Joe Kubert, a titan

Admin Posts : 1186 Join date : 2012-09-13

I know Mr. Kubert passed a few weeks back, but I don't feel like I got a chance to really remember him properly, before getting sidetracked. If anyone else feels the same please join me.

As kid I always though of Kubert in the same light as Kirby and Ditko, Gil Kane, Gene Colon. I remember his Tarzan and Hawkman especially. It's only been recently that I've truly grew to appreciate his work, with DC reprinting many of the war comics in the Showcase line. To me his work, like many other artists, stands out all the better in these B&W reprints.

As I read these, I was struck by the similarities to Gil Kane and Gene Colon's work, effortless lines, and compositions seemingly full of light and shadow. So full of energy and substance, based more on life drawing and an understanding of anatomy, of observation and understanding. Not short-cuts, like they teach in those how-to-draw-comics books.

I think Enemy Ace is was my favorite.

Posts : 208 Join date : 2012-09-13

For me it was the sense that he wanted to create, all the time. He was a skilled pencil artist, but, he never seemed, to me at least, to ever stop working.

I deeply respect that.

Subject: Re: Joe Kubert, a titan Fri Sep 14, 2012 4:43 am

My first experience with Joe Kubert's work was with the Tor character. A 4-issue mini-series that was published through Marvel's Epic Comics line.

Of course, I learned that this was not the characters' first appearance & I managed to acquire most of Mr. Kubert's past Tor works (still need St. John's issue #4, though).

I enjoyed Mr. Kubert's Sgt. Rock & Haunted Tank stories, but my favorite of his stuff was Hawkman.

I'm glad to learn that he was able to finish his final project with his son & the final 2 issued of Before Watchmen: Nite Owl will be published posthumously.

He will be missed.

Posts : 302 Join date : 2012-09-14 Location : Salem, MA

A truly great artist, a master with brush and ink. His work on Hawkman, Tarzan, and his many DC covers were how I knew him first. Also, his inks over Infantino's pencils on the first Barry Allen Flash story, which I read in a big collected edition of DC origins stories in the 1970's.

I loved the way he made each panel feel like an integrated whole of words and pictures, carefully placing each word balloon to aid the overall composition. I loved the way he drew clothing, with real folds and shadows, and those old-fashioned hats. I loved the way he drew action, with so much movement and kinetic ease, based on solid masses and weights.

I'm grateful for the legacy of work he left behind, and for the generations of artists that he taught at his school, carrying on his tradition.

Admin Posts : 1186 Join date : 2012-09-13

Joe Kubert’s Tarzan of the Apes: Artist’s Edition out in September
http://www.idwpublishing.com/news/article/2396

Posts : 180 Join date : 2012-09-14

For me, it's how prolific he was as well as how well he drew. I know him mostly by reputation and legacy. As with Eisner's last years, I was always amazed at how much work he seemed to be doing right up to the end. Every time I went into a store, there was another issue of Sgt. Rock or graphic novel, or even pin-ups and covers. I always smile to see the Kubert cover and cartoons in PS Magazine.

Here's an interview about his work on the "Tales of the Green Berets" in the 60's.
http://matttauber.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-with-joe-kubert-about-robin.html

Posts : 180 Join date : 2012-09-14

I'm speculating that he must have been quite good behind the scenes, given DC's recent packaging of the war comics and "The Bible" (with Sheldon Mayer) in addition to his new comics. He even had the foresight to get back the rights to "Tor" which may not have remained continuously in print, but was more available to customers over decades than most from that era.

Posts : 302 Join date : 2012-09-14 Location : Salem, MA

Some great stories about Kubert from Rick Veitch:

http://www.rickveitch.com/tag/joe-kubert/

Posts : 180 Join date : 2012-09-14

I see new issues of PS Magazine, but they don't give artist credits, and there isn't a "Joe Kubert" signature on the cover. I stare at them, hoping to find a hidden signature. The art looks similar - it didn't look much like Kubert to begin with - but it's still not the same.

Does anybody remember that ad in early-80s DC Comics, I don't remember who it was supporting (other than wounded veterans in general). Sgt. Rock did the opening and closing panel, and the rest featured wounded veterans, and the support they could get. One panel had actors re-enacting M*A*S*H scenes. I think Ed McMahon was in the final panel, saying that he'd been a member of [whatever was being advertised] for twenty years, and if you wanted to help, here was the address...

Subject: This ad? Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:22 pm

This ad?

Joe Kubert, a titan Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQx0rgDqHs2gFCguJcgzHvSwh_cKxTEOgHQEqnhzoWqQYvutPeUOg

Admin Posts : 1186 Join date : 2012-09-13

Alter Ego magazine does a very nice, whole issue tribute to Joe Kubert...

http://lxng.blogspot.com/2013/05/buy-these-now.html

Posts : 343 Join date : 2012-10-04 Location : Ohio

After reading your review of the Comic Book Creator magazine, I went to check out the preview, and I was rootin' around the site and saw that Joe Kubert was the cover story for issue 2. They have a preview up already too.

http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_132&products_id=1094