In a recent interview, Jim Lee, Chairman, Chief Creative Officer, and Publisher of DC Comics, openly discussed the key advantages that have helped the Japanese entertainment industry surpass its Western counterparts.
Despite leading one of the world’s biggest superhero empires, Jim Lee did not hesitate to express his admiration for manga and anime. He explained that the strength of Japanese comics lies not only in the artwork but also in how they capture readers’ hearts through values that Western comics often miss.
DC’s Chief Points Out What Anime and Manga Do Better Than Western Comics
Jim Lee identified a critical weakness in the U.S. market: an overreliance on the superhero genre. “In America, most revenue and readership focus solely on superheroes. But in Japan, manga is closer to ‘literature.’ Anyone can read manga because it’s not just about heroes in tight costumes,” Lee shared.
From stories about food and soccer to social psychology, manga covers every aspect of life. This diversity allows each reader to find a story that speaks directly to them. Meanwhile, in the West, comics and animation are still mistakenly boxed in as “children’s media.” In Japan, this art form has no age limits, with distinct genres for both kids and adults.
Lee also recalled the turbulent history of the manga market. After a boom in the 1990s, manga faced saturation and crisis in the late 2000s due to piracy and economic downturn.
However, a miraculous revival starting around 2013 to 2014, peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic, proved the industry’s resilience. “The manga market today is bigger than ours. The question is: what can we learn from them?” the DC Chairman reflected.
Beyond sales, Jim Lee emphasized the “emotional sensitivity” of Japanese creators. They don’t chase fleeting trends but focus on raw, powerful feelings. This is the goal Lee hopes to pursue in reforming DC Comics, aiming to make Western comics more diverse and profound to break free from their own shadow.