Art of Jim Lee

[PercussionMasta]

What do you think about Jim Lee's art? Good? Bad? Better at different times?

[Mysterio]

I've always liked Jim's art. He hooked me with Uncanny back in the day. Heck, I started reading Batman again because of him!

[PercussionMasta]

I started reading Batman again because of him! Same with me, except that I never read Batman before. Jim Lee got me into it, and I've stuck with it.

[Mysterio]

I started reading around #400... Frank Miller's Year One, Jim Aparo's Death in the Family, etc. Over time, I lost interest. Then, when I heard Lee was hopping on board I was stoked. His compositions are great- very dynamic. His is a very unique style that, luckily, has never been duplicated.

[PercussionMasta]

I seriously think he is one of, if not, the best comic book artists out there. I find myself comparing every single other artist to Jim Lee, and rating it according to how it stands up to Lee's work. Do you think that's unfair?

[Murrocko]

I seriously think he is one of, if not, the best comic book artists out there. I find myself comparing every single other artist to Jim Lee, and rating it according to how it stands up to Lee's work. Do you think that's unfair?
I pretty much do the same thing.

He helped get me hooked on DC.

[Violently Apathetic]

I'm not an art student (even worse, I'm a self admitted philistine) so I can only go with what appeals to me, I really can't pick out a lot of the technical details and stuff that makes one person a better artist than another. So if someone points out a poor use of cross hatching to me I just kinda stare blankly at them. With that in mind I LOVE Jim Lee's art simply because the characters are pretty. Yes, I'm shallow. I love the way he draws Nightwing and Jason Todd especially...

...though the visible human ears on Batman's cowl really creep me out

[The Shadow]

I'm gonna use part of your quote:
I seriously think he is one of, if not, the
most (arguably) overrated artist in comics today.

His stuff hasn't evolved or changed in 15 years.

All his faces look the same (Cyclops looks like Bruce Wayne who looks like Clark Kent who looks like Warren and so on) and all his women look the same (Catwoman looks like Psylocke who looks like Vicky Vale who looks like Rogue and so on).

He's a GREAT poster artist but I don't think he has the whole sequential art thing going. All his books look like mini-posters with no flow.

[rickfury188]

I love his work. It's so beautifully drawn and really helps the flow of the story.

[trickster]

I'm gonna use part of your quote:

His stuff hasn't evolved or changed in 15 years.

All his faces look the same (Cyclops looks like Bruce Wayne who looks like Clark Kent who looks like Warren and so on) and all his women look the same (Catwoman looks like Psylocke who looks like Vicky Vale who looks like Rogue and so on).



Gee, what a surprise. It's the same for all the artists. Ed Benes' women look more or less the same, Joe (not sure about his surname) Bennett's faces look the same, you can tell Alex Ross', John Byrne or Paul Gulacy's faces, straight away. These are artists that I could spot right away, even if their names weren't on the frontpage. Breyfogle too, but I never really liked his artwork. Jim Lee, you can tell by the faces that it's him. There are other artists that I couldn't recognize if you put a gun to my head (Eaglesham, for instance, or Jimenez). And yes, he may not make such a clever/artistic use of panels like ToddMcFarlane did in Infinity Inc or Mike Grell in the Longbow Hunters, but he gets the job done. And since I mentioned Mike Grell, his Green Arrow in LH looked a lot like Warlord. The eyes were the same.
And I was about to forget: Perez's faces have their similarities too. Check it out. Read Teen Titans and tell me that Wally's hair doesn't curl the same as Robin's, not to mention the cheekbones, chin, eyes and nose.

[Indefatigable]

I like Lee a lot, he art is very "pretty". I thought of the face thing before too, then I realized it's pretty much the same for every artist.

[The Shadow]

It's the same for all the artists.
No it's not. Granted all artists have a certain STYLE, most artists evolve. Byrne from early 70's to X-Men/FF era to Next Men has shown a progression (some say regression... but that's for a different thread). Lee is the same.

Ed Benes' women look more or less the same
More or less, yes. But open up the Artemis mini he did years ago and compare it with his Action Comics. TOTALLY different.

Mike Deodato has also changed from his Wonder Woman years to his Amazing Spider-Man.

you can tell Alex Ross'
His Superman doesn't look like Green Lantern (other than the wrinkes) and his Batman is TOTALLY different.

And yes, he may not make such a clever/artistic use of panels like ToddMcFarlane did in Infinity Inc or Mike Grell in the Longbow Hunters, but he gets the job done.
I never said he didn't... but he draws mini posters whereas McFarlane and Grell do sequential stories. Speaking of Todd... look at his Infinity work, compare that to his early Spider-Man stuff and then his last Spawn issues... TOTAL evolution. You can still tell it's McFarlane... but his style evolved.

What I'm saying is Jim Lee still draws in his early 90's style that he nailed with X-Men and WildCATS.

And since I mentioned Mike Grell, his Green Arrow in LH looked a lot like Warlord. The eyes were the same.
Yeah... but Grell's a better storyteller.

That's JUST as important in comics as being able to draw hot chicks or muscular women.

Perez's faces have their similarities too. Check it out. Read Teen Titans and tell me that Wally's hair doesn't curl the same as Robin's, not to mention the cheekbones, chin, eyes and nose.
See above regarding Todd and apply it to Perez. Sure you can see the similarities... but his style has evolved and again, he can tell a sequential story!

I'm not saying he's horrible... but I think there are WAAAAAAY better artists out there that can tell a better story, have nicer styles and don't get the recognition Lee does.

Do I hate him? Hell no! He's GREAT... just overrated IMO.

[MythicBrawn]

Love his work. One of the best in the business.

[mohammedali]

I really like his work. Although his action scenes aren't as developed as other artists, he does very good stance work.

[LoganCross]

Bottom Line......

JIM LEE IS THE MASTER!!!!!!

[The Shadow]

he does very good stance work.
What do you mean by that?

Like poses and poster type shots?

[Doom Hammer]

Jim Lee's okay. I agree that he's overrated, because his style has not changed and it still kind of reminiscent of the *ugh* 90's, and he doesn't quite have a lock on the whole sequential flow. Not like some guys do, at least. David Lapham's Daredevil versus Punisher mini was not the prettiest thing, but it had a great flow and sense of movement to it.

Personally, I'll take a Michael Lark or an Alex Maleev over a Jim Lee or a Dave Finch any day of the week.

[GRANDPA]

I'm gonna use part of your quote:

most (arguably) overrated artist in comics today.

His stuff hasn't evolved or changed in 15 years.

All his faces look the same (Cyclops looks like Bruce Wayne who looks like Clark Kent who looks like Warren and so on) and all his women look the same (Catwoman looks like Psylocke who looks like Vicky Vale who looks like Rogue and so on).

He's a GREAT poster artist but I don't think he has the whole sequential art thing going. All his books look like mini-posters with no flow.
i agree...hes good but overrated

[seaflower]

I like Jim Lee because his art is pretty but I am more of a Tim Sale type of girl...

Some people like colour, I love the dark world of shadows and ink.

[meethraa]

I'm sure I've liked him at some point, and I do apreciate some of his pin-up work, but looking at the list of comics I buy these days I'd have to say that ASBAR is definitely the ugliest-looking of the bunch.

[Paul Kersey]

He is easily one of my favorite artists in comics. He got me reading Batman again also. His Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, and Batman work is great. I didn't like his work on Superman though. It seems like he didn't put as much time in to it as he did HUSH, but thats just my opinion.

Everyone says he hasn't progressed much and I think thats fine. Todd McFarlane progressed alright. Now he draws like Greg Capullo (which is funny because Greg Capullo eventually went from having his own style to imitating McFarlanes tick lines).

I thought Jim Lee fell off after seeing some of his Stan Lee's Just Imagine work, but he proved me wrong with HUSH.

[Origami]

Jim Lee,

is a very good artist, however, he's not a very good comicbook artist.
Comicbook is esentially about telling a good story. Each panel must work in sequence to tell a meaningful story. Jim's artworks are series of poses and splash panels. He lacks a fundimental ability to tell a story.

Unfortunately, lot of young artists are picking up his bad habits and non of his strengths. It's, sort of the way, old timers use to complain about lack of fundimentals in major league sports.

In the end, I would say, Jim's a good illustrator; and, not necessarily, a good comicbook artist.

[seaflower]

Ah yes I forgot to add...

I like the curves on Tim Sale's women than the overly exposed women of Jim Lee.

[cactusmaac]

I really enjoy his work despite only following him since Hush. He's the superhero artist par excellence.

It's a pity he's still yet to draw a story that's an undisputed classic rather than an eyecandy-filled guilty pleasure.

[botch]

I'm gonna use part of your quote:

most (arguably) overrated artist in comics today.

His stuff hasn't evolved or changed in 15 years.

All his faces look the same (Cyclops looks like Bruce Wayne who looks like Clark Kent who looks like Warren and so on) and all his women look the same (Catwoman looks like Psylocke who looks like Vicky Vale who looks like Rogue and so on).

He's a GREAT poster artist but I don't think he has the whole sequential art thing going. All his books look like mini-posters with no flow.


you probably don't have eyes because his stuff on X-men 1 is way different to Superman 204 and that's within 15 years.

Most people like Jim lee's art because it looks good, many many times have people seen my comic collection and immeadiately be drawn to either Alex ross, jim lee or Bryan hitch. and alot of times they see Lee's art and go 'woaahh', and i've seen it in comic stores aswell.

[The Shadow]

you probably don't have eyes because his stuff on X-men 1 is way different to Superman 204 and that's within 15 years.
:rolleyes:

And I never said he was bad... he just can't draw a sequential story (as others have saiid as well) and is a GREAT poster artist

[Steel Spider]

I enjoy Jim Lee's work but he is not my favourite artist.

[Gargus]

He is one of my favorites and is a damn good artist and one of the best. I wont say any one person is the best as there are quite a few in there own respect are better than others. I think alex ross is fantastic, Bryan hitch is great and so on. They all have great ability.

I first noticed jim lee when he drew the Xmen in 91 when it started and I remember thinking he drew the best versions of the xmen, especially magneto. And while you can still show me jim lee art and I can tell you he drew it without knowing who did it he has gotten better. Especially in terms of making the charcter more of who they are and look like you would expect if that makes sense.

In that 12 issue stint of superman not long ago he did some of his best work in terms of detail I thought, especially in supermans poses.

[Comic Rush]

Love him or hate him. He's a hall of famer in the modern age of comic books. In my opinion he was of the artist that have influenced many young middle age people to collect and get interested in comic books. He has also influenced many new artists today. He's survived through the test of time and one of the best comic book artist.

[The Batman]

i like Jim Lee but he's far from my favourite artist. my biggest complaint is the sameness that his characters can occasionally have.

[Citizen V]

Jim Lee`s run on Batman was good,i have to say..he drew Batman rather good.Fluid and solid,very good.I hope they put his run into a TPB format...

[Mia]

I prefer his older stuff, because it was more gritty and sexy, However I still love his work, he is the only reason I am bothering with ASB&R.

[The Shadow]

I hope they put his run into a TPB format...
It's called Hush Vol 1 and Hush Vol 2

[dancj]

Jim Lee's art does nothing for me. His work is competent, but very stiff. If I fancy a dose of early 90's Image house style art (which isn't often), I'd prefer Todd McFarlane's art. There's much more energy and fun to it.

(OTOH, Jim Lee is by all accounts a much nicer person)

Dan

[atlcane]

I really like his work. The only reason that I am currently picking up All Star Batman. DC owes him big for his runs on Batman and Superman. He single handedly resurrected those titles. Too bad it did not take long to suck them up again.

[PercussionMasta]

One of the many reasons that I love Jim Lee is that I watched a couple of videos of him drawing. I'm floored by the ease with which he illustrates, and the amount of action conveyed in his pencils. Also, I was very impressed with his knowledge of art techniques, and he communicated a genuine desire to me of always searching for new techniques. His talks about effect-type stuff were particularly intriguing.

[thetube]

Jim Lee has great compositions, but faces are lost in the shuffle sometimes.

[the goddamn batman]

Jim Lee needs to learn to draaw another face or two. This is Jims biggest problem. But I don't believe Jim went to art school, so...

Jim's attention to detail is second to almost none. If any at all.

Jim is one of the fastest guys in comics, which is odd seeing as his books are always late. But still, damn fast.

Jims watercolor, and more expperimental art, found out of comics, is monumental stuff, Jim is talented, he just doesn't get work for that kind of art. I recently saw a picture of Havok on Jims blog, and it blew away any thing he's done in a comic in the last 10 years easy.

Jim's great, but new faces, and more painting would be great.

Alex Ross does not draw the same faces over and over, well he does because he uses photo reference for every panel, of every page. Look in the back of the Kingdom Come trade, there is a credit for all of the people he used as models for the characters. Superman always looks the same, as does batman, as does wonder woman, and they should. But they should not all look like they come from the same family. It was like the freakin X-Partridge Family when jim drew x-men!

[synthetikdemon]

I thought Hush's artwork was excellent, the best stuff JL had drawn in years , but when he went to Superman, who I thought JL would have been way more suitable for, it didn't work for me. Maybe it was the story, but JL superman run, just seemed, ordinary, even though hyped as an "event".

[Jaye]

Jims watercolor, and more expperimental art, found out of comics, is monumental stuff, Jim is talented, he just doesn't get work for that kind of art. I recently saw a picture of Havok on Jims blog, and it blew away any thing he's done in a comic in the last 10 years easy.


Got a link to that pic?

[PercussionMasta]

Got a link to that pic? It's on his blog somewhere: http://gelatometti2.blogspot.com/


But I don't believe Jim went to art school, so... I don't think that's completely correct, I think he has had some classical training. I don't remember if he has a full art degree, though.

[Lubichev]

The first issue of Batman:Hush was one of the most exciting books I'd seen in a long time because of Lee's art. He made Batman, his gadgets and his city look so so so cool.
Now, I see that every hero has the exact same body type. Seen one Lee superhero, you've seen them all.

Still, a kick ass artist. I wish I could draw like him.

[HalWho]

I really enjoy his work. Generally, when I read I am comparing what the artists done to what Jim does. If I don't like it then I won't read it, I'll just catch the spoilers when they come out.

[BYC]

He's probably my favorite artist, and I pick up pretty much everything he does of the DC and Marvel. I loved Hush (his Batman...wow), I loved his Heroes Reborn stuff (Thing and Doom were ridiculous), I love his X-Men (I think he created an entire generation of drooling Psylocke fanboys).

His strengths are so strong that people (this thread for example) ignore his weaknesses. Lots of people believe comics are about superheroes kicking butt, and Jim Lee is one of the best at convery the action and impact of fights and action scenes (just look at when Batman punched Superman with the ring on).

[Black Atom]

Lee's a decent artist but highly, highly overrated and far past his peak which was back in his X-Men days. As an artist, he's sorta stagnated. He was much better when he was young and hungry. Artists that started out as clones of him, like J. Scott Campbell, have now surpassed him in terms of story-telling ability and especially the ability to render different characters. He's gotten used to falling back on the same template for every character; so much so that you can't tell Superman from E2 Superman from Superboy Prime from an average-guy priest or Lois from an aged, near-death Lois. He even admitted at an All Star Batman panel that he'd gotten really lazy and couldn't even draw a rabbit when the script called for it. He should try to develop his watercolor work or...hell, just try. His work is so devoid of its former energy that it's pretty saddening.

[jboncha]

I love Jim Lee's art.
It was right around the time that X-Men #1 came out that I really got into comics so his art will always have a place in my heart.
I love fact that he recently did Batman and Superman.
Before then I had never really read those comics much less any DC comics but now I grab more and more of them but I still a Marvel head at heart.
I cant wait until the For Tomrrow storyline gets put out in TPB.
Those HCs are too expenisive.



J B

[effang]

Jim Lee needs to learn to draaw another face or two. This is Jims biggest problem. But I don't believe Jim went to art school, so...

Jim's attention to detail is second to almost none. If any at all.

Jim is one of the fastest guys in comics, which is odd seeing as his books are always late. But still, damn fast.

Jims watercolor, and more expperimental art, found out of comics, is monumental stuff, Jim is talented, he just doesn't get work for that kind of art. I recently saw a picture of Havok on Jims blog, and it blew away any thing he's done in a comic in the last 10 years easy.

Jim's great, but new faces, and more painting would be great.

Alex Ross does not draw the same faces over and over, well he does because he uses photo reference for every panel, of every page. Look in the back of the Kingdom Come trade, there is a credit for all of the people he used as models for the characters. Superman always looks the same, as does batman, as does wonder woman, and they should. But they should not all look like they come from the same family. It was like the freakin X-Partridge Family when jim drew x-men!


Have a link to Havok picture? It's hard navigating that blog

[Dustin Griffin]

most (arguably) overrated artist in comics today.

His stuff hasn't evolved or changed in 15 years.


Jim Lee has changed several times over the years, for instance:

-Jim Lee's art on Punisher War Journal was lightyears different than his work on X-Men.

-Jim did an entire issue of Wildcats using absolutely no crosshatching (Purposefully).

-Some of the images from Divine Right were done on gray paper with ink and wash.

-Wildcats vs X-Men featured a ton of radically different sequential panel layouts, sometimes incorporating twenty panels on a page, sometimes as little as three.

-His work on Deathblow is different than anything he has ever done.

-even as late as his Batman run Lee is trying new things, such as the raw pencil and water color panels interlaced with traditional pen and ink.

http://static.flickr.com/27/94460047_911815828d.jpg

[The Punished]

Jim Lee has changed several times over the years, for instance:

-Jim Lee's art on Punisher War Journal was lightyears different than his work on X-Men.

-Jim did an entire issue of Wildcats using absolutely no crosshatching (Purposefully).

-Some of the images from Divine Right were done on gray paper with ink and wash.

-Wildcats vs X-Men featured a ton of radically different sequential panel layouts, sometimes incorporating twenty panels on a page, sometimes as little as three.

-His work on Deathblow is different than anything he has ever done.

-even as late as his Batman run Lee is trying new things, such as the raw pencil and water color panels interlaced with traditional pen and ink.

http://static.flickr.com/27/94460047_911815828d.jpg

I agree. I still like his Punisher work & would like to see more from him. I was a bit disappointed after lofty expections during the Image beginnings. Deathblow irritated me. Not the character just the presentation. Black & white no words with a backing story longer than the initial Deathblow pages.

I still respect the man. Wish I could see more Jim Lee & Whilce Portacio work.

[Dustin Griffin]

I agree. I still like his Punisher work & would like to see more from him. I was a bit disappointed after lofty expections during the Image beginnings.

Yes, the first Jim Lee work at Image seemed a bit rushed.

[The Punished]

None of the creators from the original Image exodus gave us any original ideas. To me, they were retreads of their most previous Marvel runs.

[effang]

-Jim did an entire issue of Wildcats using absolutely no crosshatching (Purposefully).

-Some of the images from Divine Right were done on gray paper with ink and wash.

-even as late as his Batman run Lee is trying new things, such as the raw pencil and water color panels interlaced with traditional pen and ink.


I'm not an artist, so...explain some stuff to me. Can you upload pics of these 3 examples you mentioned? I have no idea what crosshatching is.

I've never read Divine Right, how does gray paper with ink add anything? Just a different medium?

Finally, any examples of raw pencil and water color panels? Was this in hush? Or Supes and Bats? or something else.

thanks

[Dustin Griffin]

I'm not an artist, so...explain some stuff to me. Can you upload pics of these 3 examples you mentioned? I have no idea what crosshatching is.

I've never read Divine Right, how does gray paper with ink add anything? Just a different medium?

Finally, any examples of raw pencil and water color panels? Was this in hush? Or Supes and Bats? or something else.

thanks

Certainly:

Here is the Divine Right on gray-

http://photos2.flickr.com/1820861_6a42b6a9c5.jpg

And here is some of the wash and watercolor work (yes it is from Hush)-

http://www.dustygriffin.com/batgirl.jpg

http://www.dustygriffin.com/bruce.jpg

In retrospect I dont think the Wildcats without crosshatching was an entire issue, but If I can dig up the art I will post it.

[Babylon23]

I have to say that I'm not a fan of Lee's style. I'm generally not a fan of cross-hatching.

However, I can acknowledge that he is a highly skilled artist, and I can see why he's so popular. He obviously has a good sense of anatomy, his backgrounds are usually highly detailed, and he seems to put his all into every project he works on.

I think his storytelling technique leaves a little to be desired, and his characters seem to be posing more often than not, but a lot of modern artists use these techniques, and often with less skill than Lee employs.

Funnily enough, I prefer when he gets a bit more experimental. I think the water colour pages from Hush are the best pages in that story, and my favourite Lee project artistically was Deathblow. I'd like to see him try more of those techniques on future projects.

[Jason H]

I think he's the best Batman artist in the business.

[Young Avenger]

I'm not an art student (even worse, I'm a self admitted philistine) so I can only go with what appeals to me, I really can't pick out a lot of the technical details and stuff that makes one person a better artist than another. So if someone points out a poor use of cross hatching to me I just kinda stare blankly at them. With that in mind I LOVE Jim Lee's art simply because the characters are pretty. Yes, I'm shallow. I love the way he draws Nightwing and Jason Todd especially...

...though the visible human ears on Batman's cowl really creep me out

I'm also shallow when it comes to art. I'm also completely clueless when it comes to the technical aspects. If an artist can make the characters pretty I consider them good.

[jboncha]

I think he's the best Batman artists in the business.
I'll agree with that.



J B

[dancj]

Certainly:

Here is the Divine Right on gray

Much as I don't like his art, that Divine Right picture is quite good

[effang]

the havoc picture is very nice too. i found it on his blog. he says he used white-out, if you get a hi-res, you can see the actual white out texture in the center of his suit...awesome!

[Titan76]

I like Jim Lee's art but I do to think he is overrated and don't understand all the hype with fans when it comes to his art. His art looks real good but I think Marc Silvestri has the best looking art and that George Perez is the best of all-time at telling the story with his art.

[effang]

So, how about some cross hatch examples?

[choisez]

Yeah, I like his art too.

-Eddy
Art of Jim Lee (http://groups.msn.com/artofjimlee)