10 of Jim Lee’s Most Exceptional DC Comics Covers

Jim Lee is easily one of the greatest comic book artists in recent history, not just for DC Comics, but across a multitude of publishers, including Marvel Comics and Image Comics. Jim Lee has used his artistic talents on the likes of X-Men, Batman, and WildC.A.T.s, but has since made DC his exclusive professional home, as Jim Lee’s currently the President, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics.

However, before taking a more behind-the-scenes position at DC Comics, Jim Lee was on the front lines for the publisher, producing some of the most jaw-dropping artwork imaginable. And there’s no better place to feature outstanding artwork in the comic book medium than right on the cover. Here are 10 of Jim Lee’s most exceptional DC Comics covers!

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10 Jim Lee Ushered In a New Era for DC Comics’ Justice League

New 52’s Justice League #1 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee

The entire DC Universe did a hard reset in the early 2010s with the launch of the New 52, and the flagship title for the New 52 initiative was the Justice League. Not only was Jim Lee the series artist at the time, but his cover artwork was quite literally the poster for this new era of DC Comics.

The essence of the classic Justice League is perfectly captured in this artwork, but more than that, this cover also has a more modernized style, conveying that this is a new chapter for these iconic DC Comics heroes.

9 Jim Lee Gives Batman & Robin the ‘All Star’ Treatment

All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder #9 by Frank Miller and Jim Lee

Arguably the greatest depiction of Batman and Robin together in the history of DC Comics, this cover art perfectly showcases both characters and how they view fighting crime on the streets of Gotham City. Batman is serious and intense, while Robin is bright-eyed and smiling. Both are drenched in shadow, shocked by an unwelcome spotlight, but they wear very different expressions when confronted by their unseen opponent.

This book was part of the ‘All Star’ initiative DC Comics gave to its A-list characters, and Jim Lee certainly gave Batman and Robin the ‘All Star’ treatment with this cover art.

8 Jim Lee Showcases the True Power of DC’s Most Terrifying Villain: Darkseid

Justice League Vol. 2 #6 by Geoff Johns and Jim Lee

Darkseid is perhaps the most terrifying villain in the entire DC Universe, as he’s a multiversal New God whose existence is far beyond the grasp of human understanding – and this cover art conveys that perfectly. This issue also takes place during the New 52 era, which means this is a reintroduction of Darkseid to the modern fandom. In true Darkseid fashion, he’s standing over the defeated Justice League, who can do nothing but look up at the seemingly unbeatable super-villain and hope he doesn’t simply obliterate them on the spot.

It’s difficult to capture the true power-level of any character with one image alone, but Jim Lee manages to do so expertly with Darkseid on this Justice League cover.

7 Jim Lee Depicts Batman as the Protector of Gotham City Better than Anyone

Batman #608 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee

This issue is the beginning of perhaps the most iconic DC Comics storyline Jim Lee ever brought to life through his artwork: Hush. Hush was a twisted mystery that pushed Batman to the very brink of his breaking point, which is why this cover art is so brilliant. It’s not just a picture of Batman, it’s an image capturing Batman as the protector of Gotham City that brings to life his strength and confidence in ways almost no other depictions have.

It’s ironic that this very storyline makes the Dark Knight question his effectiveness as Gotham’s protector, especially with this cover art depicting Batman so confidently watching over his city from above.

6 Jim Lee Gives Superman the Same ‘Confident Protector’ Energy as Batman

Superman #204 by Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee

This cover art is something of a callback to the artwork featured on the cover of Batman #608, or perhaps it’s the continued treatment of superheroes drawn in this same style/pose. Either way, this cover art is a reflection of the artwork done in the previous Batman issue, as Superman is in the exact same pose, looking over his city with a sense of self-confidence. The difference is that Superman and Batman are facing opposite directions (or towards each other) and it’s daytime in Superman’s version, as opposed to Batman blanked by the night.

The fact that these two pieces of artwork are mirror reflections of one another adds a meta-layer of artistic storytelling to the dynamic between Batman and Superman. In many ways, they are opposites, but they still represent the same brand of superhero justice – and that’s exactly what this and the Batman cover subtly convey.

5 Jim Lee Gives the Joker the Beating of His Life

Batman #614 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee

This cover art continues the fantastic work Jim Lee did for the Batman: Hush storyline, and it even stands out among the other immensely impressive covers for its sheer brutality. In the book, Batman beats the Joker to the brink of death because he thinks the Joker killed a friend of his. Funny enough, the Joker was innocent, which made the beating he took even more brutal.

Without even opening the comic, DC fans know exactly what to expect from this issue by looking at the cover art alone. In this case, that was the knowledge that the Joker was going to get the beating of his life.

4 Jim Lee Depicts Superman Going Full Dark Side

Superman #205 by Brian Azzarello and Jim Lee

While Superman was in no way evil in this storyline, it would be fair to assume otherwise just by looking at this comic cover alone. The artwork shows Superman taking on a barrage of bullets and rockets alike, with his expression being one of anger, and his eyes glowing red as if charging his heat vision. Superman is in the middle of a warzone, and he’s proving that he’s a one-man army.

The active movement and raw emotion captured in a still illustration like this is evidence enough of Jim Lee’s truly exceptional skills as an artist.

3 Jim Lee Forces Batman to Face His Deepest, Darkest Fears

Batman #618 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee

True to the storyline within it, this Batman comic cover shows the Dark Knight running from the undead skeletal remains of Robin while a pair of sinister eyes watch him from above. These images are metaphorical, but they perfectly capture what Batman is feeling at the time. Hush is closing in on Batman, and the Caped Crusader is nowhere closer to ending the villain’s reign of terror he has unleashed not just on Gotham City, but in Batman’s personal life as well.

Batman: Hush is one of the most tumultuous times in Batman’s life, as the fears and anxieties he keeps buried deep within himself are forcibly brought to the surface with the introduction of Hush himself – and this cover art conveys that brilliantly.

2 Jim Lee Gives Batman a Triumphant End to the Iconic Hush Storyline

Batman #619 by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee

After everything Batman is put through during Hush, he finally comes out of it victorious – and this cover art shows that perfectly. Standing atop a building at dawn, right there next to Robin and Barbara Gordon, Batman looks out at his city the same way he did on the cover of the issue that started this storyline, perhaps with even a tad more conviction and a newfound humility.

This cover art looks like it’s featuring a Batman that’s been reborn, one who suffered the horrors of the darkest night he’d ever faced, and came out the other end a better hero and person having gone through that experience.

1 Jim Lee Makes DC Comics’ Trinity Look More Badass than Ever

Infinite Crisis #1 by Geoff Johns and Phil Jimenez

Wonder Woman brandishing her sword, Batman surveying his surroundings, and Superman in an intimidating battle-ready position – this is how Jim Lee features DC’s Trinity on the cover of Infinite Crisis #1. Based on the severity and widespread impact of this storyline, the cover for its first issue does a perfect job at depicting these three top-tier superheroes as the warriors they truly are.

Indeed, DC’s Trinity has never looked more badass than they do on the cover of Infinite Crisis #1, which is exactly why this is one of Jim Lee’s 10 most exceptional DC Comics covers to date!