Jim Lee has drawn some of the greatest images of Batman and Wolverine of all time, but one particular piece has a special relevance all its own. Iconic writer and industry giant Gail Simone recently shared a story from 2009 about the current DC President contributing a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork for a worthy cause.

This story is who Jim Lee is to me.

Sharing her story in a thread on X, Gail Simone says the rare Batman/Wolverine piece by Jim Lee was drawn during the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con to help comics legend John Ostrander, who was faced with the prospect of losing his eyesight if he didn’t receive surgery.

To help pay for the operation, Gail Simone teamed with several other creators to raise money. Simone successfully recruited the likes of Neal Adams, Matt Groening, and others to contribute art for a special benefit auction, but there was one artist she was particularly keen to involve: Jim Lee.

Jim Lee’s Batman/Wolverine Artwork Benefitted a Worthy Cause

Lee Is an Iconic Batman and X-Men Artist

Simone goes on to relate the incredible story of how Jim Lee contributed his piece (which is shared in the X post above):

“ At the time, just as now, Jim was the biggest artist in comics. Not to mention… …he was also my boss. When I asked him, I expected a no. He was scheduled tightly, it's SDCC, he had no free time at all. But when I told him of the auction, the only 'free' time he had was during a panel. A packed spotlight panel. So, being the guy he is, he decided he would draw a huge sketch DURING the panel, and put it up on the overhead screen while drawing so he could do the panel AND donate something amazing. He could have drawn anything. He chose to draw Batman, a huge beautiful Jim Lee Batman . Because he knew that would bring in the most dollars. We were all stunned. We couldn't believe it. ”

In addition to drawing Batman, Lee decided to throw in Wolverine, as well, bumping up the value of the piece even more. Simone relates how Lee did all of this during a panel at SDCC, “paying full attention to his fans, answering their questions…he went full Jim Lee. It looked like a cover, Batman and Wolverine, drawn while doing the last panel of the con. STUNNING.” In addition, Lee went the extra mile in putting the finishing touches to the piece, hanging around after the con was over to complete his Batman/Wolverine sketch.

Lee Is Known for His Work on Batman: Hush and X-Men

Since he’s been at DC for so long, it’s hard to remember a time when Jim Lee wasn’t drawing Batman. But the artist made a name for himself drawing the Uncanny X-Men at the tail end of the eighties and into the nineties, and his relaunched X-Men #1 in 1991 still stands as the highest-selling comic of all time with eight million copies sold. After leaving Marvel to form Image Comics in 1992, Lee would eventually sell his studio Wildstorm to DC in the late nineties. It took a few years, but he was eventually given the Batman title in 2002, drawing the “Hush” story-line and entering history as one of the all-time great Batman artists.

Jim Lee drawing Wolverine and Batman in the same sketch is a big deal, and shows the level of respect he had for fellow creators like John Ostrander. It was an amazing act of generosity on Lee’s part, and Simone relates how it has stayed with her all these years later:

“ I have had a lot of bosses. I've had a lot of GREAT bosses. But this story is who Jim Lee is to me. John got his surgery. Two legends being amazing…That's the Jim Lee I know and saw many times. Even if he couldn't draw a lick, I would still be a fan. Thank you, Jim. You remain the best. ”

As one of the greatest artists to ever draw Batman and Wolverine, Jim Lee created a rare piece of artwork to help a fellow creator in need.

Source: Gail Simone (1, 2)