Let’s remember the passing of one of the true greats of the comics industry, Mr. Joe Kubert.
Joe Kubert 1926-2012
Sunday, August 12th, 2012
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Sunday, August 12th, 2012
I'm speechless Arnie…
He was such a nice guy. I attended the school from 2004-2007. He was my narrative instructor my last year therel. I'm very thankful for him starting that school back in the 70s. When it was time for me to further my education after high school, I wasn't interested in a traditional college. The kubert school was the best thing that helped me become the illustrator I am today.
Crazy. I just picked up his 'Night Owl' comic yesterday. Flipped through it in the store, and said to myself, 'Man, this guy has STILL got it going on!'
He did what he loved until the end, I guess.
I hope to be so lucky.
Joe Kubert was…solid. I thought the same way about John Severin: it didn't matter what the assignment, you knew without question that Kubert or Severin would do a bang-up job. I remember as a kid laying on my bedroom floor copying Joe's Sgt Rock comics trying to learn how to draw. In person he was equally “solid”: he was friendly, direct, quick to smile and laugh, and he had an iron grip when he shook your hand. And when it came to drawing, even until the end, he was still rock steady. Kubert was the workhorse at DC—much like Kirby or Buscema were at Marvel—and he probably did more covers than anyone. Other guys, like Neal Adams or Bernie Wrightson at DC (or Todd McFarlane or Barry Windsor-Smith at Marvel when thinking about Severin, who died in February) had flashier styles and more vocal fans, but when it came to great storytelling and—again—solid work, Joe Kubert (AND John Severin) could not be matched.
That's the paradox of comic book artwork. You must be a good draftsman, but at the same time your art can't hold up the show. You have to be a storyteller. Your eye must not linger on a panel too long or you kill the story's pacing, but it's got to be good art or the reader puts the comic down. Most of the old guard could manage that and very few of the new guys and gals can.
But Kubert was a teacher as well. I'll wager a goodly number of the better comic artists out there have either gone to Kubert's school or had, like you Arnie, sat on their bedroom floors and tried to copy his pages and capture his magic.
This is hard news to hear. I suppose I have (and have read over the years) more comics by Kubert than any other artist. I know he was up there in years but I still feel heartbroken.
God bless you, Mr. Kubert, and thanks for all the stories,
Aaron