이용철 (Hangul) / 李鏞哲 (Hanja) | Lee Yong-chul (Spouse: Carla Lee; he is a father of nine children)
Jim Lee (born 1964) is a world-renowned Korean-American comic book artist, writer, editor, and executive. Known for his highly detailed, intensely crosshatched, and dynamic style, he is one of the most influential figures in the American comic book industry and was instrumental in defining the visual aesthetic of 1990s superhero comics.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lee moved to the United States as a young child and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from Princeton University with a degree in psychology and initially intended to become a medical doctor. However, driven by a lifelong passion for drawing, he pivoted to pursue a career in comic art.
Lee broke into the industry at Marvel Comics in the late 1980s, working on Alpha Flight and The Punisher War Journal. His career skyrocketed when he took over the art duties for Uncanny X-Men. In 1991, he partnered with writer Chris Claremont to launch X-Men Vol. 2, No. 1. The issue sold an unprecedented 8 million copies, securing the Guinness World Record for the best-selling single-issue comic book of all time. Lee’s kinetic character designs from this era defined the X-Men for a generation and heavily influenced the 1992 animated series.
In 1992, seeking greater creative control and creator rights, Lee and six other superstar artists left Marvel to co-found Image Comics. Under the Image umbrella, Lee launched his own studio, WildStorm Productions, creating successful original titles like WildC.A.T.s and Gen¹³.
In 1998, Lee sold WildStorm to DC Comics and transitioned to drawing some of DC’s most iconic characters. His 12-issue run on Batman: Hush (2002–2003) with Jeph Loeb, and Superman: For Tomorrow (2004–2005) with Brian Azzarello, were massive commercial successes. He also spearheaded the visual redesign for DC’s “The New 52” publishing initiative in 2011, illustrating the flagship Justice League title.
Today, Jim Lee serves as the President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Comics. He continues to guide the multimedia direction of the DC Universe across comics, film, and games, while maintaining his connection to fans through regular live-streamed art sessions.
Active in others filds : Executive Leadership (President, Publisher, and CCO of DC Comics), Video Game Concept Art & Executive Direction (DC Universe Online), Live-Streaming (Art instruction and process).
