Jorge Jimenez and His With Summer of Superman: The Comic Source

Jorge Jimenez talks about his art for the Summer of Superman One-Shot

Over the last decade, Jorge Jimenez has established himself as a mainstay at DC Comics. With an incredibly dynamic style that perfectly suits sequential superhero storytelling, he has become a favorite of both fans and fellow creators.

Having started out by filling in on books like DC Comics Presents, Teen Titans and the Arrow comic based on the CW show, Jimenez’s first regular gig was on another CW show based comic, Smallville. Though not the regular continuity Superman, this was still a welcome assignment for Jimenez as his favorite character has always been Superman.

His work on Smallville eventually led to his work on the Super Sons series with writer Peter J. Tomasi. A huge hit with fans, the series which starred Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, the sons of Batman and Superman, respectively, was a breakout series for Jimenez. It established him as a well-known artist among DC fans and creators alike.

In the subsequent years, Jimenez has found himself contributing to big events at DC, working on its #1 title, Batman and taking on tons of characters both heroic and villainous in the pages of Scott Snyder’s Justice League run. It all comes full circle for Jorge this April though, as he is returning to drawing Superman in the Summer of Superman Special. Dropping on April 16^th, this one-shot will feature three different chapters from three different writers, Mark Waid, Dan Slott and Joshua Williamson. It gives Jimenez the opportunity to not only draw his favorite character once again, but also to draw him in different time periods and at different ages. It’s a must-read for any fan of Superman.

We got a chance to catch up with Jorge recently and get his thoughts on Superman, working on this one-shot and reflecting on his career overall. You can check out what he had to say below and be sure to pick up the Summer of Superman Special on April 16^th.

The Comic Source: Some of your earliest work at DC was on Superman, including Super Sons, now coming back to do art in the book that is launching the Summer of Superman, is it a different feeling now that you are more established?

Jorge Jimenez: Well, first, thank you for seeing me that way. Honestly, coming back to Superman is always something special for me—it feels like the very first times. I have absolute respect for him; he’s been my favorite superhero since childhood.

That said, I have to add that this time, after the run I’m doing on Batman and the projects I’ve worked on recently, returning to such a special Superman issue like this one—especially in the current moment, which feels magical for the character, with the movie just around the corner and with the amazing creative teams on Action Comics, Superman and Superman Unlimited – has been really cool. And of course, I’ve felt the responsibility to create something meaningful and to give my very best on this.

TCS: You also have a story in Superman The World, an upcoming book that showcases just how well-known Superman is across the globe as creators from all over the world come together to celebrate the Man of Steel. Your story is not only drawn by you, but you are handling the writing as well, what is it about Superman that inspires you to stretch yourself creatively?

JJ: When they reached out to me for this, I literally shouted with excitement! Just imagine—having the chance to draw my favorite superhero flying over my hometown, connecting with its people, and offering them help… Even though I’m not a writer by trade, the story came to me very naturally.

It’s just a 10-page piece, so I didn’t have much space to develop something too complex. I chose to keep it simple in terms of scope, but I made sure to include the key elements I felt were essential: showing the city and some of its landmarks, highlighting the people, and presenting Superman in all his glory.

Getting to show the Alhambra in Granada through Superman’s eyes was honestly a dream come true. It’s been one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had as an artist. I really hope readers enjoy it!

Superman has always inspired me, in every aspect of my life. In fact, I’m often quoted as saying this, but I make important decisions always asking myself: “What would Superman do here?” I’m not kidding, that’s just how it is. And when I work, I also try to give my all every day and convey to readers the love I have for this profession and this character in the same way.

TCS: Your love of Superman, his family and supporting cast has always been apparent, how does that help you connect with fans and inform your artistic choices?

JJ: Honestly, I don’t really know. It’s true that I’ve felt a special connection with other Superman fans since the beginning of my career. I guess we recognize each other—we deeply admire and respect the character. DC has Superman fans all over the world, and I think that when you truly understand the idea and concept behind him, you also naturally understand which visual elements—his demeanor, his colors, his presence—will instantly resonate with other fans of the character.

I’ll always be deeply grateful to Superman fans  for all the support they’ve given me over the years. I’m certain my career wouldn’t have been the same without them.

TCS: You get to draw several eras of Superman in the Summer of Superman Special, is there a particular era or age that you like best when it comes to the Man of Steel and were there any challenges that came with working with three different writers on the project?

JJ: All the segments were incredible and balanced very well, but I must admit that the section featuring young Clark Kent was my favorite part of the issue. As I’ve always confessed, I’m a fan of shonen anime and manga—genres that typically focus on teenage protagonists. I find that I’m particularly comfortable drawing characters of that age, and I really enjoyed this interpretation of a younger Clark, where I was able to briefly revisit some of the influences from how I drew Superboy in Super Sons. but, you know, I obviously also enjoy drawing the classic Superman we all know—his thirties!

And about the writers, I admire them a lot, and I think it’s clear how much they love the character too, Mark, Dan, and Joshua managed to structure the story into three very well-balanced acts, full of action, emotion, and surprises and with each part working on its own, but together they fit perfectly. they made me feel great with their feedback—I think we were on the same page from the start. I would repeat something like that again tomorrow without hesitation, it was a lot of fun, and I hope you like it!

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