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DC has revealed that its April releases will feature variant covers from Jim Lee. Specifically, these variants will show off Jim Lee’s pandemic sketches created for a charity auction back in April 2020. During that time, the comic creator drew several sketches that were auctioned off to raise money for comic stores during the COVID-19 shutdown. Now, four years later, those sketches will get new life as the variant covers to several April releases. This includes Batman #146, Superman #13, and more.
Jim Lee’s Pandemic Sketches
Comic creator and DC publisher Jim Lee spent his time during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdown helping the industry. The pandemic forced a temporary shutdown of Diamond Comic Distributors. This meant that no new comics shipped out to comic shops. So, to help keep these brick-and-mortar stores afloat, Lee decided to hold an auction. The artist auctioned off several sketches to raise funds for the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. This is a nonprofit organization that helps employees and owners of bookstores and comic shops during emergencies.
These sketches, which Jim Lee showed off on Instagram at the time, feature DC heroes like Batman and Nightwing. As the sketches sold, Lee decided to let the winner/highest bidder pick the next DC character he sketched for the auction. Now, those sketches will adorn the variant covers for several of DC’s comics this April.
DC’s April Releases
Jim Lee’s variants adorn some of DC’s most action-packed releases this year. DC’s big House of Brainiac event kicks off in April’s Action Comics #1064. This event finds Superman forced to team up with Lobo as Brainiac launches a full-scale attack on Metropolis. This event spreads throughout DC’s April offerings including Green Lantern #10 and Power Girl #8. The event will reach a conclusion in April’s Superman: House of Brainiac Special #1.
Jim Lee’s variants are releasing all throughout April, so keep an eye out at your local comic book shop.
