 2006),"All-Star Batman and Robin#5 delays end ",Comics Buyer's Guide,Iola, Wisconsin, archived fromthe originalon December 28, 2013
  35. ^"Holy @#%()A^ Batman! DC puts out profanity-filled comic".Associated Press/Daily News(New York). September 12, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  36. ^abcMoore, Benjamin (September 29, 2015)."Frank Miller's 'All-Star Batman And Robin,' The Worst Comic Ever, Might Finally Get An Ending".Forbes.Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  37. ^abcGatevackes, William (February 10, 2006)."All-Star Batman & Robin #1–3".PopMatters.Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2009.
  38. ^ab"ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER".Comic Book Round Up. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  39. ^Robinson, Iann (December 17, 2007)."All Star Batman and Robin"ArchivedJanuary 14, 2009, at theWayback Machine.CraveOnline.
  40. ^Sanderson, Peter (February 6, 2006)."Comics in Context #119: All-Star Bats".IGN.
  41. ^"DC Comics Month-to-Month Sales February 2008".Comics Beat.April 2, 2008
  42. ^"ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #10".Comic Book Round Up. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  43. ^"Jim Lee Says Frank Miller Has a 'Really Cool'All Star Batman & RobinFinale ".Comic Book Resources. September 29, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on September 24, 2016.
  44. ^LeTendre, Brian (July 15, 2008)."E3 2008: Jim Lee talks DC Universe Online".Archivedfrom the original on November 15, 2008.RetrievedMay 19,2009.
  45. ^Cowsill "2000s" in Dolan, p. 340: "Publisher Paul Levitz stepped down, and co-publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee, along with DC Entertainment chief creative officer Geoff Johns, teamed up to helm DC Comics."
  46. ^Hyde, David (February 18, 2010)."Jim Lee and Dan DiDio Named Co-Publishers DC Comics. Geoff Johns to Serve as Chief Creative Officer. John Rood Named EVP, Sales, Marketing and Business Development. Patrick Caldon Named EVP, Finance and Administration".DC Comics. Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2010.The new senior executive team includes Jim Lee and Dan DiDio, who have been named Co-Publishers of DC Comics, and Geoff Johns, who would serve as Chief Creative Officer of DC Entertainment.
  47. ^Johnston, Rich(February 18, 2010)."DC Announces New Publisher – All Five Of Them!".Bleeding Cool.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.
  48. ^Segura, Alex (April 2, 2010)."What's Next for Frank Miller and Jim Lee?".DC Comics.Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2013.
  49. ^Ching, Albert (September 21, 2010)."DC Co-Publishers Announce End of Widstorm Imprint, Zuda".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2013.
  50. ^Manning "2010s" in Dougall, p. 319: "The Justice League was formed for the first time in the landscape of the fresh universe of the New 52 thanks to writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee."
  51. ^Truitt, Brian (May 3, 2011),"DC Comics ready for a risky yet relevant publishing change",USA Today,archivedfrom the original on February 10, 2014
  52. ^Jensen, Jeff (August 22, 2012),"Justice League#12: DC reveals Superman's new leading lady... and it's a doozy – Exclusive ",Entertainment Weekly,archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2014
  53. ^Langshaw, Mark (August 22, 2012)."Justice Leagueto feature new Superman romance ".Digital Spy.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2013.
  54. ^Khouri, Andy (August 22, 2012)."Superman + Wonder Woman = <3 InJustice League#12 (Kissy Kissy) ".ComicsAlliance.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.
  55. ^Montgomery, Paul (August 22, 2012)."Superman & Wonder Woman Sitting in a Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G inJustice League#12 and Beyond ".iFanboy.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.
  56. ^Melrose, Kevin (January 16, 2013)."Dan DiDio, Jim Lee and DC artists to appear on Syfy'sFace Off".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on June 18, 2018.
  57. ^"Dan DiDio, Jim Lee and DC Entertainment's Stellar Talent to Guest Star on SYFY's Hit Competition SeriesFace Off".DC Comics. January 16, 2013.Archivedfrom the original on June 18, 2018.
  58. ^Nguyen, Minhquan (February 1, 2013)."Justice League Dark#16 – Review ".Weekly Comic Book Review. Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2013.
  59. ^"Heroic Proportions",Face Off,Season 4,Episode 2.Syfy,January 22, 2013.
  60. ^Nicholson, Max (October 3, 2012)."DC and Kia Team Up for JLA Car Fleet".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2012.
  61. ^Nicholson, Mac (October 11, 2012)."The Batman Kia Optima Comes in Black".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2013.
  62. ^"Superman-Inspired Kia Optima Soars Into Chicago For Auto Show Debut".Kia Motors.February 7, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon August 8, 2016.
  63. ^Yin-Poole, Wesley (June 3, 2013)."Mortal Kombat's Scorpion is the next DLC character inInjustice: Gods Among Us".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2013.
  64. ^Armitage, Hugh (January 20, 2013)."DC Comics unveilsSupermanoffering for Free Comic Book Day 2013 ".Digital Spy.Archivedfrom the original on July 5, 2013.Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's forthcomingSupermanmonthly title will be previewed in the issue.
  65. ^Esposito, Joey (March 4, 2013)."Scott Snyder and Jim Lee'sSuperman UnchainedConfirmed for June ".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on June 13, 2013.
  66. ^"CBLDF Announces Advisory Board".ICv2.April 8, 2013.RetrievedJuly 5,2020.
  67. ^Sunu, Steve (August 6, 2014)."Jim Lee, Dave Johnson, Terry & Rachel Dodson Redesign General Mills' Monster Cereals".CBR.com.Archivedfrom the original on October 22, 2014.
  68. ^Rogers, Vaneta (March 3, 2015)."VivisectingMultiversity:Jim Lee onMastermen".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on September 8, 2015.
  69. ^Wickline, Dan (July 8, 2015)."SDCC '15: Jim Lee Prepares Sketches For The BlueLine Batman Figure".Bleeding Cool. Archived fromthe originalon July 10, 2015.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
  70. ^Truitt, Brian (May 22, 2015)."Jim Lee's Batman, Krypto set for Comic-Con".USA Today.Archived fromthe originalon May 17, 2019.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
  71. ^"DC Comics Blueline Jim Lee Superman Action Figure by DC Collectibles".Action Figures Daily. August 30, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon April 22, 2019.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.
  72. ^abcdGerding, Stephanie (August 12, 2015)."Batman: Europa,Dark Knight III: The Master RaceArrive in November ".Comic Book Resources.Archivedfrom the original on September 24, 2016.
  73. ^Rogers, Vaneta (January 6, 2011)."Brian Azzarello Teams Batman & The Joker inEuropa".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2013.
  74. ^Segura, Alex (October 6, 2010)."NYCC 2010:Batman: Europaby Jim Lee and co-writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali ".DC Comics.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.
  75. ^Segura, Alex (October 6, 2010)."NYCC 2010:Batman: Europaby Jim Lee and co-writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali ".DC Comics.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.
  76. ^Johnston, Rich (March 2013) "The Black Bolt List".Bleeding Cool.pp. 49–50.
  77. ^Ching, Albert (September 21, 2010)."DC Co-Publishers Announce End of Widstorm Imprint, Zuda".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2013.
  78. ^"BATMAN: EUROPA".Comic Book Round Up. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  79. ^Arrant, Chris (July 20, 2016)."Jim Lee Scales Back Plans OnSuicide SquadTitle ".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on July 21, 2016.
  80. ^Terror, Jude (June 8, 2017)."See All 29 Jim Lee Trading Card Variants That Will Move Marvel’s Needle In July".Bleeding Cool. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  81. ^"28 JIM LEE Character Designs For 'New Age of DC Heroes' IMMORTAL MEN".Newsarama. October 9, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  82. ^McMillan, Graeme (April 20, 2017)."DC Unveils New Heroes From All-Star Creators: Teleporters, Assassins and Monsters".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on April 20, 2017.
  83. ^Kit, Borys (June 6, 2018)."DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson Leaving Warner Bros.".The Hollywood Reporter.
  84. ^Kit, Borys (June 11, 2018)."Geoff Johns Exits DC Entertainment for Writing and Producing Deal (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 17,2018.
  85. ^Arrant, Chris (June 2, 2019)."JIM LEE, TOM KING, DC-CW Stars Make Surprise USO Trip To KUWAIT".Newsarama.Archivedfrom the original on June 7, 2019.RetrievedJune 3,2019.
  86. ^Terror, Jude (June 5, 2019)."Jim Lee Launches New Line of Fashion Backpacks for Comic Book Artists, Collectors".Bleeding Cool.RetrievedJune 28,2019.
  87. ^Arrant, Chris; Marston, George (February 29, 2020)."JIM LEE Signals DC Won't Replace Dan DiDio; Addresses Major DC, Reboot Rumors".Newsarama.Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2020.RetrievedApril 3,2020.
  88. ^Johnston, Rich(March 31, 2020)."Jim Lee Auctions Sketches Every Day To Raise Money for Comic Shops".Bleeding Cool.Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2020.RetrievedApril 3,2020.
  89. ^Alexander, Ethan (March 31, 2020)."Jim Lee Auctions Sketches to Help Comic Stores During Industry Shutdown".CBR.com.Archived fromthe originalon April 3, 2020.RetrievedApril 5,2020.
  90. ^Arrant, Chris (July 30, 2021)."Jim Lee raises over $800,000 for comic shops with his 60 in 60 original art sketches".Newsarama.Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2021.RetrievedJuly 31,2021.
  91. ^Martin, Annie (November 15, 2021)."'Sesame Street' introduces its first Asian American muppet ".UPI.Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2021.RetrievedNovember 16,2021.
  92. ^abWasserman, Ben (November 16, 2021)."Sesame Street Welcomes Jim Lee, Simu Liu and More API Neighbors for a Special Episode".CBR.com.Archived fromthe originalon November 16, 2021.RetrievedNovember 16,2021.
  93. ^Beachum, Lateshia (November 15, 2021)."'Sesame Street' will debut Asian American muppet during Thanksgiving special ".The Washington Post.Archived fromthe originalon November 15, 2021.RetrievedNovember 16,2021.
  94. ^Kit, Borys (May 3, 2023)."Jim Lee Re-Ups at DC, Promoted to President".The Hollywood Reporter.
  95. ^abMacDonald, Heidi(July 2, 2024)."Jim Lee's $20,000 commission price causes uproar".Comics Beat.Archivedfrom the original on July 3, 2024.RetrievedJuly 3,2024.
  96. ^Moy, Albert (July 2, 2024)."Albert Moy Original Comic Art".Commission Information for Jim Lee.Archivedfrom the original on July 3, 2024.RetrievedJuly 3,2024.
  97. ^abcCronin, Brian (July 2, 2024)."The Real Problem With Jim Lee's Commission Rates".CBR.com.Archivedfrom the original on July 2, 2024.RetrievedJuly 3,2024.
  98. ^Campbell, J. Scott(2008)."Pencils".deviantArt.Archivedfrom the original on October 16, 2013.
  99. ^"Reinventing the pencil: 21 artists who changed mainstream comics (for better or worse)".The A.V. Club.July 20, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2013.RetrievedNovember 25,2009.
  100. ^abcdHamill, Mark(November 14, 2016)."Mark Hamill's Pop Culture Quest: Episode I – Joker's Favor (Jim Lee Clip)".DC Entertainment/YouTube. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  101. ^"DC's Jim Lee Sketches Wonder Woman (Artists Alley)".Syfy Wire.YouTube.May 31, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  102. ^Lee, Jim (January 27, 2005)."X-Men ReduX".Gelatometti. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2005.
  103. ^"DC Comics' Jim Lee: Using AI robs artists of creative joy".Agence France-Presse.March 29, 2024.Archivedfrom the original on April 25, 2024.RetrievedApril 25,2024– viaFrance 24.
  104. ^Interview with Jim Lee,X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus,p. 740.
  105. ^abHarrington, Thomas (February 1991). "Artist X: Barry Windsor-Smith on Weapon X".Amazing Heroes.No. 188.Fantagraphics.pp. 34, 36.
  106. ^abGroth, Gary(September 1996)."The Barry Windsor-Smith Interview".The Comics Journal(190). Seattle, Washington:Fantagraphics Books.Archivedfrom the original on December 27, 2013.RetrievedJuly 28,2013.
  107. ^Johnston, Rich (June 30, 2024)."On Jim Lee, Charging Up To $35,000 For Private Commission Artwork".Bleeding Cool.RetrievedJuly 23,2024.
  108. ^Johnston, Rich (June 30, 2024)."Gail Simone On Jim Lee, Batman And Wolverine".Bleeding Cool.RetrievedJuly 23,2024.
  109. ^abMacDonald, Heidi(August 2, 2013)."Help Jim Lee put his kids through college by buying Jack Kirby's ARGO art".Comics Beat.
  110. ^abJohnston, Rich (January 26, 2012)."Jim Lee's Hidden Tribute To Carla".Bleeding Cool.
  111. ^McPherson, Darwin (July 1991). "X-Cerpt with Jim Lee: Comics' Hottest Artist Speaks Out".Amazing Heroes.No. 192.Fantagraphics.p. 35.
  112. ^"1990 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners".Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on October 5, 2013.
  113. ^"Inkpot Award Winners".Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on July 9, 2012.
  114. ^"4th Annual Wizard Fan Awards".Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on January 15, 2013.
  115. ^"10th Annual Wizard Fan Awards".Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2013.
  116. ^"11th Annual Wizard Fan Awards".Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2013.
  117. ^Cronin, Brian (November 14, 2022)."Top 100 Comic Book Writers and Artists Master List".CBR.com.Archivedfrom the original on July 3, 2024.RetrievedJuly 3,2024.
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related toJim Lee.
Preceded by Uncanny X-Menartist
(withWhilce Portaciofrom 1991–1992)
1990–1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by X-Menvol. 2 writer
1992
(with Chris Claremont) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Fantastic Fourwriter/artist
1996–1997
(withBrandon Choi) 		Succeeded by
Scott Lobdell(writer)
Brett Booth(artist)
Preceded by Iron Manwriter
1996–1997
(with Scott Lobdell and Jeph Loeb) 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Batmanartist
2002–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Scott McDaniel
 Supermanartist
2004–2005 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Publisher of DC Comics
(withDan DiDiofrom 2010–2020)
2010–present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Chief creative officerofDC Entertainment
2018–present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
n/a
 Justice Leaguevol. 2 artist
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jim_Lee&oldid=1257218498"