Jim Lee, Bob Layton and Korea's expanding American comics scene

Jim Lee, lower right, president, publisher and chief creative officer of DC Comics, talks with comic book artist, writer and editor Bob Layton, lower left, during a "Drink & Draw" session at Dice & Comics Café in eastern Seoul, Jan. 1. Photo courtesy of Philip Tam

What began as a routine weekday gathering for graphic artists of all levels quickly became more significant as Jim Lee, the Korean American president, publisher and chief creative officer of DC Comics, visited Korea’s only dedicated American comic book store.

The visit on Jan. 1 coincided with Dice & Comics Café's (DCC) weekly “Drink & Draw” event, a recurring Thursday gathering where creators sketch and share ideas together over drinks. This time, the theme was Lee’s work, and attendees filled sketchbooks with images inspired by Lee’s style, engaging actively with his visual language.

Lee, whose career spans decades and continents, said that while Japan’s manga industry is something he's more familiar with, Korea had remained largely unexplored territory. He noted that while DC distributes translated comics in Korea, he had not realized there was a dedicated audience actively purchasing both translated and original English versions.

Lee reflected on the global reach of comics, noting that while American comics have long enjoyed strong followings in Europe and South America, Asia, and particularly Korea, has only recently seen significant growth. Over the past two to three years, he's seen a big increase in interest, especially among younger readers — many fans in Asia were not yet born when much of his most famous work was first published.

Lee wasn't the only big name in attendance that night. Many at the cafe have had the experience of being mentored by veteran comic artist and writer Bob Layton, who was also in attendance. Layton, known for his work on Iron Man, has been a regular at DCC, cultivating the local comic community and using it as an informal training ground.

“This is the one place they can buy,” said Layton, who was also in attendance, referring to the scarcity of American comic book retail spaces in Korea.

Layton also spoke candidly about the need for stronger storytelling skills among emerging artists, stressing that sustained success comes from narrative ability, not just striking images. He praised several artists present for producing full-story pages, which he said was an encouraging sign.

Explaining why he avoids consuming other comics or animated works, Layton said that fiction is work, not entertainment, allowing him to draw inspiration from history, current affairs and real-world experiences.

The evening also highlighted the international nature of the gathering. Travis Moore, a contemporary comic artist known for his work with DC, was present alongside Shikago — a Japanese freelance comic artist and former assistant to Tetsuo Hara, creator of "Fist of the North Star." Shikago met Lee at Tokyo Comic Con and traveled to Korea for the first time specifically to meet him again at DCC.

Jim Lee, center, president, publisher and chief creative officer of DC Comics, sketches Batman during a "Drink & Draw" session at Dice & Comics Café in eastern Seoul, Jan. 1. Photo courtesy of Agrim Bhalla

Lee emphasized that while DC views itself as a global brand, international expansion requires careful strategy. Storytelling, he noted, does not automatically translate across cultures. Decisions regarding format, pricing, distribution and who gets to tell the stories are critical to reaching broader audiences.

Discussion also turned toward Korean storytelling traditions, with Lee noting that suspense, paranormal and psychological narratives seemed to resonate more than superheroes. Rather than viewing this as a challenge, he described it as an opportunity.

“Comics aren’t a genre,” Lee explained. “They’re a platform.”

American comics were once similarly diverse, Lee said, encompassing romance, horror and science fiction. Manga, he added, continues to thrive precisely because it embraces a wide range of subject matter.

Korean storytelling has gained international recognition for its emotional depth and narrative unpredictability qualities that could translate powerfully into comics, he explained.

Jim Lee, center, president, publisher and chief creative officer of DC Comics, signs an X-Men comic book cover during a "Drink & Draw" session at Dice & Comics Café in eastern Seoul, Jan. 1. Courtesy of Geraldine Macalintal

Lee cautioned that representation in the field must go beyond the surface, including creating meaningful Korean characters and stories that engage deeply with the country's struggles, history and resilience. He described Korea as an “incredible place” for storytelling, rich with untapped narrative potential.

He also confirmed that DC is actively seeking international creators, including in Korea. While many Asian artists enter the American comics industry through variant covers, he emphasized that long-term recognition is built through interior storytelling. Writers, especially those capable of working across languages and cultures, represent the next frontier.

During the event, Lee casually sketched Batman while talking with participants. He later gave the drawing to DCC owner Joey Croner to raise money for charity.

DCC's "Drink & Draw" events, started jointly by Croner and Layton, are open to everyone regardless of skill level. The event regularly produces original artwork that is auctioned to support charitable causes.

Joey Croner, owner of Dice & Comics Café, displays a Batman sketch by Jim Lee during a "Drink & Draw" session at the shop in eastern Seoul, Jan. 1. Photo courtesy of Amarnath Nanduri

By the end of the night, Croner estimates he had seen about 70 sketches completed, and about double that number of people were in attendance, including aspiring artists, industry professionals and comic book fans.

Visit linktr.ee/diceandcomics for more information.

Agrim Bhalla recently completed his studies in hotel management (English track) at Kyung Hee University. His interests include storytelling, culture and visual media.