Jim Lee Confirms: DC Comics Will Stick to Human Artists and Writers, No AI

At New York Comic Con’s Retailer Day, DC Comics’ co-publisher and legendary artist Jim Lee made a clear statement about the future of the company’s creative work.

Speaking to the crowd, Lee addressed the rising concerns about artificial intelligence in comics, saying that DC will not use AI-generated writing or art.

“DC Comics will not support AI generated storytelling or artwork. Not now, not ever as long as I am in charge,” Lee said.

He explained that what makes comics special is their humanity. “It’s that fragile, beautiful connection between imagination and emotion that fuels our media, the stuff that makes our universe come alive. It’s the imperfect mind, the creative risk, the hand-drawn gesture that no algorithm can replicate. And when I draw, I make mistakes, a lot of them. But that’s the point. The smudge, the rough line, the hesitation. That’s me in the work. That’s my journey. That’s what makes it come alive.”

Lee emphasized that fans can sense authenticity. “People have an instinctive reaction to what feels authentic. We recoil from what feels fake. That’s why human creativity matters. AI doesn’t dream. It doesn’t feel. It doesn’t make art. It aggregates it. Our job as creators, as storytellers, and as publishers is to make people feel something real. That’s why we create, and that’s why we’re still here,” he said.

The speech also touched on other challenges facing comics, including characters entering the public domain, digital versus print, and the evolving attention spans of readers.

While Lee briefly mentioned that he had considered the idea of using AI to replicate his own art style for his estate, that idea is on hold for now. Instead, DC is focused on maintaining control over its intellectual property and ensuring that published work remains original and human-made.

Lee tied the stance against AI to DC’s larger mission. “The storytelling is what matters. The world-building is what matters. Owning Superman isn’t the same as understanding Superman. Knowing how he moves, how he speaks, what he stands for. Anyone can draw a cape. Anyone can write a hero. That’s been around as long as comics have been. But Superman only feels right when he’s in the DC universe. Our universe, our mythos. That’s what endures. That’s what will carry us into the next century.”

According to Lee, maintaining human creativity is crucial to the future of DC Comics. He credited the direct market, the comic book shops, and the fans for keeping the industry alive and ensuring that storytelling continues to thrive. “When someone reads their first comic on a tablet, we want their second one to be in your stores. Digital brings discovery, but you bring belonging,” he said.

In short, Jim Lee made it clear that DC Comics will remain a company where humans create the stories and art, not algorithms.

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