Usually, when a title changes hands, it’s the artist — not the writer — who exits the series. Not so with Jorge Jimenéz, who has straddled three different runs on DC Comics’s Batman, for James Tynion IV, to Chip Zdarsky, to upcoming Matt Fraction. And all that and much more will be highlighted in Clover Press’s The DC Art of Jorge Jiménez, which is on Kickstarter now.
“I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with incredibly talented people on the same title and to enjoy their unique approaches to storytelling,” Jiménez told Comic Book Club over email. “Each one has been deeply enriching for me.”
To find out how he’s changed his style, and what to expect in the new art book, read on.
Comic Book Club: Before we even get to the book (though this is obviously part of it), bridging multiple writers on a title is a rare accomplishment for an artist. How does it change the challenge for you when you’re drawing the same character – Batman – for different writers, on the same title?
Jorge Jiménez: I still can’t quite believe it. Matt Fraction is the third writer I’ve worked with on Batman, but Rob Levin is also the third editor I’ve had on the series over the years. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with incredibly talented people on the same title and to enjoy their unique approaches to storytelling. Each one has been deeply enriching for me.
How has your approach to Batman changed or grown over time?
Honestly, I’ve tried to subtly adapt my style to what each writer brought to the table. With James, I leaned into a more baroque, detail-heavy style. With Chip, I worked on streamlining my linework a bit and even coordinated with Tomeu to do the same with the coloring process.
Now, with Matt—though I can’t reveal much yet—I can tell you that I’ve placed a special focus on narrative flow and storytelling. I’ve really tried to create an immersive reading experience that draws the reader in through the pacing and rhythm of the pages.
I truly hope you enjoy it!
In general, what is it about the DC Universe you find engaging?
The original Superman movie was the beginning of my love for superheroes, a passion that continued with the Batman film. These two superheroes have been my favourites since childhood. I’ve watched their animated series, read their comics, played their video games, and come to understand the message they’ve conveyed to millions of people around the world over the years.
I’m actually a bit of a nerd, haha, and even today, when I make important decisions in my life, I always think: What would Superman do here? So, being able to contribute to their legacy has been incredibly special.
As I gradually began collaborating with the publisher, I always felt supported and recognized for my work. Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to work with some truly outstanding editors, and even now, I’m just as motivated and inspired to keep bringing new adventures to life for these iconic characters.
I’m always curious when you put together an art book like this… What is your goal? What’s the story you’re hoping to tell?
Ha, ha, it´s my first time with this style of book too. I tried to look at my work from an outside perspective—asking myself, If I were a fan of Jorge Jiménez, what would I want to find in an art book? Most likely, a curated selection of those pieces that went viral or became especially popular over the years, all gathered in one place. Alongside them, I felt it was important to include things like inked pages, character design sketches, and some other behind-the-scenes material maybe. And that’s exactly what I’ve put together in this book. And I really hope you enjoy it!
You also have a career that’s very much in progress… While putting together this look back, where do you see where you’ve been; and where do you want to go next?
Even though I’m still relatively young, I feel like I can already look back with some perspective and truly appreciate the path I’ve taken—one filled with highs and lows, intense periods of hard work, and a lot of emotion. I’ve been able to fulfill many of my dreams working at DC. Sometimes, I think that, as artists, we’re so focused on the next line, the next page, that we don’t always stop to fully realize and enjoy everything this profession gives us on so many levels.
That’s where I am right now—still working hard, but also learning to savor this stage of the journey. I’m trying to keep that flame alive—though honestly, it doesn’t take much effort. I feel just as excited as I did on day one as I dive into the new Batman series, and I’m ready to embrace this next chapter, full of new challenges and emotions.
I hope you’ll join me on the ride!
Last, and most important, you seem to have sticker sheets, which I love… What was it like putting those together?
Well, to be honest, this was a surprise gift from the Clover Press folks! And I loved them. I hope you get them all! Thanks so much for everything!
The DC Art of Jorge Jiménez is now live on Kickstarter from Clover Press.
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