When fans think of DC, the first thing that usually comes to mind is their iconic foundational characters. Names like Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have been captivating comic readers for almost 90 years. In turn, the creators who have put their talents to the test of bringing these characters to life have also earned fans respect. Among this lofty group is the talented Jorge Jiménez.
Coming soon to Kickstarter, Clover Press, the home of impressive comic art collections from artists like Alex Maleev, Michael Turner and David Mack, will bring this deluxe treatment to The DC Art of Jorge Jiménez. An impressive collection of the talented artist’s work with DC’s best known and beloved characters.
Recently, in advance of the launch of the Kickstarter campaign, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jorge. We discuss his artistic beginnings, and working with DC. Plus the responsibility he feels when drawing characters like Batman and Superman and his upcoming art book. So, let’s welcome talented artists and creator Jorge Jiménez to GVN Talking Comics.
Jorge’s Inspirations
GVN: Thank you so much for sharing some of your time, Jorge. I really appreciate it. Since this is the first time, I have had the pleasure of talking to you, I want to start with a bit of your artistic beginnings. When did you first take an interest in comic art, and whose work inspired you to pursue it?
Jorge: My passion for drawing was first sparked by animated cartoons, even before I had ever seen a comic book. I was born in 1986, so I’m a Ninja Turtles kid! But it was Dragon Ball—both the manga and the anime—that truly drove me crazy about drawing. The original Superman movie was the beginning of my love for superheroes, a passion that continued with the Batman film. It wasn’t until later that I began exploring American comic books, and my world changed forever with works like The Dark Knight Returns. As a teenager, Batman: Hush by Jim Lee and All-Star Superman, among other masterpieces, completely blew my mind on an artistic level.
Making DC His Home
GVN: You are mostly identified with your brilliant work for DC, but you have done equally great work for other publishers, including Image, IDW and Somos Arte. Is it a matter of comfort, projects or creative freedom that tends to “draw” (pun intended) you back into DC’s creative world? (I can’t imagine that ANY publisher wouldn’t love to have you doing books for them).
Jorge: DC has become a home to me. Superman and Batman have been my favorite superheroes since I was a child, and when I gradually began taking my first steps with the publisher, I felt truly appreciated. I’ve always felt valued and respected as an artist here. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with incredible editors at DC, and to this day, I still feel the same excitement to tell new stories with these amazing characters.
The Challenge of Working with DC’s Foundational Characters
GVN: Since you mentioned Superman and Batman, when it came to working on some of DC’s foundational characters, i.e. Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman, did you ever have any trepidation on working with such iconic characters? Long-time fans have an almost maternal feeling about how they should look and behave.
Jorge: I always try to stay as true as possible to the essence of these characters—it’s something I work on consciously. I know they’re not mine, they’re not my toys; they’re magical trophies that have inspired millions of people for decades as icons of pop culture. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to portray them through my own perspective. That’s why, when people respond positively to my work and I receive heartfelt messages from fans of these superheroes, it completes a circle that strengthens my confidence as an artist. So yes—always with respect, never with fear, and always with joy.
Clover Press – The DC Art of Jorge Jiménez
GVN: It was with much excitement on my end that I saw that Clover Press is collaborating with you on your upcoming Art Book, “The DC Art of Jorge Jimenez, which is coming to Kickstarter. How did this project come to fruition and were they the first to approach you about such a project?
Jorge: Yes, I remember the call from my agent explaining everything to me—it was such an exciting moment! Hank Kanalz was the one who took the initiative, and later he personally walked me through all the details. He’s a great professional—always has been—and the team at Clover, in general, is doing an amazing job with all of this. They have some brilliant ideas! I have to admit, I’ve had to catch up on the whole process behind creating this kind of book, but going back through all my work from over the years has been a nostalgic and incredibly rewarding experience.
Choosing From A lifetime of Work
GVN: I can imagine the nostalgia that looking over your body of work could produce. When it came to deciding on what would be included in this collection, how difficult was it to decide which of your pieces would be included and did DC have any input?
Jorge: DC of course has the final say in all of this, every image displayed in it, from the book to the advertisements of any kind are supervised by them, it’s an official product, and I love that!
As for me… It’s been many years and considering that I produce pages daily—and have created hundreds of covers—I have to admit that the initial selection process was quite challenging. You know, I’ve been pretty active on social media over the years, and that’s really helped me see which pages or covers resonated most with followers. That insight was a huge help when it came to curating the content.
The Kickstarter Campaign
GVN: I want to thank you again for your kind indulgence, Jorge. Before I let you go, I want to give you a chance to let our fans know about the upcoming Kickstarter Campaign and what they might find when they visit your site.
Jorge: Thank you all, truly. And what else can I say? Well… just to continue a bit with what I was mentioning earlier, I just did this little exercise: I imagined myself in third person, as if I were a fan of my own work. What would I want to see in a Jorge Jiménez art book? Probably a solid collection of all those images that went viral or became fan favorites over the years, all in one place—plus inks, character concept art, and so on. And you know what? That’s exactly what I added to this book! So I truly hope you all enjoy it, thanks again!!
This exciting collection, The DC Art of Jorge Jiménez by Clover Press opens its Kickstarter campaign on Monday, March 31st. If you are a fan of Jorge Jiménez work (as I am sure that most comic fans are), be sure to check out this amazing opportunity. You can find the campaign here.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
