DC Comics, Sony Online Entertainment and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announce Plans for Comic Book Icon Jim Lee to Work On MMO Game Based on the DC Universe

February 27, 2006, DC Comics, the largest English language publisher of comic books worldwide and the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman; Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry; and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE), a premier developer and licensor of entertainment content in the interactive space, announce plans to collaborate with legendary comic book illustrator Jim Lee to work on a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMO) based on the DC Comics universe.

SOE will be developing and publishing a game based on the DC Comics universe for next generation gaming platforms and the PC. It is expected that Lee will serve as Executive Creative Director on the game, bringing his artistic flair and talents to the world of online gaming for the first time.

“My position at DC has afforded me the amazing opportunity to dive into projects I am most passionate about. The DC MMO is no exception and joins my current commitments to All-Star Batman and Robin with writer Frank Miller and the upcoming WildCats series with visionary Grant Morrison as dream projects,” said Jim Lee. “The truth is that I love gaming as much as I love drawing and telling stories and look forward to bringing the DC Universe to life for players and comic book fans all around the world.”

“As a passionate online gamer and one of the most creative talents ever to work with the DC heroes, Jim is the perfect person to help build an online DC universe that our fans can become part of on a daily basis,” said DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz. “The SOE team, working with Jim’s creative guidance, are building a new way for gamers and comic fans to unite and enjoy our legendary characters and their complex universe.”

“We couldn’t be happier to have an icon like Jim Lee involved with this project,” said John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment. “SOE, WBIE and DC will be working together closely on this project and Jim’s contributions will be key to bringing the amazing world of DC Comics to life online.”

“Utilizing his outstanding and widely revered talent, Jim Lee’s ground-breaking work on the DC MMO will help lend authenticity and strength to the game’s design,” said Jason Hall, Senior Vice President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “His iconic art style and creative direction will enhance the look and feel of the game overall.”

“What intrigues me most about the DC MMO is how we can continue to tell the great stories DC is known for in this new medium and look forward in particular to the challenge of perhaps one day, simultaneously bringing stories to life in both print and pixel form,” said Lee. “True to their moniker, MMOs are massive undertakings and I look forward to working on the game and continuing to draw comics for many, many years to come at DC.”

Lee, the artist on 2005’s best-selling comic book in the U.S., All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder, is one of the most recognizable and talented artists in the medium, and a true fan favorite. His recent work on the blockbuster series Batman: Hush and Superman: For Tomorrow brought critical acclaim, as well as a new look and feel to two of DC Comics’ iconic characters.

About Jim Lee
Acclaimed comic book illustrator Jim Lee was born in Seoul, South Korea in 1964. Today Lee is the creative director of WildStorm Studios (which he founded in 1992) and the penciller for many of DC Comics’ bestselling comic book and graphic novels, including All Star Batman and Robin, The Boy Wonder, Batman: Hush, and Superman: For Tomorrow. He lives in La Jolla, California with his wife Angie and three daughters.

About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC super heroes and others have starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC Comics’ Web site is located at www.dccomics.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment Inc. (SOE), a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Digital Inc., is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™: An Empire Divided™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge online games in development.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc., a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is a premier licensor and a developer of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including consoles, PC-based gaming and wireless applications.

EverQuest is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. SOE, the SOE logo and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment Inc. Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

Contact Information

Remi Sklar

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

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