Jim Lee
A Korean American artist who reshaped the visual language of superhero comics and now steers the creative future of DC Comics.
Born 1964 (age 62)·Korean American artist·Birthday: August 11·Baby Boomers
Biography
Jim Lee arrived in the United States as a child, and his journey from a pre-med student to a comic book titan is a story of obsessive passion. He exploded onto the scene in the late 1980s at Marvel, where his hyper-detailed, kinetic style on titles like 'X-Men' defined an era, making him a fan favorite. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Image Comics, a seismic shift that gave creators unprecedented ownership. There, his 'WildC.A.T.s' became a flagship title. Lee's eventual move to DC Comics was a homecoming of sorts, where he not only produced seminal runs on 'Batman' but ascended to a leadership role. As the publisher and chief creative officer, he now oversees the entire DC universe, bridging its storied past with its multimedia future, all while never putting down his pen.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Jim was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Jim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-founded Image Comics in 1992, revolutionizing the industry by giving creators ownership of their work.
- His run on 'X-Men' #1 (1991) remains the best-selling comic book of all time, with over 8 million copies sold.
- Served as the executive creative director for the DC Universe Online video game.
- Currently holds the positions of Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, guiding its publishing and multimedia strategy.
Did You Know?
He was originally studying to be a doctor at Princeton University before switching to a career in art.
He once drew an entire 24-page comic book in a single, non-stop 48-hour session.
His original art pages have sold at auction for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
““The best stories are the ones that stay with you, that you think about later, that change the way you look at the world.””
