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{{short description|Korean American artist (born 1964)}}
{{About|the Korean American artist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| image         = Jim Lee at San Diego Comic Con 2025.jpg
| caption       = Lee in 2025
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1964|8|11}}
| birth_place   = [[Seoul]], South Korea
| write         = y
| art           = y
| publish       = y
| notable works = ''[[All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder]]''<br/>''[[Batman: Hush]]''<br/>''[[Fantastic Four]]'' vol. 2<br/>''[[The Punisher War Journal]]''<br/>''[[Superman: For Tomorrow]]''<br/> '' [[Superman Unchained]] '' <br/> '' [[Justice League]]'' vol. 2<br/> ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]''<br>''[[WildC.A.T.s]]''<br/>''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 2
| awards        = [[Harvey Award]] (1990)<br />[[Inkpot Award]] (1992)<br />[[Wizard Fan Award]] (1996, 2002, 2003)
}}
''' Jim Lee''' ({{langx|ko|이용철}}; born August 11, 1964) is a Korean-born American comic book artist, writer, editor, and publisher. As of 2023, he is the President, Publisher, and [[Chief creative officer|Chief Creative Officer]] of [[DC Comics]]. In recognition of his work, Lee has received a [[Harvey Award]], [[Inkpot Award]] and three [[Wizard Fan Award]]s.

Lee got his start in the industry in 1987 as an artist for [[Marvel Comics]], illustrating titles such as ''[[Alpha Flight (comic book)|Alpha Flight]]'' and ''[[The Punisher War Journal]]'' before becoming widely popular through his work on ''[[The Uncanny X-Men]]''. On that book, Lee worked with writer [[Chris Claremont]], with whom he co-created the character [[Gambit (Marvel Comics)|Gambit]]. That led to a 1991 spinoff series on which Lee and Claremont were the initial creative team. The debut issue, ''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' #1, which Lee penciled and co-wrote with Claremont, became the best-selling comic book of all time, according to ''[[Guinness World Records]]''. Lee's style was later used for the designs of the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]''.<ref name=CBR.com>{{cite web|author=Nolan, L.D.|title=Jim Lee Launches Kickstarter for Comic Art Backpacks|publisher=[[CBR.com]]|url=https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-kickstarter-comic-art-backpacks-hex/|date=June 5, 2019|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608003150/https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-kickstarter-comic-art-backpacks-hex/}}</ref>

In 1992, Lee and several other artists founded the publishing company, [[Image Comics]], to publish their [[creator-owned comics]]. Lee published titles such as ''[[WildC.A.T.s]]'' and ''[[Gen¹³|Gen<sup>13</sup>]]'' through his studio, [[WildStorm Productions]]. In 1998, wanting to spend less time as a publisher and more time illustrating, Lee sold WildStorm to [[DC Comics]], and ran WildStorm as a DC imprint until 2010. During this period, he also illustrated successful titles set in [[DC Universe|DC's main fictional 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]]''. On February 18, 2010, it was announced that DC Comics had appointed Lee and [[Dan DiDio]] as its co-publishers (replacing [[Paul Levitz]]). In June 2018, Lee was also appointed the company's chief creative officer, replacing [[Geoff 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 of [[General Mills]]' [[monster-themed cereal]] boxes for its 2014 Halloween collection. His private commission sketches command high prices ranging up to thousands of dollars.

==Early life==
Jim Lee was born on August 11, 1964, in [[Seoul]], South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miller |first=John Jackson |url=http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays|title=Comics Industry Birthdays|work=[[Comics Buyer's Guide]]|date=June 10, 2005 |location=[[Iola, Wisconsin]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218031356/http://cbgxtra.com/knowledge-base/for-your-reference/comics-industry-birthdays |archive-date=February 18, 2011 |url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/stars/jim-lee|title= About This Person: Jim Lee|publisher=[[IGN]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119201325/http://www.ign.com/stars/jim-lee|archive-date=January 19, 2014|url-status=dead|access-date= January 18, 2013}}</ref> In a December 2023 interview, he describes his nostalgic memories of life in that country, where he first began drawing at a young age, using [[oil pastel]]s with an art teacher who visited his home, and developing a love of [[Max Fleischer]]'s 1940s animated ''[[Superman (1940s animated film series)|Superman]]'' series. 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."<ref name=BigThink>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wywU0K8BTME|title=How Jim Lee became a comic legend|publisher=[[Big Think]]|via=[[YouTube]]|language=en-US|url-status=bot: unknown|date=December 18, 2023|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=January 4, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104191205/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wywU0K8BTME}}</ref>

In the aftermath of the [[Korean 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 in [[Warren, Ohio]],<ref name=BigThink/> and [[Youngstown, Ohio]], before settling in [[St. Louis, Missouri]],<ref name=stlmag>{{cite news|url=http://www.stlmag.com/media/St-Louis-Magazine/July-2010/Comic-Genius/|title=Comic Genius|first= Byron|last= Kerman|newspaper=[[St. Louis Magazine]]|language=en-US|url-status=dead|date=July 2010|archive-date= August 7, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110807171733/http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/July-2010/Comic-Genius/}}</ref><ref name=Icons>{{cite book|last1 = Lee|first1 = Jim|last2 = Baker|first2 = Bill|title = Icons: The DC Comics & WildStorm Art of Jim Lee|publisher=[[Titan Books]]|year = 2010|pages = 8 and 10|isbn = 978-1845765194}}</ref> where Lee lived a "typical middle-class childhood".<ref name=Icons/>  Lee attended River Bend Elementary School in [[Chesterfield, Missouri|Chesterfield]] and later [[St. 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 the [[X-Men]], because they were outsiders themselves.<ref name=stlmag/><ref name=Icons/> Lee says that he benefited as an artist by connecting with characters that were themselves disenfranchised, like [[Spider-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.<ref name=stlmag/> 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.<ref name=BigThink/> Though given a Korean name at birth, he chose the name Jim when he became a naturalized U.S. citizen at age 12.<ref>Lee, Jim (November 14, 2017). ''[[Batman Hush: The 15th Anniversary Deluxe Edition]]'', DC Comics (Burbank, California), p 308.</ref>

Lee attended [[Princeton University]]. During his junior year in 1984, Lee drew editorial cartoons for the school newspaper, ''[[The Daily Princetonian]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Lee, Jim|url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7KxUlDvhjR/|publisher=JimLee|via=[[Instagram]]|title=(Untitled)|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=May 19, 2024|access-date=May 21, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240521135238/https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7KxUlDvhjR/}}</ref> Lee's classmates predicted in his senior yearbook that he would found his own comic book company.<ref name=stlmag/><ref name=Icons/> Lee, however, was resigned to following his father's career in medicine, continuing at Princeton by studying [[psychology]], with the intention of becoming a medical doctor.<ref name=Icons/><ref name=CBR2006>{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6523 |title=New York Comic Con, Day One: Jim Lee Spotlight |author=Tantimedh, Adi|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|date=February 25, 2006|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131227231842/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=6523|archive-date= December 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name=BigThink/>

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 as [[Frank Miller]]'s ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]'' and [[Alan Moore]] and [[Dave Gibbons]]' ''[[Watchmen]]'' spurred a renaissance within the American comics industry.<ref name=Icons/> After obtaining his psychology degree,<ref name=CBR2006/> Lee, having grown to view a career in medicine to a long escalator ride that he did not wish to make,<ref name=BigThink/> decided to postpone applying to medical school for one year, in order to give himself time to break into comics.<ref name=BigThink/><ref name=Icons/> 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.<ref name=BigThink/> 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 the [[gap year]] he allotted for himself.<ref name=Icons/> He set up a small [[drafting table]] next 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.<ref name=BigThink/>

==Comics career==
===Rise to fame at Marvel Comics===
The samples that Lee initially submitted to various publishers did not find success.<ref name=Icons/> When he befriended St. Louis-area comics artists Don Secrease and [[Rick Burchett]], they convinced him he needed to show his portfolio to editors in person, prompting Lee to attend a New York comics convention,<ref name=stlmag/> where he met editor [[Archie Goodwin (comics)|Archie Goodwin]]. Goodwin invited Lee to Marvel Comics, where the aspiring artist received his first assignment by editor [[Carl Potts]], who hired him to pencil the mid-list series ''[[Alpha Flight]]'', seguéing from that title in 1989 to ''[[Punisher: War Journal]]''.<ref name=Icons/><ref name="Gaffney">Gaffney, Suzanne. "Co-Conspirators Talk". ''[[The Punisher War Journal]]''. Marvel Comics. December 1988.</ref> Lee's work on the ''Punisher: War Journal'' was inspired by artists such as Frank Miller, David Ross, [[Kevin Nowlan]], and [[Whilce Portacio]], as well as Japanese [[manga]].<ref name="Gaffney"/>

In 1989, Lee filled in for regular illustrator [[Marc Silvestri]] on ''[[Uncanny 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 on ''Uncanny'', Lee first worked with inker [[Scott Williams (comics)|Scott Williams]], who would become a long-time collaborator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/scott-williams-on-inking-jim-lee-x-men-deadlines|title=Master Inker Scott Williams On Inking Jim Lee & X-Men Deadline Woes|publisher=[[SyFy]]|author=Avila, Mike|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=October 15, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=January 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123085120/https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/scott-williams-on-inking-jim-lee-x-men-deadlines}}</ref> During his run on the title, Lee co-created the character [[Gambit (Marvel Comics)|Gambit]] with long-time X-Men writer [[Chris Claremont]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-jim-lee-creations-of-all-time/|title=Best Jim Lee creations of all time|author=Arrant, Chris|publisher=[[Newsarama]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=August 24, 2020|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928033304/https://www.gamesradar.com/best-jim-lee-creations-of-all-time/}}</ref>

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 second ''X-Men'' series simply called ''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 2, as both the artist and as co-writer with Claremont.<ref>{{cite book|author=Manning, Matthew K.|chapter= 1990s|title = Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year = 2008|location= London, United Kingdom|page = 255|isbn =978-0756641238|quote= It was a matter of simple addition. Take Chris Claremont, the writer who had made ''The Uncanny X-Men'' the 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 was ''X-Men'' #1, the best selling comic book in the history of the medium, selling well over eight million copies.}}</ref> ''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 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 by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' at the 2010 [[San Diego Comic-Con]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://marvel.com/news/story/13598/sdcc_2010_marvel_breaks_world_record|title= SDCC 2010: Marvel Breaks World Record|first= Ben|last= Morse|date= August 10, 2010|publisher= Marvel Comics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/07/22/x-men-1-the-guinness-world-record-best-selling-comic-of-all-time/|title= ''X-Men'' #1 The Guinness World Record Best Selling Comic Of All Time?|author=[[Johnston, Rich]]|date= July 22, 2010|publisher= [[Bleeding Cool]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131016033714/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/07/22/x-men-1-the-guinness-world-record-best-selling-comic-of-all-time/|archive-date= October 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Cantor, Michael (Producer); [[Schreiber, Liev]] (Narrator) ''Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle''. [[PBS]]. October 15, 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor-last = Glenday|editor-first = Craig|editor-link = Craig Glenday|title = [[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Records 2013]]|publisher = [[Jim Pattison Group]]|year = 2013|page = [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781904994879/page/212 212]|isbn = 978-1904994879}}</ref> 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, [[gatefold]] cover 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.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://blog.comichron.com/2010/11/x-men-1-one-piece-and-world-records.html|title= ''X-Men'' #1, One Piece, and world records |first= John Jackson|last= Miller|author-link= John Jackson Miller|date= November 16, 2010|publisher= The Comics Chronicles|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101119091128/http://blog.comichron.com/2010/11/x-men-1-one-piece-and-world-records.html|archive-date= November 19, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Lee designed new character uniforms for the series, including those worn by [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]], [[Jean Grey]], [[Rogue (Marvel Comics)|Rogue]], [[Betsy Braddock]] and [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]]. He also created the villain [[Omega Red]]. Lee's style of rendering the X-Men was later used for the designs the television program ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]''.<ref name=CBR.com/> Actor/comedian [[Taran Killam]], who ventured into comics writing with ''[[The Illegitimates]]'', has cited ''X-Men'' #1 as the book that inspired his interest in comics.<ref name=CBR10.17.13>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=48554|title= NYCC: ''Saturday Night Live's'' Taran Killam Debriefs ''The Illegitimates''|first= T.J.|last= Dietsch|date= October 17, 2013|publisher= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131018013411/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=48554|archive-date= October 18, 2013|url-status=live}} Archive requires scrolldown</ref>

[[Stan Lee]] interviewed Lee in the documentary series ''[[The Comic Book Greats]]''.

===Image Comics and WildStorm, return to Marvel===
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 form [[Image Comics]], which would publish their creator-owned titles.<ref name=CBR2006/> Lee's group of titles was initially called Aegis Entertainment before being christened [[WildStorm Productions]], and published Lee's initial title ''[[Wildcats (comics)|WildC.A.T.s]]'', which Lee pencilled and co-wrote, and other series created by Lee in the same shared [[fictional universe|universe]]. The other major series of the initial years of Wildstorm, for which Lee either created characters, co-plotted or provided art for, included ''[[Stormwatch (comics)|Stormwatch]]'', ''[[Deathblow (comics)|Deathblow]]'' and ''[[Gen¹³|Gen<sup>13</sup>]]''.

In 1993, Lee and his friend, [[Valiant Comics]] publisher [[Steven Massarsky]], arranged a Valiant/Image Comics crossover miniseries called ''[[Deathmate]]'', 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 produced ''Deathmate Black'', with Lee himself contributing to the writing. He illustrated the covers for that book, the ''Deathmate Tourbook'' and 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 as [[Whilce Portacio]]'s ''[[Wetworks (comics)|Wetworks]]''. As publisher, Lee later expanded his comics line creating two publishing imprints of WildStorm, [[Homage Comics|Homage]] and [[Cliffhanger (comics)|Cliffhanger]] (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 a [[Reboot (continuity)|reboot]] of several classic characters; the project was known as [[Heroes Reborn (1996 comic)|Heroes Reborn]]. While Liefeld reworked ''[[Captain America]]'' and ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'', Lee plotted ''[[Iron Man]]''<ref>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."</ref> and plotted and illustrated ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' issues #1–6.<ref>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."</ref> 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: ''[[The Defenders (comic book)|Defenders]]'', ''[[Doctor Strange (comic book)|Doctor Strange]]'', and ''[[Nick Fury]]''.<ref>{{cite news | last = McLauchlin | first= Jim | date = August 1997 | title = Lee Extends 'Reborn' Run | work = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | issue = 72 | pages = 18–19}}</ref> Though scheduled to debut in December 1997, these three relaunches never appeared.

Lee returned to WildStorm, where he would publish series such as ''[[The Authority (comics)|The Authority]]'' and ''[[Planetary (comics)|Planetary]]'', as well as [[Alan Moore]]'s imprint, [[America's Best Comics]]. Lee himself wrote and illustrated a 12-issue series called ''[[Divine 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 wild [[fantasy]] world.

=== Move to DC Comics ===
Due to declining sales across the U.S. comics industry,<ref>{{cite web|author=Dominguez, Noah|url=https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-pens-moving-letter-wildstorm-fans-30th-anniversary/|title=Jim Lee Pens a Moving Letter to WildStorm Fans|publisher=[[CBR.com]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=December 2, 2022|access-date=December 3, 2022|archive-date=December 3, 2022|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221203181201/https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-pens-moving-letter-wildstorm-fans-30th-anniversary/}}</ref> and his view that his role as publisher and growing family demands interfered with his role as an artist, Lee left [[Image Comics]] and sold WildStorm to [[DC Comics]] in late 1998,<ref name="WildcatsV2#1">Lee, Jim (March 1999). "Welcome and Happy New Year!". ''Wildcats'' (vol 2) #1 [[WildStorm Productions]], p. 27.</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Manning, Matthew K.|chapter= 1990s|title=DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2010|location= London, United Kingdom|isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9|page= 286|quote =  In a landmark deal, DC purchased Jim Lee's WildStorm imprint, gaining another super hero universe.}}</ref> enabling him to focus once again on art.<ref name=Icons/><ref name=CBR2006/> He drew a "[[Batman Black and White]]" backup story for the first issue of ''[[Batman: Gotham Knights]]'' (March 2000).<ref>{{cite book|author=Manning, Matthew K.|chapter= 2000s|title= Batman: A Visual History|publisher= [[Dorling Kindersley]]|year= 2014|location= London, United Kingdom|page= 248|isbn= 978-1465424563|quote= The premier issue showcased the writing of Warren Ellis and the artistry of Jim Lee in the story 'To Become the Bat'.}}</ref> In 2003, he collaborated on a 12-issue run on ''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' with writer [[Jeph Loeb]].<ref>Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 307: "The 'Hush' story arc [begun] in ''Batman'' #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."</ref> "[[Batman: Hush|Hush]]" became a sales success. That same year, [[Ubisoft]] released ''[[Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu]]'', a [[side-scrolling]] [[beat 'em up]] [[video game]] whose titular villain was designed by Lee, a fact that served as the main draw to the game.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kendall, G.|date=June 24, 2018|title=When Jim Lee (And A Hyper-Sexualized Nightwing) Invaded Batman: The Animated Series|publisher=CBR.com|url=https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-batman-animated-series/|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-date=October 1, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191001215659/https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-batman-animated-series/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Beatty, D'Marcus|publisher=Gaming Target|title=Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu|url=http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=2992|date=December 17, 2003|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-date=February 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065704/http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=2992}}</ref>

In 2004 Lee illustrated "[[For Tomorrow (comic)|For Tomorrow]]", a 12-issue story in ''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' by writer [[Brian Azzarello]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/lee_jim.htm|title= Jim Lee|date= July 13, 2012|publisher=[[Lambiek|Lambiek Comiclopedia]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130516062240/http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/lee_jim.htm|archive-date= May 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2005, Lee teamed with Frank Miller on ''[[All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder]]'',<ref>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''."</ref> 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 the ''[[DC Universe Online]]'' video game were the cause, and not Miller's scripts, which had been completed for some time.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://acomicbookblog.com/2009/08/all-star-batman-and-robin-update-jim-lee-interview/|title= ''All Star Batman and Robin'' Update: Jim Lee Interview|first= John|last= Barringer|date= August 1, 2009|publisher= A Comic Book Blog|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131227105148/http://acomicbookblog.com/2009/08/all-star-batman-and-robin-update-jim-lee-interview/|archive-date= December 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://ifanboy.com/articles/all-star-batman-and-robin-to-conclude-next-year-sort-of/|title= ''All-Star Batman and Robin'' to Conclude Next Year…Sort of|first= Paul|last= MOntgomery|date= April 2, 2010|publisher= iFanboy|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228032824/http://ifanboy.com/articles/all-star-batman-and-robin-to-conclude-next-year-sort-of/|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url= http://www.cbgxtra.com/comic-books/iall-star-batman-and-robini-5-delays-end|title= ''All-Star Batman and Robin'' #5 delays end|first= Brent|last= Frankenhoff|author-link= Brent Frankenhoff|date= June 6, 2006|location= Iola, Wisconsin|magazine= Comics Buyer's Guide|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228111336/http://www.cbgxtra.com/comic-books/iall-star-batman-and-robini-5-delays-end|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''All-Star'' also drew controversy<ref>[https://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/holy-batman-dc-puts-profanity-filled-comic-article-1.324974 "Holy @#%()A^ Batman! DC puts out profanity-filled comic"]. [[Associated Press]]/''[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]'' (New York). September 12, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref><ref name=Forbes>Moore, Benjamin (September 29, 2015). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminmoore/2015/09/29/frank-miller-all-star-batman-robin-ending/#43b32245b96f "Frank Miller's 'All-Star Batman And Robin,' The Worst Comic Ever, Might Finally Get An Ending"]. ''[[Forbes]]''. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref> for Miller's dialogue, pacing and depiction of the characters,<ref name=PopMatters>{{cite web|author=Gatevackes, William |url=http://www.popmatters.com/comics/all-star-batman-robin-1-3.shtml |title=All-Star Batman & Robin #1–3 |publisher=[[PopMatters]] |date=February 10, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314022711/http://www.popmatters.com/comics/all-star-batman-robin-1-3.shtml |archive-date=March 14, 2009 }}</ref> garnering reviews that were mixed<ref name=CBRoundUp-AllStar>[https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/all-star-batman-and-robin-the-boy-wonder "ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER"]. Comic Book Round Up. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref> to negative,<ref name=PopMatters/><ref>Robinson, Iann (December 17, 2007). [http://www.craveonline.com/articles/comics/04649326/all_star_batman_and_robin.html "All Star Batman and Robin"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114035410/http://www.craveonline.com/articles/comics/04649326/all_star_batman_and_robin.html |date=January 14, 2009}}. [[CraveOnline]].</ref><ref>Sanderson, Peter (February 6, 2006). [http://comics.ign.com/articles/685/685820p1.html "Comics in Context #119: All-Star Bats"]. [[IGN]].</ref> though Lee's art was praised,<ref name=PopMatters/> and the book enjoyed excellent sales.<ref name=Forbes/><ref>[https://archive.today/20120716074438/http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/04/02/dc-comics-month-to-month-sales-february-2008/ "DC Comics Month-to-Month Sales February 2008"]. [[Comics Beat]]. April 2, 2008</ref> A total of 10 issues were produced of that series,<ref name=CBRoundUp-AllStar/> the tenth issue being released on September 24, 2008.<ref>[https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/all-star-batman-and-robin-the-boy-wonder/10 "ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #10"]. Comic Book Round Up. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref> In September 2015 Lee indicated the possibility of returning to the book to conclude it with Miller's originally intended ending,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-says-frank-miller-has-a-really-cool-all-star-batman-robin-finale/ |title=Jim Lee Says Frank Miller Has a 'Really Cool' ''All Star Batman & Robin'' Finale |date=September 29, 2015 |publisher=Comic Book Resources |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924174911/http://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-says-frank-miller-has-a-really-cool-all-star-batman-robin-finale/ |archive-date=September 24, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> but this series was never produced.<ref name=Forbes/>

Lee continued to run WildStorm as editorial director, sometimes working on both DC and WildStorm properties simultaneously. In September 2006, Lee returned to ''WildC.A.T.s'' with [[Grant Morrison]] as the writer, but only one issue of that series' fourth volume was published.

Lee provided artwork for the album booklet for [[Daughtry (band)|Daughtry]]'s 2009 album ''[[Leave This Town]]''.
In February 2006, it was announced that Lee would be involved with the concept art for the DC Comics online game ''[[DC Universe Online]]''.<ref name=CBR2006/> In 2008, Lee was named the Executive Creative Director of the forthcoming game, which at that time was expected to be released in 2009.<ref name="CBR2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?id=17231&page=article|title=E3 2008: Jim Lee talks DC Universe Online|first= Brian|last= LeTendre|date=July 15, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081115000513/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17231|archive-date= November 15, 2008|url-status=live|access-date=May 19, 2009}}</ref>
In February 2010, Lee and [[Dan DiDio]] were named Co-Publishers of DC Comics by DC Entertainment President [[Diane Nelson (comics)|Diane Nelson]].<ref>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."</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/02/18/for-immediate-release-dc-entertainment-names-executive-team/|title= 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|first= David|last= Hyde|date= February 18, 2010|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100221121229/http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/02/18/for-immediate-release-dc-entertainment-names-executive-team|archive-date= February 21, 2010|url-status=dead|quote= 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.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/02/18/dc-announce-new-publisher-all-five-of-them/|title= DC Announces New Publisher – All Five Of Them!|first= Rich|last= Johnston|author-link = Rich Johnston|date= February 18, 2010|publisher= Bleeding Cool|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228034013/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/02/18/dc-announce-new-publisher-all-five-of-them/|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name=Icons/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://dcu.blog.dccomics.com/2010/04/02/whats-next-for-frank-miller-and-jim-lee/|title= What's Next for Frank Miller and Jim Lee?|first= Alex|last= Segura|date= April 2, 2010|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131019235624/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2010/04/02/whats-next-for-frank-miller-and-jim-lee|archive-date= October 19, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> DC announced they were ending the WildStorm imprint in September 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/6129-dc-co-publishers-announce-end-of-wildstorm-imprint-zuda.html|title= DC Co-Publishers Announce End of Widstorm Imprint, Zuda|first= Albert|last=Ching|date= September 21, 2010|publisher=[[Newsarama]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110010401/http://www.newsarama.com/6129-dc-co-publishers-announce-end-of-wildstorm-imprint-zuda.html|archive-date= November 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2010s===
[[File:Jim Lee by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Lee at the 2009 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]]]
In September 2011, DC Comics instituted an initiative called [[The 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 writer [[Geoff Johns]], DC Comics' Chief Creative Officer, were the architects of the relaunch, which was initiated with a new ''[[Justice League]]'' series, written and illustrated by Johns and Lee, respectively.<ref>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."</ref> 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.<ref>{{citation|url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-06-01-dc-comics-why-the-change_n.htm|title= DC Comics ready for a risky yet relevant publishing change|first= Brian|last= Truitt|date= May 3, 2011|newspaper= [[USA Today]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140210084352/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-06-01-dc-comics-why-the-change_n.htm|archive-date= February 10, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Lee's illustration for the cover of issue No. 12 drew media attention for its depiction of [[Superman]] and [[Wonder Woman]] in a passionate embrace, a rendition that Lee said was inspired by [[Gustav Klimt]]'s painting ''[[The Kiss (Klimt)|The Kiss]]'' and [[Alfred Eisenstaedt]]'s 1945 photograph ''[[V-J Day in Times Square]]''.<ref>{{citation|url= http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/08/22/justice-league-12-exclusive/|title= ''Justice League'' #12: DC reveals Superman's new leading lady... and it's a doozy – Exclusive|first= Jeff|last= Jensen|date= August 22, 2012|magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140107052558/http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/08/22/justice-league-12-exclusive/|archive-date= January 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a401118/justice-league-to-feature-new-superman-romance.html|title= ''Justice League'' to feature new Superman romance|first= Mark|last= Langshaw|date= August 22, 2012|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131227231441/http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a401118/justice-league-to-feature-new-superman-romance.html|archive-date= December 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicsalliance.com/2012/08/22/superman-wonder-woman-romance-justice-league-12/|title= Superman + Wonder Woman = <3 In ''Justice League'' #12 (Kissy Kissy)|first= Andy|last= Khouri|date= August 22, 2012|publisher= [[ComicsAlliance]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228103806/http://comicsalliance.com/superman-wonder-woman-romance-justice-league-12/|archive-date=December 28, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://ifanboy.com/articles/superman-wonder-woman-sitting-in-a-tree-k-i-s-s-i-n-g-in-justice-league-12-and-beyond/|title= Superman & Wonder Woman Sitting in a Tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G in ''Justice League'' #12 and Beyond|first= Paul|last= Montgomery|date= August 22, 2012|publisher= iFanboy|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228032501/http://ifanboy.com/articles/superman-wonder-woman-sitting-in-a-tree-k-i-s-s-i-n-g-in-justice-league-12-and-beyond/|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2012, as part of [[San Diego Comic-Con]], Lee and Dan DiDio participated in the production of "Heroic Proportions", an episode of the [[Syfy]] reality television competition series ''[[Face Off (American TV series)|Face 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 in ''[[Justice League Dark]]'' #16 (March 2013),<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.cbr.com/dan-didio-jim-lee-and-dc-artists-to-appear-on-syfys-face-off/|title= Dan DiDio, Jim Lee and DC artists to appear on Syfy's ''Face Off''|first= Kevin|last= Melrose|date= January 16, 2013|publisher= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180618152226/https://www.cbr.com/dan-didio-jim-lee-and-dc-artists-to-appear-on-syfys-face-off/|archive-date= June 18, 2018|url-status=live|df= mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2013/01/16/dan-didio-jim-lee-and-dc-entertainments-stellar-talent-to-guest-star-on-syfys-hit|title= Dan DiDio, Jim Lee and DC Entertainment's Stellar Talent to Guest Star on SYFY's Hit Competition Series ''Face Off''|date= January 16, 2013|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180618175408/https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2013/01/16/dan-didio-jim-lee-and-dc-entertainments-stellar-talent-to-guest-star-on-syfys-hit|archive-date= June 18, 2018|url-status=live|df= mdy-all}}</ref> which was published January 30, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://weeklycomicbookreview.com/2013/02/01/justice-league-dark-16-review/|title= ''Justice League Dark'' #16 – Review|first= Minhquan|last= Nguyen|date= February 1, 2013|publisher= Weekly Comic Book Review|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130208011338/http://weeklycomicbookreview.com/2013/02/01/justice-league-dark-16-review/|archive-date= February 8, 2013|url-status=dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref> The episode premiered on January 22, 2013, as the second episode of the fourth season.<ref>"Heroic Proportions", ''[[Face Off (American TV series)|Face Off]]'', [[Face Off (season 4)|Season 4]], Episode 2. [[Syfy]], January 22, 2013.</ref>

In October 2012, DC Entertainment and [[Kia Motors America]] entered a partnership to benefit We Can Be Heroes, a campaign dedicated to fighting hunger in the [[Horn 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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/03/dc-and-kia-team-up-for-jla-car-fleet |title=DC and Kia Team Up for JLA Car Fleet |first=Max |last=Nicholson |date=October 3, 2012 |publisher=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007225438/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/03/dc-and-kia-team-up-for-jla-car-fleet |archive-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> the first of which was a Batman-themed [[Kia Optima]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/11/the-batman-kia-optima-comes-in-black|title= The Batman Kia Optima Comes in Black|first= Mac|last= Nicholson|date= October 11, 2012|publisher= IGN |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130818233040/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/11/the-batman-kia-optima-comes-in-black|archive-date= August 18, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> A Superman-themed version inspired by Lee's art followed in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59962-kia-motors-america-superman-inspired-kia-optima-hybrid-chicago-auto-show|title= Superman-Inspired Kia Optima Soars Into Chicago For Auto Show Debut|date= February 7, 2013|publisher=[[Kia Motors]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160808175810/http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59962-kia-motors-america-superman-inspired-kia-optima-hybrid-chicago-auto-show|archive-date= August 8, 2016|url-status=dead|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

[[File:8.31.11JimLeeNew52ByLuigiNovi1.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Lee at the August 31, 2011 midnight signing of ''[[Flashpoint (comics)|Flashpoint]]'' #5 and ''[[Justice League]]'' #1 at [[Midtown Comics]], which initiated DC's [[The New 52]] initiative]]
In 2013, Lee designed a new version of the ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' character [[Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)|Scorpion]] for use in the DC fighting video game ''[[Injustice: Gods Among Us]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-06-03-mortal-kombats-scorpion-is-the-next-dlc-character-in-injustice-gods-among-us|title= Mortal Kombat's Scorpion is the next DLC character in ''Injustice: Gods Among Us''|first= Wesley|last= Yin-Poole|date= June 3, 2013|publisher= [[Eurogamer]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131022034007/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-06-03-mortal-kombats-scorpion-is-the-next-dlc-character-in-injustice-gods-among-us|archive-date= October 22, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 4, 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a452310/dc-comics-unveils-superman-offering-for-free-comic-book-day-2013.html|title= DC Comics unveils ''Superman'' offering for Free Comic Book Day 2013|first= Hugh|last= Armitage|date= January 20, 2013|publisher= [[Digital Spy]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130705082233/http://www.digitalspy.com/comics/news/a452310/dc-comics-unveils-superman-offering-for-free-comic-book-day-2013.html|archive-date= July 5, 2013|url-status=live|quote= Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's forthcoming ''Superman'' monthly title will be previewed in the issue.}}</ref> DC published a [[Free Comic Book Day]] sneak preview of ''[[Superman Unchained]]'', an ongoing series written by [[Scott Snyder]] and illustrated by Lee, which was published on June 12, 2013, and intended to coincide with the feature film ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'', which opened two days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/04/scott-snyder-and-jim-lees-superman-unchained-confirmed-for-june |title=Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's ''Superman Unchained'' Confirmed for June |first=Joey |last=Esposito |date=March 4, 2013 |publisher=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613143510/http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/03/04/scott-snyder-and-jim-lees-superman-unchained-confirmed-for-june |archive-date=June 13, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In 2013, Lee was announced as a member of a newly formed advisory board of the [[Comic Book Legal Defense Fund]], a non-profit organization founded in 1986 chartered to protect the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] rights of the comics community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/25454/cbldf-announces-advisory-board|title=CBLDF Announces Advisory Board|website=[[ICv2]]|date=April 8, 2013|access-date=July 5, 2020}}</ref>

In 2014, [[General Mills]] enlisted the help of DC Comics to create new designs for its [[monster-themed cereals]] in time for Halloween. The designs, revealed on August 6, consisted of a Boo Berry design by Lee, a [[Count Chocula]] design by [[Terry Dodson]], and a [[Franken-Berry]] design 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."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54626|title= Jim Lee, Dave Johnson, Terry & Rachel Dodson Redesign General Mills' Monster Cereals|first= Steve|last= Sunu|date= August 6, 2014|publisher=CBR.com|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141022015021/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=54626|archive-date= October 22, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2015, DC released ''[[The Multiversity]]: Mastermen'', the seventh issue of [[Grant Morrison]]'s ''The Multiversity'' project, which Lee illustrated.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/23692-vivisecting-multiversity-jim-lee-on-mastermen.html|title= Vivisecting ''Multiversity'': Jim Lee on ''Mastermen''|first= Vaneta|last= Rogers|date= March 3, 2015|publisher= Newsarama|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150908031433/http://www.newsarama.com/23692-vivisecting-multiversity-jim-lee-on-mastermen.html|archive-date= September 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Wickline, Dan|publisher=Bleeding Cool|title=SDCC '15: Jim Lee Prepares Sketches For The BlueLine Batman Figure|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/08/sdcc-15-jim-lee-prepares-sketches-for-the-blueline-batman-figure/|date=July 8, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-date=July 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710205234/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/07/08/sdcc-15-jim-lee-prepares-sketches-for-the-blueline-batman-figure/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Truitt, Brian|newspaper=USA Today|title=Jim Lee's Batman, Krypto set for Comic-Con|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/05/22/dc-collectibles-comic-con-exclusive-reveal/27737639/|date=May 22, 2015|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517223431/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/05/22/dc-collectibles-comic-con-exclusive-reveal/27737639/}}</ref> A Superman figure designed by Lee followed in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=DC Comics Blueline Jim Lee Superman Action Figure by DC Collectibles|date=August 30, 2016|url=https://actionfiguresdaily.com/dc-comics-blueline-jim-lee-superman-action-figure-by-dc-collectibles/|publisher=Action Figures Daily|access-date=October 1, 2019|archive-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422025015/https://actionfiguresdaily.com/dc-comics-blueline-jim-lee-superman-action-figure-by-dc-collectibles/}}</ref> November 2015 saw the debut of the miniseries ''Batman: Europa'', on which Lee collaborated with writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali and artist [[Giuseppe Camuncoli]].<ref name=CBR8.12.15>{{cite web|url= http://www.cbr.com/batman-europa-dark-knight-iii-the-master-race-arrive-in-november/|title= ''Batman: Europa'', ''Dark Knight III: The Master Race'' Arrive in November|first= Stephanie|last= Gerding|date= August 12, 2015|publisher= Comic Book Resources|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160924044931/http://www.cbr.com/batman-europa-dark-knight-iii-the-master-race-arrive-in-november/|archive-date= September 24, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The book, which was inspired by Lee's time living in Italy,<ref name="Rogers">{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/comics/brian-azzarello-batman-europa-110106.html|title= Brian Azzarello Teams Batman & The Joker in ''Europa''|first= Vaneta|last= Rogers|date= January 6, 2011|publisher= Newsarama|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131227195427/http://www.newsarama.com/6807-brian-azzarello-teams-batman-the-joker-in-europa.html|archive-date= December 27, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> was originally announced by DC in 2004, and intended to feature Lee's painted art over Camuncoli's layouts,<ref name=CBR8.12.15/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2010/10/06/nycc-2010-batman-europa-by-jim-lee-and-brian-azzarello|title= NYCC 2010: ''Batman: Europa'' by Jim Lee and co-writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali|first= Alex|last= Segura|date= October 6, 2010|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228152511/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2010/10/06/nycc-2010-batman-europa-by-jim-lee-and-brian-azzarello|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2010/10/06/nycc-2010-batman-europa-by-jim-lee-and-brian-azzarello|title= NYCC 2010: ''Batman: Europa'' by Jim Lee and co-writers Brian Azzarello and Matteo Casali|first= Alex|last= Segura|date= October 6, 2010|publisher= DC Comics|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228152511/http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2010/10/06/nycc-2010-batman-europa-by-jim-lee-and-brian-azzarello|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> but after a series of delays,<ref name=CBR8.12.15/><ref>Johnston, Rich (March 2013) "The Black Bolt List". ''Bleeding Cool''. pp. 49–50.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.newsarama.com/6129-dc-co-publishers-announce-end-of-wildstorm-imprint-zuda.html|title= DC Co-Publishers Announce End of Widstorm Imprint, Zuda|first= Albert|last= Ching|date= September 21, 2010|publisher= Newsarama|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110010401/http://www.newsarama.com/6129-dc-co-publishers-announce-end-of-wildstorm-imprint-zuda.html|archive-date= November 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> it was published with conventional artwork<ref name=CBR8.12.15/> as a four-issue miniseries to positive reviews.<ref>[https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/batman-europa "BATMAN: EUROPA"]. Comic Book Round Up. Retrieved May 15, 2018.</ref>

In 2016, Lee was the main artist on the one-shot ''Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool's Special'' sharing art duties on that book with Sean Galloway. That August, DC released the first of eight issues of Lee and writer [[Rob Williams (comics)|Rob Williams]]' new ''[[Suicide Squad]]'' series, as part of the [[DC Rebirth]] relaunch.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.newsarama.com/30222-jim-lee-scales-back-plans-on-suicide-squad-title.html|title= Jim Lee Scales Back Plans On ''Suicide Squad'' Title|first= Chris|last= Arrant|date= July 20, 2016|publisher= Newsarama|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160721112350/http://www.newsarama.com/30222-jim-lee-scales-back-plans-on-suicide-squad-title.html|archive-date= July 21, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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.<ref>Terror, Jude (June 8, 2017). [https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/06/08/see-29-jim-lee-trading-card-variants-will-move-marvels-needle-july/ "See All 29 Jim Lee Trading Card Variants That Will Move Marvel’s Needle In July"]. Bleeding Cool. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref>

In March 2018, Lee and writer [[James Tynion IV]] launched the series ''The Immortal Men'' as part of DC's New Age of Heroes line.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190302134314/https://www.newsarama.com/36854-28-jim-lee-character-designs-for-new-age-of-dc-heroes-immortal-men.html#s1 "28 JIM LEE Character Designs For 'New Age of DC Heroes' IMMORTAL MEN"]. Newsarama. October 9, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-unveils-new-heroes-all-star-creators-teleporters-assassins-monsters-995665|title= DC Unveils New Heroes From All-Star Creators: Teleporters, Assassins and Monsters|first= Graeme|last= McMillan|date= April 20, 2017|work= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170420234721/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dc-unveils-new-heroes-all-star-creators-teleporters-assassins-monsters-995665|archive-date= April 20, 2017|url-status=live|df= mdy-all|quote=}}</ref> That June, following the departure of DC Entertainment's [[Diane Nelson (comics)|Diane Nelson]],<ref>Kit, Borys (June 6, 2018). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/diane-nelson-leaving-warner-bros-as-dc-entertainment-president-1117692 "DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson Leaving Warner Bros."]. ''The Hollywood Reporter''.</ref> and [[Geoff Johns]]' stepping down from his role as [[Chief 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.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/geoff-johns-exits-dc-entertainment-writing-producing-deal-1118131|title=Geoff Johns Exits DC Entertainment for Writing and Producing Deal (Exclusive)|date=June 11, 2018|access-date=June 17, 2018|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>

In May and June 2019, Lee, writer [[Tom King (writer)|Tom King]], and [[The CW|CW]] series actresses [[Nafessa Williams]], [[Candice Patton]], and [[Danielle Panabaker]] toured five U.S. military bases in Kuwait with the [[United 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.<ref>{{cite web|author=Arrant, Chris|date=June 2, 2019|url=https://www.newsarama.com/45412-jim-lee-tom-king-dc-cw-stars-make-surprise-uso-trip-to-kuwait.html|publisher=Newsarama|title=JIM LEE, TOM KING, DC-CW Stars Make Surprise USO Trip To KUWAIT|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=June 7, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607111613/https://www.newsarama.com/45412-jim-lee-tom-king-dc-cw-stars-make-surprise-uso-trip-to-kuwait.html}}</ref>

On June 5, 2019, Lee and the fashion accessory brand HEX launched a [[Kickstarter]] crowdfunding 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 the ''[[Overstreet Price Guide]]'', and an anti-theft zipper lock. In addition to the Batman artwork by Lee that adorns both backpacks, the collectors version features [[batarang]] zipper pulls.<ref name=CBR.com/><ref>{{cite web|author=Terror, Jude|date=June 5, 2019|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/06/05/jim-lee-launches-new-line-of-fashion-backpacks-for-comic-book-artists-collectors/#.XPe4r6Yhbmo.facebook|publisher=Bleeding Cool|title=Jim Lee Launches New Line of Fashion Backpacks for Comic Book Artists, Collectors|access-date=June 28, 2019}}</ref>

===2020s===
In late February 2020, following the departure of Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, Lee became the sole Publisher of DC Comics.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Arrant, Chris|author2=Marston, George|url=https://www.newsarama.com/49243-did-jim-lee-signal-dc-wont-replace-dan-didio-addresses-major-dc-reboot-rumors.html|publisher=[[Newsarama]]|title=JIM LEE Signals DC Won't Replace Dan DiDio; Addresses Major DC, Reboot Rumors|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=April 3, 2020|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403162223/https://www.newsarama.com/49243-did-jim-lee-signal-dc-wont-replace-dan-didio-addresses-major-dc-reboot-rumors.html}}</ref> The following month, amid the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|global COVID-19 pandemic]], Lee began a 60-day series of daily sketches, auctioning off the proceeds of each sketch to a different random [[brick and mortar]] store that had closed as a result of the pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[Johnston, Rich]]|url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-lee-auctions-sketches-comic-shops/|publisher=[[Bleeding Cool]]|title=Jim Lee Auctions Sketches Every Day To Raise Money for Comic Shops|date=March 31, 2020|access-date=April 3, 2020|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403161715/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/jim-lee-auctions-sketches-comic-shops/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Alexander, Ethan|url=https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-auctions-sketches-help-comic-stores-industry-shutdown/|publisher=[[CBR.com]]|title=Jim Lee Auctions Sketches to Help Comic Stores During Industry Shutdown|date=March 31, 2020|access-date=April 5, 2020|archive-date=April 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403231105/https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-auctions-sketches-help-comic-stores-industry-shutdown/}}</ref> 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 depicted [[Jason Todd]], sold for $25,100 on [[eBay]], while the entire campaign raised a total of over $800,000 for beleaguered comics shops.<ref>{{cite web|author=Arrant, Chris|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/jim-lee-raises-over-dollar800000-for-comic-shops-with-his-60-in-60-original-art-sketches/|publisher=[[Newsarama]]|title=Jim Lee raises over $800,000 for comic shops with his 60 in 60 original art sketches|date=July 30, 2021|access-date=July 31, 2021|archive-date=July 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730145131/https://www.gamesradar.com/jim-lee-raises-over-dollar800000-for-comic-shops-with-his-60-in-60-original-art-sketches/}}</ref>

On November 25, 2021, Lee appeared alongside several other Asian and Pacific Islander celebrities, including actor [[Simu Liu]], tennis player [[Naomi Osaka]], and ''[[Top Chef]]'' host [[Padma Lakshmi]], in the Thanksgiving Day television program ''See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special.''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2021/11/15/Sesame-Street-Asian-muppet-Ji-young/2771636993920/|title='Sesame Street' introduces its first Asian American muppet|author=Martin, Annie|publisher=[[UPI]]|date=November 15, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115175805/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2021/11/15/Sesame-Street-Asian-muppet-Ji-young/2771636993920/}}</ref><ref name=CBR11.16.21>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/sesame-street-jim-lee-simu-liu-api-special-episode/|title=Sesame Street Welcomes Jim Lee, Simu Liu and More API Neighbors for a Special Episode|author=Wasserman, Ben|publisher=[[CBR.com]]|date=November 16, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116181610/https://www.cbr.com/sesame-street-jim-lee-simu-liu-api-special-episode/}}</ref> The program was billed as a celebration of those communities,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/11/15/sesame-street-asian-character-thanksgiving/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|author=Beachum, Lateshia|title='Sesame Street' will debut Asian American muppet during Thanksgiving special|date=November 15, 2021|access-date=November 16, 2021|archive-date=November 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115182108/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/11/15/sesame-street-asian-character-thanksgiving/}}</ref> and introduced the series' first Asian American [[Muppet]], a seven-year-old Korean girl named [[List of Sesame Street Muppets#J|Ji-Young]]. The special premiered on [[HBO Max]], [[PBSKids]], [[Facebook]], [[Instagram]], and [[YouTube]], as part of the [[Sesame Workshop]]'s "Coming Together" initiative, which endeavors to educate children about race, culture, and [[racial justice]]. It featured Lee showcasing his illustration of Ji-Young interacting with other Muppets.<ref name=CBR11.16.21/>

Lee was promoted to President of DC Comics in May 2023.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Jim Lee Re-Ups at DC, Promoted to President |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jim-lee-named-president-dc-1235479090/ |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 3, 2023}}</ref>

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 from [[USD]] $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.<ref name=ComicsBeat7.2.24>{{cite web|url=https://www.comicsbeat.com/jim-lee-20000-commission-price-causes-uproar/|title=Jim Lee's $20,000 commission price causes uproar|author=[[MacDonald, Heidi]]|publisher=[[Comics Beat]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 2, 2024|access-date=July 3, 2024|archive-date=July 3, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240703151307/https://www.comicsbeat.com/jim-lee-20000-commission-price-causes-uproar/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://albertmoy.com/artistcommission.asp?artistid=380|title=Albert Moy Original Comic Art|author=Moy, Albert|publisher=Commission Information for Jim Lee|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 2, 2024|access-date=July 3, 2024|archive-date=July 3, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240703151307/https://www.comicsbeat.com/jim-lee-20000-commission-price-causes-uproar/}}</ref><ref name=CBR7.2.24>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-commission-rates-real-problem/|publisher=[[CBR.com]]|title=The Real Problem With Jim Lee's Commission Rates|author=Cronin, Brian|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 2, 2024|access-date=July 3, 2024|archive-date=July 2, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240702115540/https://www.cbr.com/jim-lee-commission-rates-real-problem/}}</ref>

== Technique and materials ==
Lee is known to use [[Pencil#Grading and classification|F lead]] for his [[Penciler#Tools and materials|pencil work]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://j-scott-campbell.deviantart.com/art/Pencils-79071837|title= Pencils|first= J. Scott|last= Campbell|author-link = J. Scott Campbell|year= 2008|publisher= [[deviantArt]]|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131016145350/http://j-scott-campbell.deviantart.com/art/Pencils-79071837|archive-date= October 16, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.avclub.com/reinventing-the-pencil-21-artists-who-changed-mainstre-1798218160 | title = Reinventing the pencil: 21 artists who changed mainstream comics (for better or worse)|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|date= July 20, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131228064618/http://www.avclub.com/article/reinventing-the-pencil-21-artists-who-changed-main-30528|archive-date= December 28, 2013|url-status=live|access-date= November 25, 2009}}</ref> While inking his own pencils on ''[[The Punisher War Journal]]'', Lee began using a [[crowquill]] [[nib (pen)|nib]] for the first time.<ref name="Gaffney"/> When illustrating full page commissions or sketches, Lee uses the [[drybrush]] technique in order to achieve greytone areas with an uneven texture, applying [[india ink]] to the paper and then rubbing it with a tissue,<ref name=HamillPop>[[Hamill, Mark]] (November 14, 2016). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcQNwB3o4Zo&list=WL&index=24 "Mark Hamill's Pop Culture Quest: Episode I – Joker's Favor (Jim Lee Clip)"]. [[DC Entertainment]]/YouTube. Retrieved September 4, 2019.</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcYoPAuqozI "DC's Jim Lee Sketches Wonder Woman (Artists Alley)"]. [[Syfy Wire]]. [[YouTube]]. May 31, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2019.</ref> To create white highlights, he uses a [[Pentel]] [[correction fluid]] pen.<ref name=HamillPop/>

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?"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gelatometti.blogspot.com/2005/01/x-men-redux.html|title= X-Men ReduX |first= Jim|last= Lee|date= January 27, 2005|publisher=Gelatometti|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20050728090028/http://gelatometti.blogspot.com/2005/01/x-men-redux.html|archive-date=July 28, 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a March 2024 interview with [[Agence France-Presse]], Lee was asked if [[AI-generated art]] was 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240329-dc-comics-jim-lee-using-ai-robs-artists-of-creative-joy|title=DC Comics' Jim Lee: Using AI robs artists of creative joy|publisher=[[Agence France-Presse]]|via=[[France 24]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=March 29, 2024|access-date=April 25, 2024|archive-date=April 25, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240425155214/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240329-dc-comics-jim-lee-using-ai-robs-artists-of-creative-joy}}</ref>

When asked about his artistic inspirations, Lee cited [[Neal Adams]], [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]], [[Kevin Nowlan]], [[Mike Mignola]], [[Art Adams]], [[Milo Manara]], and [[Barry Windsor-Smith]].<ref>Interview with Jim Lee, ''X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus'', p. 740.</ref>

==Praise and criticism==
In the February 1991 issue of ''[[Amazing Heroes]]'', writer/artist [[Barry Windsor-Smith]] was being interviewed for his Wolverine story ''[[Weapon X (story arc)|Weapon X]]'', and touching upon the then-current ''X-Men'' comics, Windsor-Smith stated:<ref name=AmazingHeroes188>{{cite news|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|title=Artist X: Barry Windsor-Smith on Weapon X|author=Harrington, Thomas|pages=34, 36|issue=188|date=February 1991|publisher=[[Fantagraphics]]}}</ref>

{{blockquote|"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 a ''trifle'' overdone; 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 for ''X-Men''."<ref name=AmazingHeroes188/>}}

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 with ''[[The Comics Journal]]''. Windsor-Smith criticized the depth of the work of artists like Lee and [[Rob Liefeld]], and those whom they influenced (whom he referred to as "the Liefelds and the Lees"), stating:

{{blockquote|"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."<ref name=TCJ190>{{cite journal|author=[[Groth, Gary]]|title=The Barry Windsor-Smith Interview|journal=[[The Comics Journal]]|issue=190|pages=|publisher=[[Fantagraphics Books]]|date=September 1996|location=Seattle, Washington|url=http://www.tcj.com/the-barry-windsor-smith-interview/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131227160504/http://www.tcj.com/the-barry-windsor-smith-interview/|archive-date= December 27, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=July 28, 2013}}</ref>}}

''The Comics Journal'' publisher [[Gary Groth]] concurred, 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 the [[Image 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 (1996 comic)|Heroes Reborn]]".<ref name=TCJ190/>

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.<ref name=ComicsBeat7.2.24/><ref name=CBR7.2.24/> A majority of the comics industry expressed support on social media for Lee's right to charge these prices including Bengal, [[Tom Taylor (writer)|Tom Taylor]], [[Fabian Nicieza]], and [[Mark Brooks (comics)|Mark Brooks]]. Many comic book writers and artists also shared many stories of Lee's previous generosity on social media.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston|first=Rich |date=2024-06-30 |title=On Jim Lee, Charging Up To $35,000 For Private Commission Artwork |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/on-jim-lee-charging-up-to-35000-for-private-commission-artwork/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en-US}}</ref> On [[Twitter]], comic book writer, [[Gail Simone]] shared a story of how Lee drew free charity sketches in order to cover [[John Ostrander]]'s eye surgery.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnston|first=Rich |date=2024-06-30 |title=Gail Simone On Jim Lee, Batman And Wolverine |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/gail-simone-on-jim-lee-batman-and-wolverine/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en-US}}</ref> 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 with [[Alex 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.<ref name=CBR7.2.24/>

==Personal life==
Lee is married to Carla Michelle Lee.<ref name=ComicsBeat>[[MacDonald, Heidi]] (August 2, 2013). [http://www.comicsbeat.com/help-jim-lee-put-his-kids-through-college-by-buying-jack-kirbys-argo-art/ "Help Jim Lee put his kids through college by buying Jack Kirby's ARGO art"]. [[Comics Beat]].</ref><ref name=BleedingCool>Johnston, Rich (January 26, 2012). [http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/26/jim-lees-hidden-tribute-to-carla/ "Jim Lee's Hidden Tribute To Carla"]. [[Bleeding Cool]].</ref> In 2012, when Carla was pregnant, Lee included a tribute to her in ''Justice League'' #5, writing "I LOVE CARLA" on the shattered windshield of a car onto which Batman jumps.<ref name=BleedingCool/> As of November 2016, they had nine children,<ref name=BigThink/><ref name=HamillPop/> ages 2 to 23.<ref name=HamillPop/>

In the 1990s, Lee bought two pages of [[Jack Kirby]] concept art, which Kirby had created for a film adaptation of [[Roger Zelazny]]'s novel ''[[Lord of Light]]'',  as part of the cover story to smuggle Americans out of Iran during the [[Iran hostage crisis|1980 hostage crisis]]. Lee purchased the art at a [[Sotheby's]] auction 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 through [[Heritage Auctions]] in order to pay for their education.<ref name=ComicsBeat/>

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.<ref>{{cite news|magazine=[[Amazing Heroes]]|title=X-Cerpt with Jim Lee: Comics' Hottest Artist Speaks Out|author=McPherson, Darwin|page=35|issue=192|date=July 1991|publisher=[[Fantagraphics]]}}</ref>

==Awards and accolades==
===Awards===
* 1990 [[Harvey Award]] for Best New Talent<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/harvey90.php|title= 1990 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131005005710/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/harvey90.php|archive-date= October 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1992 [[Inkpot Award]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|title= Inkpot Award Winners |publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120709055558/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/inkpot.php|archive-date= July 9, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1996 [[Wizard Fan Award]] for Favorite Penciller<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard96.php|title= 4th Annual Wizard Fan Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130115200849/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard96.php|archive-date= January 15, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2002 Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Penciller for ''Batman''<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard02.php|title= 10th Annual Wizard Fan Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131106105942/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard02.php|archive-date= November 6, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2003 Wizard Fan Award for Favorite Penciller<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard03.php|title= 11th Annual Wizard Fan Awards|publisher= Hahn Library Comic Book Awards Almanac|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131106105425/http://www.hahnlibrary.net/comics/awards/wizard03.php|archive-date= November 6, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other accolades===
In November 2022, [[CBR.com]] published 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 only [[George Pérez]], [[Jack Kirby]], and [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]].<ref name=CBR11.14.22>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/top-100-comic-book-writers-and-artists-master-list-2022/|publisher=[[CBR.com]]|title=Top 100 Comic Book Writers and Artists Master List|author=Cronin, Brian|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=November 14, 2022|access-date=July 3, 2024|archive-date=July 3, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240703143815/https://www.cbr.com/top-100-comic-book-writers-and-artists-master-list-2022/}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
=== Interior work ===
====DC Comics====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Action Comics]]'' #800 (one page only); #[[Action Comics 1000|1000]] (cover and 12 pages, among other artists) (2003, 2018)
*''[[All Star Batman & Robin, the Boy Wonder]]'' #1–10 (2005–08)
*''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' (Vol. 1) [[Batman: Hush|#608–619]] (2002–03)
*''Batman Europa'' #1 (2015)
*''[[Batman: Gotham Knights]]'' ([[Batman Black and White]]) #1 (2000)
*''Dark Days: The Forge'' #1 (2017)
*''Dark Days: The Casting'' #1 (2017)
*''[[Detective Comics]]'' #1000 (various artists) (2019)
*''[[Harley Quinn (comic book)|Harley Quinn]]'' (Vol. 2) #0 (2014)
*''Harley Quinn and the Suicide Squad April Fool's Special'' #1 (2016)
*''The Immortal Men'' #1 (2018)
*''[[Just Imagine...|Just Imagine Stan Lee]] with Jim Lee creating [[Wonder Woman]]'' (2001)
*''[[Justice League]]'' (Vol. 1) #1–6, 9–12 (2011–12)
*''Justice League Day'', Special Edition, #1 (2018)
*''[[Justice League of America]]'' (Vol. 2) #0 (one page only) (2006)
* ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes]]: Millennium'' #1 (among other artists) (2019)
*''[[The Multiversity]]: Mastermen'' #1 (2015)
*''[[The New 52]]'' ([[Free Comic Book Day]]) #1 (2012)
*''[[List of comics about the September 11 attacks|9-11: The World's Finest Comic Book Writers & Artists Tell Stories to Remember, Volume Two]]''
*''[[Orion (character)|Orion]]'' (Tales of the [[New Gods]]) #12 (2001)
*''[[Suicide Squad]]'', vol. 5, #1–8 (2016)
*''[[Superman vol. 2|Superman]]'' (Vol. 2) #204–215 (2004–2005)
*''[[Superman Unchained]]'' #1–9 (2013–2014)
*''[[Superman/Batman]]'' #26 (two pages, various artists) (2006)

====Vertigo====
*''[[Flinch (comics)|Flinch]]'' #1 (1999)
*[[Preacher (comics)|''Preacher'']] #50 (1999)
*''[[Weird War Tales]]'' (one-shot) (2000)
*''[[100 Bullets]]'' #26 (2001)
*''[[DMZ (comics)|DMZ]]'' #50 (2010)

====WildStorm====
*''[[Robotech (comics)|Robotech]]'' #0 (2002)
*''[[Coup d'Etat (comics)|Coup d'état: Sleeper]]'' (2004)
*''[[Divine Right: The Adventures of Max Faraday]]'' #1–12 (1997–1999)
*The Intimates #1–6 (2005)
*''[[Wildcats (comics)|WildC.A.T.s]]'', (Vol. 4) #1 (2006)
*''Wildstorm Fine Arts Spotlight: Jim Lee'' (2006)
*''World of Warcraft Convention Exclusive Ashcan'' (2007)
*''Ex Machina'' #40 (2008)
{{div col end}}

====Image Comics====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Darker Image]]'' #1 (1993)
*''[[Deathblow (comics)|Deathblow]]'' #1–3; (with Trevor Scott): #0 (1993–96)
*''[[Deathmate]]'' Black (among other artists) (1993)
*''[[Divine Right (comic)|Divine Right]]'' #1–12 (1997–99)
*''[[Gen¹³|Gen<sup>13</sup>]]'' #0, 4–7 (1994)
*''[[Grifter (character)|Grifter]]/Shi'', 2-part miniseries, #1 (with [[Travis Charest]]) (1996)
*''Moonlight and Ashes: Fire From Heaven'', 2-part miniseries, #2 (1996)
*''[[Savage Dragon]]'' #13 (1994)
*''[[StormWatch (comics)|StormWatch]]'' #47 (1997)
*''[[Wildcats (comics)|WildC.A.T.s]]'' (Vol. 1) #1–13 (1992–94), #19 (1995), #31–32 (1996–97), #50 (1998)
*''Wildcats/X-Men: The Silver Age'' #1 (1997)
{{div col end}}

====Marvel Comics====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''[[Alpha Flight (comic book)|Alpha Flight]]'' #51, 53, 55–62, 64 (1987–88)
*''[[Classic X-Men]]'' #39 (new backup story) (1989)
*''[[Daredevil (Marvel Comics series)|Daredevil]] Annual'' #5 (1989)
*''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' (Vol. 2) #1–6 (1996–97) 
*''Guardians of the Galaxy'' #10 (1991)
*''[[Iron Man (comic book)|Iron Man]]'' (Vol. 2) #6 (among other artists) (1997)
*''[[Justice (New Universe)|Justice]]'' #30 (1989)
*''[[Marvel Comics Presents]]'' #33 (1989)
*''[[Peter Parker: Spider-Man|Spider-Man]]'' #10 (co-inker) (1991)
*''[[The Punisher (1987 series)|Punisher Annual]]'' #2 (1989)
*''[[The Punisher War Journal (1988 series)|The Punisher War Journal]]'' #1–12, 17–19 (1988–90)
*''St. George'' #8 (1989)
*''[[Shadowline (Epic Comics)|Critical Mass]]'' #4 (among other artists) (1990)
*''[[Solo Avengers]]'' ([[Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)|Mockingbird]] story) #1 (1987)
*''[[Stryfe]]'s Strike File'' #1 (among other artists) (1993)
*''[[The Uncanny X-Men]]'' #248 (1989), 256–258 (1989–1990), 267–277 (1990–1991)
*''Uncanny X-Men 3D'' #1 (2019)
*''[[What The--?!]]'' #5 (1989)
*''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' (Vol. 2) #1–11 (1991–92)
*''X-Men Hot Shots'' (1996)
{{div col end}}

====Marvel Comics / Image Comics====
*''[[WildC.A.T.s/X-Men]]: The Silver Age'' (1997)

====Compilations====
*''Icons: The DC & Wildstorm Art 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 ====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''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 (Vertigo)|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 Annual'' 2022 (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 Gods]] Special: 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)

{{div col end}}

==== Dynamite ====
*''[[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 ====
*''Stormwatch'' #1-3 (1993)
*[[Wildcats (comics)|''WildC.A.T.s'']] (Vol. 1) #21 (1995)
*''Fire From Heaven'' #2 (1996)
*''[[Gen¹³|Gen 13]] Preview Edition'' (1997)
*''C-23'' #2 (variant cover) (1998)
*''[[Spawn (character)|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 ====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''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)
{{div col end}}

==== 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 ====
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*''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)
{{div col end}}

=== Writer ===
==== DC Comics ====
*''Scooby Apocalyspe'' #1 (2016)

==== Image Comics ====
* ''Stormwatch'' #0 (1993), #3 (1993)
* ''Darker Image'' #1 (1993)
* ''[[Wildcats (comics)|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 (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' (Vol. 2) #1–12 (plot)  (1996–97) 
* ''X-Men Wrath of Apocalypse'' #1 (1996)

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Comicbookdb|type=creator|id=7|title=Jim Lee}}
* {{DeviantArt|jimlee00|Jim Lee}}
* {{Twitch|jimlee|Jim Lee}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [http://www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/creator.php?creatorid=100 Jim Lee] at Mike's Amazing World of Comics
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/naml14.htm#N31 Jim Lee] at the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
* {{YouTube|user=jimlee00}}
* [https://discord.gg/jimlee Jim Lee] on [https://discordapp.com/ Discord]
* [https://gelatometti2.blogspot.com/ Sun of Gelatometti] – A blog of multiple artists, including Jim Lee
* {{cite web|url=https://www.carnegie.org/our-work/article/headline-great-immigrant-jim-lee/|title=Great Immigrant: Jim Lee|author=Jongsma + O’Neill; Ong, Chuan Ming|publisher=[[Carnegie Corporation of New York]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=July 4, 2024|access-date=September 14, 2024|archive-date=September 14, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240914202350/https://www.carnegie.org/our-work/article/headline-great-immigrant-jim-lee/}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' artist<br>(with [[Whilce Portacio]] from 1991–1992)|before=[[Marc Silvestri]]|after=[[Brandon Peterson]]|years=1990–1992}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 2 writer|before=[[Chris Claremont]]|after=[[Fabian Nicieza]]|years=1992<br/>(with Chris Claremont)}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[Fantastic Four]]'' writer/artist|before=[[Tom DeFalco]]|after=[[Scott Lobdell]] (writer)<br> [[Brett Booth]] (artist)|years=1996–1997<br/>(with [[Brandon Choi]])}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[Iron Man]]'' writer|before=[[Terry Kavanagh]]|after=[[Kurt Busiek]]|years=1996–1997<br/>(with Scott Lobdell and Jeph Loeb)}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[Batman (comic book)|Batman]]'' artist|before=[[Scott McDaniel]]|after=[[Eduardo Risso]]|years=2002–2003}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[Superman (comic book)|Superman]]'' artist|before=Scott McDaniel|after=[[Ed Benes]]|years=2004–2005}}
{{Succession box|title=Publisher of DC Comics<br>(with [[Dan DiDio]] from 2010–2020)|before=[[Paul Levitz]]|after=current|years=2010–present}}
{{Succession box|title=[[Chief creative officer]] of [[DC Entertainment]]|before=[[Geoff Johns]]|after=current|years=2018–present}}
{{Succession box|title=''[[Justice League]]'' vol. 2 artist|before=n/a|after=[[Gary Frank (artist)|Gary Frank]] and [[Ethan Van Sciver]]|years=2011–2012}}
{{end}}

{{Jim Lee}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Jim}}
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