Jim Lee may be the President of DC Comics now, but he's also one of the great X-Men artists. Here are all 11 incredible X-Men covers drawn by Lee.
Summary
- Lee's X-Men #1 cover is iconic and played a significant role in making it the best-selling comic of all time.
- Some of Lee's X-Men covers lack dynamism and can be considered boring or basic.
- Lee's attention to detail and ability to create compelling compositions are evident in his X-Men covers, particularly in his depiction of Wolverine and Omega Red.
He’s known as the President of DC Comics these days, but Jim Lee first attained superstar status while drawing the X-Men in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Lee’s art was so popular that Marvel decided to give him his own X-Men title in 1991, resulting in what still stands as the best-selling comic book of all time.
After lauded runs on Alpha Flight and Punisher War Journal, Lee was given the assignment of guest-penciling Uncanny X-Men #248, the most popular title on the stands at the time. After a few more guest stints, Lee was officially made the series' regular penciler with Uncanny X-Men #267. He continued on the book until he was given his own spin-off book with long-time writer Chris Claremont on 1991’s record-breaking X-Men #1. Lee stayed with the series until the eleventh issue, after which he left with several other prominent Marvel artists to form Image Comics. Lee’s work on X-Men stands as some of the most iconic images the mutants have ever had in comics, with the covers in particular sticking out as particularly memorable. With that said, here are Jim Lee’s X-Men covers, ranked:
11 Lee's Final X-Men Cover
X-Men #11
It’s an image that was used several times for promotional purposes thereafter, but looking at the cover to X-Men #11 now, it appears that Lee was eager to be off the title and on to something new. While it’s a solid line-up shot of the X-cast, it’s certainly not the most dynamic composition that Lee came up with during his time on the series. Standing out as especially strange is Wolverine’s tiny hand and warped adamantium claws, which look like they’re swaying in the wind. All in all, it’s lacking the dynamism of Lee’s best work, leading to a cover that’s ultimately kind of boring.
10 Psylocke & Sabretooth Team Up?
X-Men #6
This image is classic Jim Lee, as Psylocke’s sleek and sexy pose is contrasted well against the hunched Sabretooth standing over a fallen Wolverine. A fan would most likely be intrigued after seeing Psylocke stand alongside one of the X-Men’s greatest villains while Wolverine lies beaten at their feet, so the cover does a good job of selling the issue to prospective readers. It’s a solid image, and certainly eye-catching, but it can’t help coming across as a tad basic. Jim Lee has drawn these poses time and time again, so the overall effect is lessened.
9 Gambit vs. Bishop! 'Nuff Said!
X-Men #8
X-Men #8 is another striking composition, and one that definitely roots it in a time and place. Jim Lee didn’t create the time-traveling X-Man Bishop, but he certainly put his mark on the character. Seeing Bishop standing over a wounded Gambit is imposing, with Rogue, Cyclops and Jubilee adding a bit of drama to the whole scene. A few things hold this cover back from being 100 percent successful. For one, the decision to color Bishop’s gun red makes it bleed into the “X-Men” logo, resulting in an awkward image. Also, not helping things is the cutaway to Ghost Rider in the lower third, which feels shoe-horned into the image.
8 X-Men Blue vs. X-Men Gold
X-Men #3
Lee’s cover for the third issue depicts a battle between the Blue and Gold teams of X-Men, so it acts as the perfect excuse for the superstar artist to draw all the characters in one image. A dynamic action scene will always make for a good cover, and including all the heavy-hitters of both teams is an added plus. Despite featuring all the characters in a pitched battle, the image is perhaps too cluttered, lacking a strong, central element to tie all the chaos together as the two teams of X-Men trade blows.
7 The Return of Longshot
X-Men #10
The X-Men #10 cover shakes things up by placing the foreground characters in color against a black and white backdrop, immediately making the image stand out. The return of the other-dimensional mutant Longshot is sure to grab any prospective reader’s attention, and getting to see Jim Lee draw the fan-favorite character is a treat in and of itself. Having Longshot being manhandled by supervillain Mojo keeps the image dynamic, and little touches like having the logo crumble as our hero is slammed into it go a long way in making this cover memorable.
6 Wolverine vs. Omega Red
X-Men #5
This cover depicting Wolverine and Omega Red is another heated action shot, as Lee captures a moment of vicious combat between the two mutants. One of the many aspects of Lee’s art that fans latched on to early on was the detail the artist could pack into a single image, and this cover shows Lee’s abilities in that regard with stunning aplomb. The dramatic under-lighting of Wolverine and Omega Red gives the two characters weight and menace, and details like the wound on Wolverine’s wrists showing where his adamantium claws are housed when not in use add a lot to the composition.
5 Magneto Triumphant
X-Men #2
This dramatic image of Magneto standing over a helpless Xavier immediately draws the reader in, as the mutant extremist uses his powers to bind his former friend while statues of his students litter the landscape around them. The chyron reading “Magneto Triumphant” feels almost unnecessary, as Lee’s image communicates the long-time X-foe’s return to villainy with the launch of the new X-Men series. Dynamic and powerful, the cover tells a story with a single image, showing off Lee’s figure drawing and knack for coming up with compelling compositions.
4 Lee's Covers Make This The Best-Selling Comic of All Time
X-Men #1
The cover for the first issue of the X-Men relaunch is one of the most iconic images in comic book history, and was one of the many factors that led to X-Men #1 becoming the best-selling comic of all time. With four variant covers that combine together into one giant image, perhaps the most impressive aspect is how the image can be broken up into four distinct covers that still work as a wide, landscape composition. The cover’s homage to the original X-Men #1 from the 1960s also adds to its charm, as Professor X’s mutants charge against their greatest foe, Magneto.
3 Wolverine vs. Ghost Rider
X-Men #9
No child of the '90s would be able to resist Jim Lee’s cover for X-Men #9, as Wolverine faces off against Ghost Rider in a battle for the ages. Fans were likely frothing at the mouth at the prospect of Lee drawing the Spirit of Vengeance, and the artist’s composition for this cover leans into his strengths as a visual stylist. Wolverine’s pose is brimming with coiled rage, and the two figures falling backwards as they fight gives the image energy and movement, making it seem like Wolverine and Ghost Rider are about to fall off the comic book page itself.
2 Lee's Best X-Men Face Omega Red
X-Men #4
The cover for X-Men #4 is classic Jim Lee, as it features the four characters the artist was most identified with. Lee co-created Gambit and Omega Red, and was also responsible for giving Jubilee her yellow overcoat and stylish sunglasses. As for Wolverine, Jim Lee left an indelible mark on the most popular X-Man, an iconic visual the artists who followed Lee chased for years. Having the three X-Men facing off against the unseen Omega Red gives the new villain his own sense of menace, and the hand and carbonadium tendril are all that’s required to make the super-villain feel like a major threat.
1 Wolverine & Omega Red Make For A Striking Image
X-Men #7
Jim Lee seems to be leaning hard into Barry Windsor-Smith territory with this cover, as the split view between Logan and Omega Red feels like a direct homage to the Weapon X writer/artist. The split-screen close-up is an incredible cover, featuring some of the most beautiful line-work that Lee has ever laid down. The monochromatic red coloring makes the image infinitely more dramatic, a striking visual element that complements Lee’s exquisite renderings perfectly. All of these elements coming together beautifully add up to one of Jim Lee’s finest X-Men drawings of all time.
