NYCC 2023: Don Lee To Star In ‘Sterling North’ From Christopher Priest, Jae Lee, And Dynamite
by Erik Amaya
It’s not everyday an international star lends themself to a comic book.
Dynamite announced Wednesday the upcoming title Sterling North from Christopher Priest, Jae Lee, and colorist June Chung. The series focuses on a man “once known” as Jonathon Smith. After a terrible accident, extensive facial reconstruction surgery, and memory loss, he is renamed “Sterling North.” Now the best CIA operative, he specializes in counter-terrorism and sussing out other looming threats to the US government. Of course, he’s still trying to sort himself out, too. Then there’s the problems of Smith’s wife, who assumed he died, and a growing conspiracy that may leave Sterling looking at the Company itself for his true adversary.
But one of the most unique elements of the project: Train to Busan‘s Don Lee — also known as Ma Dong-Seok in Korean — will “star,” lending his likeness to Sterling and having a hand in the character’s creation.
“As a long time comics fan, I’m grateful and beyond excited to be working with iconic comic creators Christopher Priest and Jae Lee, and the fantastic team at Dynamite to bring this unique story to life,” Lee said in a statement. “I can’t wait for my existing fans and newcomers to meet Sterling North and enjoy this incredible collaboration!”
Priest added, “Sterling North will be a great adventure and a writer’s challenge to bring to life Don Lee’s newest character and the world in which he lives … I am an admirer of Don’s multifaceted film career. North will be an ambitious effort implying no small risk to Don as I am all but daring him to bring North into dangerous emotional and ethical spaces we’ve not quite seen from Don before. There is also a great adrenaline rush from working for someone who could crush you like a grape and powerful enough to end your career with a single phone call! Also very pleased to be reunited with the equally dangerous and powerful Jae Lee, whose unique and unparalleled artistry provides both the wind and the coattails for our narrative to fly on.”
“It is truly an honor to be working with Mr. Don Lee and Mr. Christopher Priest,”Jae Lee said. “I was born to do this book. I hope my family in Korea will see this!”
Further details about the book — such as format, release date, variant covers, and the like — are forthcoming.
