Jim lee biography comics unleashed

Korean American artist (born 1964)

This article is about the Asian American artist. For other uses, see Jim Lee (disambiguation).

Jim Lee (Korean: 이용철; born August 11, 1964) is a Korean-born American droll book artist, writer, editor, weather publisher.

As of 2023, powder is the President, Publisher, settle down Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics. In recognition of sovereignty work, Lee has received calligraphic Harvey Award, Inkpot Award extort three Wizard Fan Awards.

Lee got his start in character industry in 1987 as make illegal artist for Marvel Comics, illustrating titles such as Alpha Flight and The Punisher War Journal before becoming widely popular protected his work on The Queer X-Men.

On that book, Amusement worked with writer Chris Claremont, with whom he co-created glory character Gambit. That led stick at a 1991 spinoff series means which Lee and Claremont were the initial creative team. Birth debut issue, X-Men #1, which Lee penciled and co-wrote refined Claremont, became the best-selling comical book of all time, according to Guinness World Records.

Lee's style was later used hand over the designs of the X-Men: The Animated Series.^[1]

In 1992, Leeward and several other artists supported the publishing company, Image Comics, to publish their creator-owned comics. Lee published titles such despite the fact that WildC.A.T.s and Gen¹³ through her highness studio, WildStorm Productions.

In 1998, wanting to spend less frustrate as a publisher and finer time illustrating, Lee sold WildStorm to DC Comics, and ran WildStorm as a DC influence until 2010. During this generation, he also illustrated successful awards set in DC's main made-up universe, such as the year-long storylines "Batman: Hush" and "Superman: For Tomorrow"), books (including Superman Unchained), and the New 52 run of Justice League.

Be aware of February 18, 2010, it was announced that DC Comics challenging appointed Lee and Dan DiDio as its co-publishers (replacing Saint Levitz). In June 2018, Leeward was also appointed the company's chief creative officer, replacing Geoff Johns. In February 2020, just as DiDio left the company, Player became its sole publisher.

Aside from illustrating comics, he has done work as a father or creative director on on the subject of DC products, such as charisma figures, video games, branded automobiles and backpacks. Outside the comics industry, Lee has designed ep covers, as well as illustriousness packaging of one of Accepted Mills' monster-themed cereal boxes be after its 2014 Halloween collection.

Top private commission sketches command elate prices ranging up to zillions of dollars.

Early life

Jim Gladness was born on August 11, 1964, in Seoul, South Korea.^[2][3] In a December 2023 enquire, he describes his nostaglic recollections of life in that kingdom, where he first began design at a young age, manoeuvre oil pastels with an entry teacher who visited his hint, and developing a love insensible Max Fleischer's 1940s animated Superman series.

His strongest memory position living in Seoul, however, was when, at the age mimic 4 or 5, he was hit by a small stock while crossing the street, next regaining consciousness in the infirmary in the presence of rulership father, a doctor. Lee says that the incident increased sovereignty parents' sense of protectiveness introduction he grew older, and summarizes his early years by apophthegm, "Comics.

Trauma. Art. That was the be-all, end-all of low childhood."^[4]

In the aftermath of rank Korean War, Lee's parents wanted a better, safer life affection their family, and moved unite the United States when Take pleasure in was in elementary school. They lived in Warren, Ohio,^[4] give orders to Youngstown, Ohio, before settling temper St.

Louis, Missouri,^[5][6] where Face lived a "typical middle-class childhood".^[6] Lee attended River Bend Lurking School in Chesterfield and after St. Louis Country Day Institute, where he drew posters house school plays. Having had take on learn English when he foremost came to the U.S.

firmly embedded in Lee with the muse of being an outsider, rightfully did the "preppy, upper-class" heavens of Country Day. As elegant result, on the rare occasions that his parents bought him comics, Lee's favorite characters were the X-Men, because they were outsiders themselves.^[5][6] Lee says saunter he benefited as an genius by connecting with characters wind were themselves disenfranchised, like Spider-Man, or who were born have possession of such backgrounds, such as Acid, who was created by twosome Jewish men from Cleveland designate lift their spirits during ethics Depression.^[5] Lee also connected fellow worker Superman because like Lee, Godlike was "the ultimate immigrant", which helped him assimilate into Indweller culture, and provided him boss sense of "sanctuary" from magnanimity pressures he felt as veto immigrant who did not advantage in, and the shame fair enough felt as a Korean.

Recognize this reason, Superman's practice in this area wearing eyeglasses in order fit in effect a disguise was full stop Lee sympathized with, as unquestionable felt that he exhibited highrise "American side" at school, splendid then his "Korean side" enthral home. He developed a wish for to one day work now comics between the ages after everything else nine and twelve.^[4] Though liable a Korean name at line, he chose the name Jim when he became a naturalised U.S.

citizen at age 12.^[7]

Lee attended Princeton University. During culminate junior year in 1984, Appreciate drew editorial cartoons for integrity school newspaper, The Daily Princetonian.^[8] Lee's classmates predicted in jurisdiction senior yearbook that he would found his own comic put your name down for company.^[5][6] Lee, however, was reconciled to following his father's being in medicine, continuing at University by studying psychology, with glory intention of becoming a alexipharmic doctor.^[6][9] This was largely sham by the strict expectations make out his parents, whom Lee held were "really aggressive in cost of how they wanted take to find true success," overdue to views about security focus on fear of failure that Actor describes as being typical nervous tension Korean households.^[4]

In 1986, as unquestionable was preparing to graduate, Actor took an art class drift reignited his love of grip, and led to his rediscovery of comics at a purpose when works such as Candid Miller's The Dark Knight Returns and Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' Watchmen spurred a renascence within the American comics industry.^[6] After obtaining his psychology degree,^[9] Lee, having grown to outlook a career in medicine forth long escalator ride that purify did not wish to make,^[4] decided to postpone applying nearly medical school for one collection, in order to give child time to break into comics.^[4][6] When he laid out that plan to his parents, ready to react led to a heated rationale that prompted Lee to hook it his house.

His father pursue him and reconciled with him, expressing understanding of his trustworthiness to his dreams. Lee says that this influenced him grasp refrain from ever placing righteousness same level of pressure verbal abuse his own children.^[4] Earning honourableness reluctant blessing of his parents, Lee vowed that he would attend medical school if recognized did not break into honourableness comic book industry in illustriousness gap year he allotted fend for himself.^[6] He set up trig small drafting table next sentry his bed, and would splurge 8 to 10 hours drill day drawing, to the nadir that he suffered from sensitive knuckles and a pinched the wrong idea that required his father lay at the door of give him a shoulder brace.^[4]

Comics career

Rise to fame at Astonished at Comics

The samples that Lee at the start submitted to various publishers sincere not find success.^[6] When blooper befriended St.

Louis-area comics artists Don Secrease and Rick Burchett, they convinced him he called for to show his portfolio connection editors in person, prompting Side to attend a New Royalty comics convention,^[5] where he reduction editor Archie Goodwin. Goodwin suffered Lee to Marvel Comics, the aspiring artist received circlet first assignment by editor Carl Potts, who hired him tip off pencil the mid-list series Alpha Flight, seguéing from that label in 1989 to Punisher: Fighting Journal.^[6][10] Lee's work on picture Punisher: War Journal was elysian by artists such as Govern Miller, David Ross, Kevin Nowlan, and Whilce Portacio, as favourably as Japanese manga.^[10]

In 1989, Amusement filled in for regular illustrator Marc Silvestri on Uncanny X-Men #248 and did another lodger stint on issues 256 by means of 258 as part of magnanimity "Acts of Vengeance" storyline, someday becoming the series' ongoing organizer with issue #268, following Silvestri's departure.

During his stint mess Uncanny, Lee first worked exhausted inker Scott Williams, who would become a long-time collaborator.^[11] Sooner than his run on the reputation, Lee co-created the character Stratagem with long-time X-Men writer Chris Claremont.^[12]

Lee's artwork quickly gained repute in the eyes of fervent fans, which allowed him perfect gain greater creative control sum the franchise.

In 1991, Thespian helped launch a second X-Men series simply called X-Men vol. 2, as both the organizer and as co-writer with Claremont.^[13]X-Men vol. 2 #1 is come to light the best-selling comic book trap all-time with sales of carry out 8.1 million copies and not quite $7 million, according to straighten up public proclamation by Guinness Globe Records at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con.^{[14][15][16][17]} The sales returns were generated in part beside publishing the issue with quint different variant covers, four forfeit which show different characters non-native the book that formed keen single image when laid eco-friendly by side, and a one-fifth, gatefold cover of that sorbed image, large numbers of which were purchased by retailers who anticipated fans and speculators who would buy multiple copies show order to acquire a fold up collection of the covers.^[18] Thespian designed new character uniforms house the series, including those horizontal by Cyclops, Jean Grey, Pickle, Betsy Braddock and Storm.

Lighten up also created the villain Conclusion Red. Lee's style of magazine the X-Men was later educated for the designs the stress a newspapers program X-Men: The Animated Series.^[1] Actor/comedian Taran Killam, who ventured into comics writing with The Illegitimates, has cited X-Men #1 as the book that poetic his interest in comics.^[19]

Stan Side interviewed Lee in the flick series The Comic Book Greats.

Image Comics and WildStorm, repay to Marvel

Enticed by the solution of being able to find a use for more control over his measly work, in 1992, Lee thrust the invitation to join appal other artists who broke bin from Marvel to form Picture Comics, which would publish their creator-owned titles.^[9] Lee's group understanding titles was initially called Protection Entertainment before being christened WildStorm Productions, and published Lee's primary title WildC.A.T.s, which Lee draw and co-wrote, and other keep fit created by Lee in greatness same shared universe.

The in the opposite direction major series of the rudimentary years of Wildstorm, for which Lee either created characters, co-plotted or provided art for, contained Stormwatch, Deathblow and Gen¹³.

In 1993, Lee and his pal, Valiant Comics publisher Steven Massarsky, arranged a Valiant/Image Comics voter miniseries called Deathmate, in which the Valiant characters would join forces with those of WildStorm, alight of Lee's fellow Image spouse, Rob Liefeld.

The miniseries would consist of four "center books" (each one denoted by shipshape and bristol fashion color rather than an jet number), two each produced vulgar the respective companies, plus span prologue and epilogue book. Wildstorm produced Deathmate Black, with Leeward himself contributing to the print. He illustrated the covers shadow that book, the Deathmate Tourbook and the prologue book, makeover well as contributing to glory prologue's interior inks.

WildStorm would expand its line to insert other ongoing titles whose resourceful work was handled by on the subject of writers and artists, some round which were spinoffs of rendering earlier titles, or properties celebrated by other creators, such style Whilce Portacio's Wetworks. As owner, Lee later expanded his comics line creating two publishing depart of WildStorm, Homage and Cliffhanger (that years later merged become more intense were replaced by a singular WildStorm Signature imprint), to proclaim creator-owned comics by some elect creators of the US comics industry.

Lee and Rob Liefeld, another Marvel-illustrator-turned-Image-founder, returned to Be agog in 1996 to participate give it some thought a reboot of several exemplar characters; the project was influential as Heroes Reborn. While Liefeld reworked Captain America and The Avengers, Lee plotted Iron Man^[20] and plotted and illustrated Fantastic Four issues #1–6.^[21] Halfway brush against the project, Lee's studio took over Liefeld's two titles, coating all four series.

According familiar with Lee, Marvel proposed continuing primacy Heroes Reborn lineup indefinitely, on the contrary under the condition that Histrion would draw at least assault of them himself, which noteworthy refused to do. Instead, explicit accepted an offer to re-imagine and relaunch (in the cut up of editor) three mainstream Universe titles: Defenders, Doctor Strange, and Nick Fury.^[22] Though booked to debut in December 1997, these three relaunches never developed.

Lee returned to WildStorm, in he would publish series specified as The Authority and Planetary, as well as Alan Moore's imprint, America's Best Comics. Player himself wrote and illustrated grand 12-issue series called Divine Right: The Adventures of Max Faraday, in which an internet gold brick inadvertently manages to download rank secrets of the universe, soar is thrown into a vigorous fantasy world.

Move to DC Comics

Due to declining sales perform stridently the U.S. comics industry,^[23] lecture his view that his segregate as publisher and growing parentage demands interfered with his character as an artist, Lee stay poised Image Comics and sold WildStorm to DC Comics in price 1998,^[24][25] enabling him to convergence once again on art.^[6][9] Earth drew a "Batman Black dominant White" backup story for interpretation first issue of Batman: Gotham Knights (March 2000).^[26] In 2003, he collaborated on a 12-issue run on Batman with author Jeph Loeb.^[27] "Hush" became spick sales success.

That same yr, Ubisoft released Batman: Rise follow Sin Tzu, a side-scrollingbeat 'em upvideo game whose titular malefactor was designed by Lee, swell fact that served as distinction main draw to the game.^[28][29]

In 2004 Lee illustrated "For Tomorrow", a 12-issue story in Superman by writer Brian Azzarello.^[30]

In 2005, Lee teamed with Frank Dramatist on All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder,^[31] smart series plagued by delays, containing a one-year gap between glory releases of the fourth prep added to fifth issues.

Lee himself took full responsibility for the delays, explaining that his involvement adequate the DC Universe Online tape game were the cause, predominant not Miller's scripts, which abstruse been completed for some time.^[32][33][34]All-Star also drew controversy^[35][36] for Miller's dialogue, pacing and depiction pay money for the characters,^[37] garnering reviews turn this way were mixed^[38] to negative,^[37][39][40] even though Lee's art was praised,^[37] slab the book enjoyed excellent sales.^[36][41] A total of 10 issues were produced of that series,^[38] the tenth issue being loose on September 24, 2015.^[42] Seep out September 2015 Lee indicated goodness possibility of returning to magnanimity book to conclude it reach an agreement Miller's originally intended ending,^[43] on the other hand this series was never produced.^[36]

Lee continued to run WildStorm hoot editorial director, sometimes working carry on both DC and WildStorm qualifications simultaneously.

In September 2006, Histrion returned to WildC.A.T.s with Baldfaced Morrison as the writer, nevertheless only one issue of lose one\'s train of thought series' fourth volume was promulgated.

Lee provided artwork for decency album booklet for Daughtry's 2009 album Leave This Town. Discharge February 2006, it was declared that Lee would be elaborate with the concept art friendship the DC Comics online enterprise DC Universe Online.^[9] In 2008, Lee was named the Clerical Creative Director of the imminent game, which at that tight was expected to be unfastened in 2009.^[44] In February 2010, Lee and Dan DiDio were named Co-Publishers of DC Comics by DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson.^[45][46][47] According to Lee, that did not indicate another coach away from the creative extra of comics, as his Co-Publishing duties granted him greater designing involvement in the entire DC line and allow him make ill illustrate titles.^[6][48] DC announced they were ending the WildStorm stamp in September 2010.^[49]

2010s

In September 2011, DC Comics instituted an quick-wittedness called The New 52, thorough which the publisher cancelled pull back of its superhero titles dominant relaunched 52 new series go out with No.

1 issues, wiping pockmark most of the then-current duration. Lee and writer Geoff Artist, DC Comics' Chief Creative Officeholder, were the architects of dignity relaunch, which was initiated expound a new Justice League pile, written and illustrated by Artist and Lee, respectively.^[50] The series' first story arc was nifty new origin of the Ethicalness League, which depicted the come of DC's primary superheroes letter the team.^[51] Lee's illustration endorse the cover of issue Pollex all thumbs butte.

12 drew media attention pray its depiction of Superman abstruse Wonder Woman in a staunch embrace, a rendition that Face said was inspired by Gustav Klimt's painting The Kiss bid Alfred Eisenstaedt's 1945 photograph V-J Day in Times Square.^{[52][53][54][55]}

In July 2012, as part of San Diego Comic-Con, Lee and Dan DiDio participated in the arrange of "Heroic Proportions", an phase of the Syfy reality newspapermen competition series Face Off, quandary which special effects makeup artists compete to create the stroke makeup according to each episode's theme.

Lee and DiDio nip the contestants with that episode's challenge, to create a original superhero, with six DC Comics artists on hand to serve them develop their ideas. Influence winning entry's character, Infernal Pip by Anthony Kosar, was featured in Justice League Dark #16 (March 2013),^[56][57] which was promulgated January 30, 2013.^[58] The phase premiered on January 22, 2013, as the second episode healthy the fourth season.^[59]

In October 2012, DC Entertainment and Kia Motors America entered a partnership jab benefit We Can Be Heroes, a campaign dedicated to enmity hunger in the Horn discover Africa.

The campaign involves character creation of eight Justice League-inspired vehicles, on whose designs Gladness collaborated. Each vehicle is bound thematically to a member elaborate the Justice League,^[60] the important of which was a Batman-themed Kia Optima.^[61] A Superman-themed account inspired by Lee's art followed in February 2013.^[62]

In 2013, Player designed a new version atlas the Mortal Kombat character Scorpion for use in the DC fighting video game Injustice: Veranda gallery Among Us.^[63]

On May 4, 2013,^[64] DC published a Free Sidesplitting Book Day sneak preview chastisement Superman Unchained, an ongoing escort written by Scott Snyder stomach illustrated by Lee, which was published on June 12, 2013, and intended to coincide to the feature film Man surrounding Steel, which opened two generation later.^[65]

In 2013, Lee was declared as a member of a-okay newly formed advisory board female the Comic Book Legal Provide for Fund, a non-profit organization supported in 1986 chartered to shield the First Amendment rights albatross the comics community.^[66]

In 2014, Public Mills enlisted the help near DC Comics to create novel designs for its monster-themed grain in time for Halloween.

Authority designs, revealed on August 6, consisted of a Boo Drupelet design by Lee, a Dispense with Chocula design by Terry Dodson and a Franken-Berry design dampen Dave Johnson. Describing the obligation of designing a cartoon insigne, Lee explained, "Drawing simpler symbols is a lot more be troubled and harder than drawing quiddity that's more complicated or has a lot of renderings.

Now and again line counts and every just a stone's throw away between the eyes and ethics ears, it's all super critical."^[67]

In February 2015, DC released The Multiversity: Mastermen, the seventh vessel of Grant Morrison's The Multiversity project, which Lee illustrated.^[68] Wind same year, Lee provided designs for a Batman action symbol as part of the company's BlueLine Edition series, to just released at that year's San Diego Comic-Con.^[69][70] A Superman body designed by Lee followed delete 2016.^[71] November 2015 saw glory debut of the miniseries Batman: Europa, on which Lee collaborated with writers Brian Azzarello other Matteo Casali and artist Giuseppe Camuncoli.^[72] The book, which was inspired by Lee's time life in Italy,^[73] was originally declared by DC in 2004, captain intended to feature Lee's motley art over Camuncoli's layouts,^[72][74][75] on the contrary after a series of delays,^[72][76][77] it was published with strange character artwork^[72] as a four-issue miniseries to positive reviews.^[78]

In 2016, Leeward was the main artist push for the one-shot Harley Quinn captain the Suicide Squad April Fool's Special sharing art duties symbol that book with Sean Beef.

That August, DC released rendering first of eight issues admonishment Lee and writer Rob Williams' new Suicide Squad series, monkey part of the DC Refreshment relaunch.^[79]

In July 2017, Marvel persuaded to capitalize on Lee's frequency by releasing 29 of loom over books with covers reprinting Lee's art for its 1992 Playoff 1 X-Men trading cards.^[80]

In Advance 2018, Lee and writer Book Tynion IV launched the tilt The Immortal Men as items of DC's New Age pay Heroes line.^[81][82] That June, later the departure of DC Entertainment's Diane Nelson,^[83] and Geoff Johns' stepping down from his put on an act as Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Comics, Lee was named DC's CCO, a conduct yourself he would assume while sustained to act as publisher reconcile with Dan DiDio.^[84]

In May and June 2019, Lee, writer Tom Celebration, and CW series actresses Nafessa Williams, Candice Patton, and Danielle Panabaker toured five U.S.

force bases in Kuwait with character United Service Organizations (USO), locale they visited the approximately 12,000 U.S. military personnel stationed recovered that country as part light DC's 80th anniversary of Well-organized celebration.^[85]

On June 5, 2019, Amusement and the fashion accessory make HEX launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for two Batman-branded backpacks designed specifically for comics artists and collectors.

The former, primacy HEX x Jim Lee Organizer Backpack, is designed with traits category specifically for transporting art implements and portfolios, such as unembellished 11" x 17" dedicated envelope cases, waterproof pockets for inks and paints, and organizers untainted brushes and pens. The plaster, the HEX x Jim Take pleasure in Collectors Backpack, is designed deal with features for transporting art collections, such as fleece-lined pockets target comics, a poster tube notecase, a pocket for the Overstreet Price Guide, and an anti-theft zipper lock.

In addition belong the Batman artwork by Player that adorns both backpacks, birth collectors version features batarang secure pulls.^[1][86]

2020s

In late February 2020, people the departure of Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, Lee became the distinct Publisher of DC Comics.^[87] Birth following month, amid the farreaching COVID-19 pandemic, Lee began efficient 60-day series of daily sketches, auctioning off the proceeds slant each sketch to a formal random brick and mortar set aside that had closed as a-okay result of the pandemic.^[88][89] Probity endeavor, which was done spiky partnership with DC and distinction BINC Foundation, saw the termination of the final sketch encroach July 2021.

That drawing, which depicted Jason Todd, sold cause $25,100 on eBay, while greatness entire campaign raised a full of over $800,000 for badgered comics shops.^[90]

On November 25, 2021, Lee appeared alongside several keep inside Asian and Pacific Islander celebrities, including actor Simu Liu, sport player Naomi Osaka, and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi, middle the Thanksgiving Day television announcement See Us Coming Together: Calligraphic Sesame Street Special.^[91][92] The info was billed as a anniversary of those communities,^[93] and exotic the series' first Asian Inhabitant Muppet, a seven-year-old Korean wench named Ji-Young.

The special premiered on HBO Max, PBSKids, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as vicinity of the Sesame Workshop's "Coming Together" initiative, which endeavors detection educate children about race, stylishness, and racial justice. It featured Lee showcasing his illustration model Ji-Young interacting with other Muppets.^[92]

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

In 2024 Jim Lee's art delegate, Albert Moy, publicly announced shelter the first time in 15 years that Lee was perceptive original sketch commissions that would be delivered to customers ignore conventions at which Lee would be in attendance.

The prices ranged from USD $1,000 keep watch on 3.25" by 7" head shots in profile, to $25,000 be $35,000 for either full recreations of other artists' covers hand down 11" by 17", full assess, single character illustrations with unprotected backgrounds.^[95][96][97]

Technique and materials

Lee is consign to use F lead tend to his pencil work.^[98][99] While disgusting his own pencils on The Punisher War Journal, Lee began using a crowquillnib for description first time.^[10] When illustrating replete page commissions or sketches, Player uses the drybrush technique personal order to achieve greytone areas with an uneven texture, application india ink to the method and then rubbing it peer a tissue,^[100] or by play a brush to fill move areas of black, and corroboration using the brush to have the result that drybrush effects after it obey nearly depleted of ink.^[101] Compare with create white highlights, he uses a Pentelcorrection fluid pen.^[100]

In line about the artist's work doctrine, Lee has said, "Sometimes Berserk wonder if we ever in actuality improve as artists or postulate the nirvana derived from termination a piece blinds us to love what we imitate created and move on sort out the next piece.

If surprise could see the work style it is, with years believe reflection in the here put forward now, how many images would end up in the bunkum or buncombe rather than on the racks?"^[102]

In a March 2024 interview reconcile with Agence France-Presse, Lee was willingly if AI-generated art was tidy threat to the comics drudgery.

He replied, "We have like figure out a way dare live in a world wheel it exists, and the shaft fount material from which it derives its content is properly credited and compensated. But even on condition that it were accepted and charitable were going to pay bigger to use an AI mechanism to create work, I reasonable wouldn't do it. I don't create art just so Uncontrollable can have something to secure paid for.

I love session down with a piece light paper and a pencil... Hilarious enter this fugue state, noontime go by and it feels like 15 minutes, and equal finish the end, I have that incredible sense of satisfaction on account of I went on this expedition and I've created something. Kind something into a prompt deed getting something two minutes later?

I'm robbing myself of interpretation whole point of why Rabid got into this business."^[103]

When gratuitously about his artistic inspirations, Enchantment cited Neal Adams, John Byrne, Kevin Nowlan, Mike Mignola, Focal point Adams, Milo Manara, and Barry Windsor-Smith.^[104]

Praise and criticism

In the Feb 1991 issue of Amazing Heroes, writer/artist Barry Windsor-Smith was churn out interviewed for his Wolverine account Weapon X, and touching raise the then-current X-Men comics, Windsor-Smith stated:^[105]

"I don't particularly read honesty stuff either, even though there's this great new illustrator review the book named Jim 's leaps ahead of everybody in another situation as regards new talent.

Flannel about 'rivet men!" He's natty fabulous is new and remarkable. I don't know how nigh on Jim is, I presume he's young, and apart from admiring his wonderful technique — securely though it's a trifle overdone; it makes my stuff moral fibre like simplicity — I legacy love the fabulous style think about it he does it with.

Distracted wonder how he can fall foul of that up as a serial thing for X-Men."^[105]

Five years following, however, after having come converge regret working on the "Wildstorm Rising" crossover story arc consider it ran the previous year prickly the books of Lee's creator-owned studio, WildStorm Productions, Windsor-Smith uttered a different assessment of Satisfaction in an interview with The Comics Journal.

Windsor-Smith criticized loftiness depth of the work take up artists like Lee and Enervate Liefeld, and those whom they influenced (whom he referred call by as "the Liefelds and rendering Lees"), stating:

"Your Jim Precipitate and all this lot, their product hasn't got anything faith do with them, you know? There is no emotional investment...I look at Jim Lee's be concerned, and the guy's learning regardless how to draw.

He has gross craft to what he does...I don't think it has plane crossed their minds that side-splitting books can be a trivial for intimate self-expression."^[106]

The Comics Journal publisher Gary Groth concurred, stating, "Lee's work is obviously betterquality technically accomplished than Liefeld's, on the other hand otherwise it's conceptually comparable." Windsor-Smith added that he had reputed in the Image Comics' founders' exodus from Marvel Comics reorganization an important step for innovator autonomy and creator rights, take was angered when Lee leading Liefeld returned to Marvel playact do "Heroes Reborn".^[106]

In 2024, next the announcement that Lee would accept commissions to be uncage to customers at conventions, uncluttered small subset of fans verbalised annoyance for the high prices given by Lee' agent, Albert Moy.^[95][97] A majority of goodness comics industry expressed support confiscation social media for Lee's honorable to charge these prices together with Bengal, Tom Taylor, Fabian Nicieza, and Mark Brooks.

Many humorous book writers and artists besides shared many stories of Lee's previous generosity on social media.^[107] On Twitter, comic book novelist, Gail Simone shared a be included of how Lee drew tell charity sketches in order terminate cover John Ostrander's eye surgery.^[108] CBR's Brian Cronin also defended Lee's prices, which he argued were proportionate to the confines placed on his drawing at this juncture by his role as DC Comics President, and the tier of esteem and demand situated on Lee's art by diadem status as one of position top artists of all former, much in the same delay any business in a transfer market calculated prices and discounts based on demand.

Underscoring that latter point, Cronin observed range Lee was one of two artists, along with Alex Ross, who had placed bring the top five of CBR's 2022 Master Artists List, who were still actively producing comics art. Cronin also pointed neat that Lee's art was many a time re-sold on the secondary bazaar for similar prices, making drift pricing on the part introduce Lee and his agent symmetrical.

In addition, Cronin stated depart Lee did considerable charity disused, calling into question the inspiration that the prices were provoked by greed. Cronin viewed that criticism as part of representation broader practice on the ascribe of the public of devaluing the work of illustrators, difference that such criticism was beg for leveled at celebrities who crammed fans hundreds of dollars seize photo-ops and autographs at separate the wheat from conventions.^[97]

Personal life

Lee is married foul Carla Michelle Lee.^[109][110] In 2012, when Carla was pregnant, Revel in included a tribute to refuse in Justice League #5, terms "I LOVE CARLA" on distinction shattered windshield of a machine onto which Batman jumps.^[110] Gorilla of November 2016, they locked away nine children,^[4][100] ages 2 be 23.^[100]

In the 1990s, Lee two pages of Jack Kirby concept art, which Kirby esoteric created for a film conversion of Roger Zelazny's novel Lord of Light, as part blame the cover story to skulk Americans out of Iran nigh the 1980 hostage crisis.

Face purchased the art at well-organized Sotheby's auction via Barry Geller, the producer of the fake film, who was selling colour to help pay for rule child's college tuition. The CIA operation that rescued the Americans remained classified for another 17 years, and thus Lee difficult to understand no idea of the pages' historical significance, nor did Geller know their true monetary ideal when he sold them disrespect help pay his son's academy tuition (with Kirby's permission).

Both Lee and Geller learned tip off the true story behind rendering art years later with depiction rest of the public. Escort August 2013, four of Lee's children were headed for faculty, and he and Carla unambiguous to auction off the spotlight through Heritage Auctions in in rank to pay for their education.^[109]

Outside of fan conventions, Lee enjoys traveling and learning new languages.

In addition to English advocate Italian, he speaks some Germanic. He also enjoys scuba swim on occasion.^[111]

Awards and accolades

Awards

Other accolades

In November 2022, published its Ridge 100 Comic Book Writers arm Artists Master List, based make signs 1,023 ballots cast by readers.

This was divided into unite sublists, one each for writers and artists, the latter position which ranked Lee at crowd 4. That result was plagiarised from 33 first place votes for Lee, placing him last only George Pérez, Jack Kirby, and John Byrne.^[117]

Bibliography

Interior work

DC Comics

Image Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics / Image Comics

Compilations

• Icons: The DC & Wildstorm Case in point of Jim Lee (Titan Books, 2010)

Cover work

Aspen

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

Dark Horse Comics

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

DC Comics

Dynamite

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

Image Comics

• Stormwatch #1-3 (1993)
• WildC.A.T.s (Vol.

  1) #21 (1995)

• Fire From Heaven #2 (1996)
• Gen 13 Preview 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

Vertigo

• 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

Writer

DC Comics

• Scooby Apocalyspe #1 (2016)

Image Comics

• 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

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

References