Posted in: Batman, Comics, DC Comics | Tagged: comicspro, dark knight, frank miller, jim lee, klaus jansen

Jim Lee On Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Being His Origin Story

Jim Lee on Batman: The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Klaus Jansen and Lynne Varley being his origin story, at ComicsPRO

DC Comics Publisher, President and CCO Jim Lee, currently nine months late on his current Batman comic, introduced Klaus Janson and Frank Miller to the stage at ComicsPRO, the retailer event being held in Glendale, California, yesterday. And also talked about his own origin story and the role of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns forty years ago.

"Can you guys all remember where you guys were in February 1986? Don't tell me you weren't alive. That makes me feel very, very bad. Anyway, I was a senior in college, about to graduate, staring down a very responsible, very sensible path in medical school. My future seemed really mapped out, the predictable, practical and then The Dark Knight Returns came out  and, somewhere between midterms and med school applications, that book burst through my dorm room window, and smacked me square in the head like a lightning bolt. Sorry, that's the wrong character. But this book, it said, criminals are a superstitious and cowardly lot, and, as Frank and Klaus are my witnesses, I must become a comic book artist. Not a terribly fast one. Certainly not the most reliable. But absolutely, undeniably, this is what I had to do. This book didn't just change Batman. It didn't just change comics. It changed my life. And I would not be standing here in front of you all today, as President of DC Comics, without it. I suspect I'm not alone. I'm pretty sure about 90% of the modern industry traces some of its origin story back to those incredible four volumes.  But enough about my accidental origin story. Let's bring out the creative team behind the seminal work that redefined a character, revitalised an art form and reminded the world just how powerful and revolutionary comics can be. Please join me, welcoming the architects of that lightning bolt moment, Mr Frank Miller and Klaus Jansen."

More on that to come… and catch up with more of ComicsPRO right here.

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