Jim Lee has illustrated a variant cover (below) for the debut issue of Vertigo’s American Vampire. The newly announced DC Comics publisher’s cover was previewed on Vertigo’s Graphic Content blog, supporting his claim that the his new role as Co-Publisher of DC Comics (along side Dan DiDio) will not prevent him from being creative.

The forthcoming Vertigo series will be written by legendary horror author Stephen King and Scott Snyder (Voodoo Heart) and illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque.

Lee said,

“One of the unique challenges of contributing a cover to a brand spanking new series with original, never seen before characters is obviously not knowing who the characters are, how they act, the way they hold themselves, the forces that shaped their personal histories”

“Speaking as a fan, I can’t wait to read what Scott Snyder and Stephen King have come up with.

Speaking about Lee’s cover – Stephen King said,

“That’s one of the best comic mag covers I’ve seen since the days of my misspent youth, when I haunted the newsstands in Brunswick, Maine each month for the new Creepy or Eerie, Kudos to Mr Lee.”

[Click Image To Blow Sh!t Up]

American Vampire will debut on March 17.