This week’s sneak peek features Jim Lee’s incredible original art for Comic-Con’s Souvenir Book in 2011, inked by Scott Williams (the final cover was colored by Alex Sinclair). Jim Lee started his comics career in 1989 at Marvel and went on to pencil such titles as Alpha Flight, Punisher War Journal, and the Uncanny X-Men. In 1992, he helped co-found Image Comics with his WildStorm imprint, which was based here in San Diego. Lee sold WildStorm to DC Comics in 1998. In addition to his own creation, WildC.A.T.s, Lee co-created Batman: Hush for DC in 2003 and went on to draw Superman: For Tomorrow, All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, Superman Unchained, and Justice League. In 2010, Lee was named co-publisher of DC Comics with Dan DiDio. The company launched their “New 52” initiative in late August of 2011 with the first issue of Justice League, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Lee and Williams. This is (as far as we know) only the second Justice League image that was revealed at that time, showing the new costumes of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Cyborg. Alex Sinclair’s incredible colors made for an amazing Souvenir Book cover and an awesome official T-shirt for Comic-Con 2011! (Jim also has an equally awesome Superman piece of original art in the exhibition, from the 2013 WonderCon Anaheim Program Book!)

The Art Gallery at the San Diego Central Library @ Joan Λ Irwin Jacobs Common is open:

Regular gallery hours (June 20–July 7, July 13–August 30): Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 12:00–5:00; Thursday: 2:00–7:00; Saturday and Sunday: 12:00–4:00.

Extended hours during Comic-Con: Wednesday & Thursday (July 8 & 9): 10:00–7:00; Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 10–12): 12:00–6:00

Admission is free. The Gallery is located on the 9th floor of the Central Library, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101