The Jim Lee commission controversy and DC's next BIG EVENT!

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[@spacegodfight]

It sounds like Jim Lee set the price high because he doesn't want to do it. He's the one who gets to decide what price is worthwhile to him.

[@comicpopreturns]

Or he doesn't have a lot of time to dedicate to it, and he's sick of seeing low-priced commissions sell for that price anyway.

[@AaronReese]

As a full time artist, I hope Jim Lee causes enough people to follow in his footsteps that it obliterates the resale market that has been disgustingly abused for long enough.

[@TheKingOfRooks]

Jim Lee gets away with a 20k commission because he's Jim freakin Lee and has the income of being the President and COO of DC Comics to support the lack of income from commissions, there are very very few comic artists out there who could get away with the same and nobody who's been in the industry for less than 15-20 years who could. If Jim Lee had his exact same quality of art but was not Jim Lee people would not pay that amount, it's about name recognition as much as it is about quality. There's a thousand other people out there who can draw exactly like Jim Lee, but there's only one Jim Lee and you are paying for art in that style that was made by that one Jim Lee specifically.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

As someone without a firm background in art, it sounds pretty reasonable. If anything, it makes me think about how much he was paid when he was working on books on the regular.

[@Coreyw_art]

It’s such a good idea to reach out to other artists (as you guys mentioned) to get a read on what you should be charging. Sometimes if you’re in your own little bubble, you might not realise how “worthy” your talents are. Then, subsequently, you short-change yourself when negotiating a commission. My old animation teacher used to tell me to always calculate the cost of materials and times that by your hourly rate.

[@Sicod79]

Just did a dive back at Jim Lee's original Uncanny X-men art vs his X-men #1 art. His progression as an artist is amazing.

[@thejinchuriki4855]

I found that as I am an artist trying to make it that what you had to say in the beginning about artists should know their worth for their art and how much effort you went in to about how much work it is to make art to be extremely heartwarming and affirming thank you so much, you guys

[@johnpadilla8943]

The days of getting a free sketch is over.

[@PurplePaddy]

10:13 as a contractor why is that a real and accurate thing…I’ve been asked to renovate houses and get paid in word of mouth and hope someone else hires me but the only issue is when they ask the price and someone says free I just had to give a good review then that makes it hard to find paying clients

[@FreeNahshon]

the first 30 mins i viewed so far was literally so epic i loved it. completely agree

[@walterhoward5512]

Jim Lee commission prices have been high for years. Why is this news now?

[@shadowanderson2004]

If I could afford a commission I’d definitely go for a Mignola. I’d love to see Nightwing in the Gotham by gaslight or maybe in the Doom that came to Gotham art styles. I know he only did the covers but still. Sadly I have to pay for collage.

[@TheGilgameshLore]

I love these talks.

[@josephbarbato789]

Jim Lee can absolutely charge 20k for a his work. That price point puts the vast majority of the market out of range. Those people with 20k to burn would probably gravitate towards something with more history like a Curt Swan superman.

[@zaurijunior]

Just heard that Joe Kelly is taking over as the Amazing Spider-Man writer and while I don’t hate Zeb Wells I wasn’t a fan of his run either so I couldn’t be more excited. Unlike some vocal Spider-Man fans, I genuinely think that Spider-Man editorial not bringing Peter and MJ together isn’t a big deal and I’m a massive Joe Kelly’s Deadpool fan and his Spider-Man and Deadpool run is legendary. I’m usually not a fan of Ed McGuiness art for something like Avengers, but I’d be all over him working with him again for Spidey. Just put the gang back together and let them go crazy with the book.

[@geminiace]

How much does Jim Lee make per hour? If he takes that time to do something like a commission then that’s what he’s worth.

[@comicpopreturns]

How do you think that works?

[@ahmadazem4167]

Not really, whatever he think he's worth, if people are willing to pay its what he is worth

[@geminiace]

@@comicpopreturns Not saying this is what he's doing, but it seems simple to me. We are all worth something per hour. Jim Lee is employed by DC, so he has a salary. Do the math on what he makes an hour and that's essentially what his time is worth. Now, that doesn't account for his history as an artist or anything, but it's a baseline. I do agree that he's probably also doing it to raise all boats and to maybe keep commissions down to a reasonable amount, but that was my first thought on where that number came from.

[@cybercop0083]

@@geminiaceThat would punish proficiency and efficience. Skill-based work and hourly pay are incompatible

[@cybercop0083]

@@ahmadazem4167That‘s the gist of it.

[@superby1]

Not a fan of Jim Lee as an artist or a person. But I'll champion whatever he wants to charge because I cannot stand scalpers in comics. Be it those assholes who bring short and long boxes for one person to sign, the CGC nutbars, or people who buy commissions simply to flip them. Those people caused Lee to set this price so they should reap what they sow. I have no sympathy for them whatsoever. Original art is expensive enough and money is tight for a lot of people these days, so I hope things level out to where artists can get paid what they feel they're worth while someone who genuinely might like to own an original page or a commission can still access them and frame them on their wall. The whole point of owning a page or asking an artist to make something for you is to enjoy it; you're paying because you admire the work of someone.

[@TheKingOfRooks]

I agree with everything said in that opening speech about how expensive art is and how it can be like a mom and pop store vs big brand or hiring a contractor, and that art is expensive because theyre relying on it to live. However, none of that is applicable to Jim Lee whatsoever lmao I get the sentiment, and I understand why he charges 20k and think that's on the lower end tbr, but you realize we're discussing the President of DC here right? I know the greater point being made and it not necessarily being related to the topic at hand, but the point in the discussion where it came up just felt like a strange time when initially it was brought up in relation to the president of DC's commission rate.

[@owenharrison761]

McKay and Hickman carrying Marvel on their shoulders, who would be their opposites at DC?🤔

[@MaximumSpider19]

Joshua Williamson and Mark Waid.

[@ytsi7505]

42:57 bogra ghoul doesn't kill for revenge he thinks dead bodies on display are art?

[@tman1782]

He can charge whatever he pleases for his work especially with his legendary record. But also I don't mind people clowning it either comics Twitter stay taking Ls

[@gggonext9302]

minor complaint : tiffany's voice is little smaller than sal's

[@TheRealZubes]

Totally fair, I tend to forget to get up close enough to the mic!

[@shreyanshdas7481]

​@@TheRealZubesgreat show nonetheless.

[@LexGoyle]

Sad it's even considered a controversy at all. Dude is one of the top tier guys at DC, a brand name that's recognized globally, His work is worth the price someone is willing to pay but yeah resellers are a bane cuz all they see is the money and how they can exploit an artist to enrich themselves.

[@NikolasStow]

Did you forget to post to iTunes? It’s not appearing for me.

[@shadowanderson2004]

Honestly I think I wouldn’t hate if Penguin does win in the King series. He has to win sometimes or else he’s not a threat

[@johnthai6188]

what do u mean by threat?

[@shadowanderson2004]

@@johnthai6188 the dudes a crime boss he has to be successful sometimes

[@Kcoldraz]

Connor Superboy?

[@shreyanshdas7481]

Can you invite Joel and hasan in comicpop returns podcast? More the merrier.

[@nonamek3697]

I feel like 20K should be the least he should charge for his work. He's literally Jim Lee. His decades of skill, his career, that's should the the least for a commission from him. If legends that have as many accolades like him can't be appropriately valued what hope do the beginner artist have?

[@bierguy3033]

Comment for algorithm.

[@TheKingOfRooks]

20k for a commission is wild but so is 1.4 million for a painting. Artists charging exorbitant amounts isn't anything new and it only makes sense as an artist to capitalize on that regardless of opinions. Besides what's it even matter? There is literally no situation in anyone's life that would ever necessitate having a piece of Jim Lee's art, it's not like anyone on their deathbed is going to be like "Damn if only I had that Jim Lee commission, then maybe I'd still be here." 20k is honestly on the lower end of what I'd expect for custom art from an extremely famous artist. But at the end of the day some dweeb on KZbin paid 50k for a shitty softcore SA animation music video featuring himself and a character which is a lesbian chasing him, and I've seen furries talking about paying 8.5k for a commission before so it could be a lot lot worse lmao

[@mr.dccomics9018]

Jim Lee has a job already. He's supposed to be the President and CCO of DC. But its clear that he really doesn't care for his DC job.

[@jeffreybeitz948]

Jim Lee's drawing for 20 thousand is worth it. His artwork goes for many thousands at art auctions. Great investment for art collectors. In the future, he will be worth mega bucks.

[@jeffreybeitz948]

Let me add to this that Lee's art talent is very unique. We will never have an artist that has contributed more to mass media culture from the 90s to - the current era.

[@superby1]

I'll give him credit for setting that price because it helps weed out scalpers and flippers who think they're gonna turn a profit. They have no one to blame but themselves. And if someone has that kind of money to spend in this day and age, that's their business.

[@fourcolorinvestments8378]

@@jeffreybeitz948 Todd McFarlane says hello.

[@shreyanshdas7481]

25,000$ is too low. Jim Lee is CEO of DC Comics 🔥🔥🔥.