Joe Kubert (b. 1926)

Born: 1926 September 18 in Łanowce, Borszczów, Poland

Died: 2012 August 12 in Morristown, New Jersey, United States

Biography: Joe Kubert was a comics artist and editor, art teacher, and founder of The Kubert School.

He is well-known for his work on the DC characters 'Sgt. Rock' and 'Hawkman' and for his own creations, such as 'Tor', 'Son of Sinbad', 'Firehair', 'Unknown Soldier', and ‘Viking Prince’. With writer Robin Moore, he created the syndicated strip ‘Tales of the Green Beret’.

He was born in Poland in an area now part of Ukraine and his family emigrated to the US two months later. As a young teenager, he began essentially apprenticing in the new comic-book industry.

He worked with the Chesler Studio and had work in titles from Holyoke, Quality, MLJ (now Archie), and others.

In 1942, he began his life-long association with DC by drawing features such as 'Johnny Quick', 'Hawkman', and 'Sargon the Sorceror'.

In the mid-1950s, following his military service, he was managing editor at St. John. There he, his high-school friend Norman Maurer, and Norman’s brother Leonard Maurer produced the first 3-D comic books. He created 'Tor' there in 1954.

From the early 1960s, Kubert was a central figure in the Silver Age revival of DC. He worked on seminal features such as 'Viking Prince' and co-created a new version of 'Hawkman' with writer Gardner Fox.

He and writer Robert Kanigher produced a large body of war stories, including the 'Sgt. Rock' stories and the memorable character 'Enemy Ace'.

From 1967 to 1976, he was the Director of Publications at DC. When DC acquired the license to Edgar Rice Burroughs' properties in 1972, Kubert’s art defined the look of both "Tarzan" and "Korak, Son of Tarzan".

In 1976 he and Muriel Kubert, his wife, established The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, New Jersey. Now called simply The Kubert School, it has developed a reputation for a demanding and intensive curriculum.

Kubert continued creating and teaching throughout his life. His honors include multiple Alley Awards and National Cartoonists Society Awards, and 1997 Eisner and Harvey awards for "Fax from Sarajevo".

He was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame (Harvey Awards) in 1997 and the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame in 1998. He received the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cartoonists Society in 2009.

Comics creators Adam Kubert (born 6 October 1959) and Andy Kubert (born 27 February 1962) are his sons. Comics editor Katie Kubert is his granddaughter.

Honors:
Guest of the 1970 New York Comicon and other comic conventions (full list not known).

Some additional biographical information:
A Gallery of Rogues: Cartoonists' Self-Caricatures (Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library), 1998;
Alter Ego (TwoMorrows, 1999 series) v2#3 (Winter 1999), #22 (March 2003), #44 (January 2005);
Amazing Heroes (Fantagraphics, 1981) #34 (November 1983);
Amazing World of DC Comics (DC, 1974 series) #1 (July 1974);
Cartoonist PROfiles (Jud Hurd, 1969 series) #17 (March 1973), #30 (June 1976), #39 (September 1978), #46 (June 1980), #51 (September 1981);
Comic Artist (Lamar Blaylock, 1969 series) #2 (September 1969) [Fanzine.];
Comic Book Artist (TwoMorrows, 1998) #1 (May 1998);
Comic Book Marketplace (Gemstone, 1991 series) #19 (November 1992), #42 (December 1996);
Comics Journal (Fantagraphics, 1977 series) #172 (November 1994);
Comics Scene (Starlog, 1987 series) #11 (February 1990);
Dynamite (Scholastic Magazines, 1974 series) #116 (January 1984) [Kubert autobiography with illustrations.];
Golden Age Art of Joe Kubert (Al Dellinges) 1979;
The Great Comic Book Artists (St. Martin's Press) v1 (April 1986);
Gremlin (Alan Hutchinson, 1967 series) #1 (1967) [Interview.];
Heavy Metal Magazine (Heavy Metal, 1977 series) #v8#1 (April 1984);
Joe Kubert - A Golden Age Index (Al Dellinges) 1978;
Joe Kubert: The War Years (Al Dellinges) 1990;
Kubert Goes to War (Al Dellinges) 1978;
Man of Rock: A Biography of Joe Kubert (Fantagraphics) 1978 by Bill Schelly;
Masquerader (Mike Vosburg, 1962 series) #6 (March 1964) [Fanzine.];
Near Mint (Al Dellinges, 1980 series) #21 (1982), #27 (1983);
World Encyclopedia of Comics (Chelsea House Publishers) 1976, 1999 [Hardcover.];
World Encyclopedia of Comics (Avon Books) 1977 [Trade paperback reprint of hardcover.]

Syndication work:
Big Ben Bolt daily (King Features Syndicate) 1977-05-09 - 1977-07-30 [Pencil and ink work.];
Big Ben Bolt Sunday (King Features Syndicate) 1977-05-15 - 1977-07-24 [Pencil and ink work.];
A Christmas Carol daily (Newspaper Enterprise Association [NEA]) 1982-12-06 - 1982-12-23 [Pencil and ink work.];
Flash Gordon Sunday (King Features Syndicate) 2002-11-10 [Pencil and ink work];
Gifts of the Magi daily (Newspaper Enterprise Association [NEA]) 1983-12-05 - 1983-12-24 [Writer, pencil, and ink work.];
Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates daily (Newspaper Enterprise Association [NEA]) 1984-12-03 - 1984-12-25 [Writer, pencil, and ink work.];
Johnny Reb and Billy Yank Sunday (New York Herald-Tribune) 195X-XX-XX - 195X-XX-XX [Pencil and ink work. Strip ran from 1956 to 1959, the exact dates of Kubert's work are unknown];
The Spirit Sunday (Register and Tribune Syndicate) 1941-XX-XX - 1942-XX-XX [Assistant colorist.];
The Spirit Sunday (Register and Tribune Syndicate) 1943-XX-XX - 1944-XX-XX [Assistant inker.];
Tales of the Green Beret daily (Newspaper Enterprise Association [NEA]) 1965-06-20 - 1965-12-11 [Pencil and ink work.];
Tales of the Green Beret daily (Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate) 1966-04-04 - 1968-01-10 [Pencil and ink work.];
Tales of the Green Beret Sunday (Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate) 1966-04-10 - 1968-01-07 [Pencil and ink work.]

Kubert did support work as an editor for Pacific Comics in 1984, editor for St. John from 1952 to 1955, publishing and editing for White Cliffs Publishing in 1977, and letterer for his own art for DC from 1951 to 1952, 1977, 1992, and 1996.

He also was an editor for several DC titles including 80-Page Giant Magazine (1965 series) from 1970 to 1971, Arion, Lord of Atlantis (DC, 1982 series) from 1983 to 1984, Blitzkrieg (1976 series) in 1976, DC 100-Page Super Spectacular (1971 series) in 1972, DC Special Series (1977 series) from 1977 to 1978, DC Special (1968 series) in 1969, G.I. Combat (1957 series) from 1968 to 1972, Our Army at War (1952 series) from 1968 to 1977, Our Fighting Forces (1954 series) from 1968 to 1973, Ragman (1976 series) from 1976 to 1977, Rima, the Jungle Girl (1974 series) from 1974 to 1975, Sgt. Rock (1977 series) from 1977 to 1986, Showcase (1956 series) in 1969, Korak and Tarzan titles from 1972 to 1976, Tomahawk (1950 series) from 1970 to 1972, and Weird War Tales (1971 series) from 1971 to 1972.

Kubert was a part-owner, along with St. John, of Hollywood Confessions (St. John, 1949 series). He and his studio also did the packaging for the series and he wrote some of the stories as well.

Notes: To be confirmed against the Who's Who entry.

A source of some of the biographical information was from Joe Kubert himself through Jerry Bails' Who's Who in American Comic Books.

The World Encyclopedia of Comics gives Kubert's birthplace as New York City.

Kubert's family hometown was in a shtetl they referred to as Yzeran, which was actually called by its Polish spelling at the time, Jezierzany (Yzeran appears to be a Yiddish name variation of that town). According to Kubert's passenger immigration list records from November 4, 1926, he was actually born in Łanowce (as it was known in 1926, by its Polish name). Łanowce was probably a stopping point on the Kubert family's journey to the United States. The later references to Yzeran as Kubert's birthplace are probably due to it being the family's ancestral hometown, where both his father and sister were listed as being born in on that same passenger immigration list (as Jesierzany, an alternate spelling of Jezierzany).

Name:

    Joe Kubert Type: Common Alternative Name

Other Names:

  1. Josef Kubert Type: Common Alternative Name
    Given name: Josef Family name: Kubert
  2. Joseph Kubert Type: Common Alternative Name
    Given name: Joseph Family name: Kubert
  3. Yosaif Kubert Type: Name at Birth
    Given name: Yosaif Family name: Kubert
  4. Джо Кюбърт Type: None

Schools:

  1. High School of Art and Design [NYC] 1939 to 1942

Signatures:

  1. Al Gordon [generic]
  2. Frank Thorne [generic]
  3. J. Kubert [generic]
  4. JK [generic]
  5. Joe [generic]
  6. Joe Kubert [generic]
  7. Joe Kubert [generic]
  8. Joe Kubert (brush strokes) [generic]
  9. Joe Kubert (small b) [generic]
  10. Joe Kubert [short k] [generic]
  11. Kubert [generic]
  12. Kubert [Vertical] [generic]
  13. Simon and Kirby [generic]

Art Influences:

Joe Kubert (b. 1926) stated influences by:
  1. Michelangelo
  2. Milton Caniff
  3. Rembrandt
  4. Rubens
  5. Hal Foster (b. 1892)
  6. Mort Meskin (b. 1916)
  7. Alex Raymond (b. 1909)
Influences by Joe Kubert (b. 1926) were stated by:
  1. Neal Adams (b. 1941)
  2. Joe Bennett (b. 1968)
  3. Jordi Bernet (b. 1944)
  4. Stephen R. Bissette (b. 1955)
  5. Jon Bogdanove (b. 1958)
  6. Verl Holt Bond (b. 1949)
  7. June Brigman (b. 1960)
  8. Sal Buscema (b. 1936)
  9. Sergio Cariello (b. 1964)
  10. Michael Chen (b. 1955)
  11. Dan Day (b. 1956)
  12. Gene Day (b. 1951)
  13. Jeff Dee (b. 1961)
  14. Alex Dellinges (b. 1932)
  15. Francisco Di Amorim (b. 197?)
  16. Felipe Echevarria (b. 1959)
  17. Ronn Foss (b. 1939)
  18. Dennis Fujitake (b. 1947)
  19. Maarten Gerritsen (b. 1977)
  20. Don Glut (b. 1944)
  21. Tom Grindberg (b. 1961)
  22. Phil Hester (b. 1966)
  23. Bruce Jones (b. 1944)
  24. Gary Kwapisz (b. 1961)
  25. Ken Leach (b. 1947)
  26. Steve Lieber (b. 1967)
  27. Lee Marrs (b. 1945)
  28. Grant Miehm (b. 1960)
  29. Graham Nolan (b. 1962)
  30. Dan Panosian (b. 1969)
  31. Joe Rubinstein (b. 1958)
  32. Warren Sattler (b. 1934)
  33. Cara Sherman (b. 1952)
  34. Tom Smith (b. 1956)
  35. Rick Veitch (b. 1951)
  36. Neil Vokes (b. 1954)
  37. Mike Vosburg (b. 1947)
  38. Lee Weeks (b. 1962)
  39. Ray Zone (b. 1947)

Memberships:

  1. National Cartoonist Society Type: member

Non Comics Works:

  1. Publication Title: G.I. Joe (other) - Role: artist - Years: 1994?; 1995?
    Employer Name : Hasbro
    Work Title: Sgt. Steel
    Notes: Kubert did the commercial art and design for a Sgt. Steel action figure toy in the G.I. Joe action figure line from Hasbro, circa 1995. No indication that this character design was ever made into an action figure. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline ended in 1994. It is possible Kubert created this design for Sgt. Steel circa 1994 instead of circa 1995 (per Bails' Who's Who) and it wasn't made because the toyline was terminated. Or perhaps Kubert did work on this character design circa 1995 for a new toy line for G.I. Joe for Hasbro and was never produced because that line ended up not happening. Details not currently known.

  2. Publication Title: Superhero Book of Goodies (advertising) - Role: artist - Year: 1977
    Employer Name : Superhero Enterprises
    Notes: Kubert did pencil and ink work for The Superhero Book of Goodies (Superhero Enterprises, 1977 series) v1#2 (April 1977), a continuation of The Superhero Merchandise Catalogue (Superhero Enterprises, 1975 series). The catalog was in comic book format and was sold like a comic book using the artwork of Joe Kubert School artists, including Kubert himself. It sold all manner of comic-related merchandise.

  3. Publication Title: The Super Dictionary (book) - Role: art director - Year: 1978
    Employer Name : Warner Educational Services
    Notes: Kubert was the producer and did the front and back cover pencil and ink work for The Super Dictionary (Warner Educational Services) from 1978. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 78-55453, ISBN: 0-03-042756-3.

  4. Publication Title: The Superhero Merchandise Catalogue; The Superhero Book of Goodies; The Superhero Catalog (advertising) - Role: art director - Years: 1975 - 1978
    Employer Name : Superhero Enterprises
    Work Title: [Producer]
    Notes: Kubert was the producer of the various comic merchandise catalogs from 1975 to 1978, The Superhero Merchandise Catalogue (Superhero Enterprises, 1975 series), The Superhero Book of Goodies (Superhero Enterprises, 1977 series), and The Superhero Catalog (Superhero Enterprises, 1977 series).

  5. Publication Title: [Founder, Director, Teacher] (other) - Role: owner - Years: 1976 - 2012
    Employer Name : Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Arts
    Notes: Joe Kubert founded, directed, and taught at the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning and Graphic Arts from 1976 probably until his death in 2012.

  6. Publication Title: [Musician] (other) - Role: artist
    Employer Name : Self-Employed
    Notes: Kubert did performing arts as a musician. Details on his musical work, what instrument(s) he played, whether it was professional or amateur performances, and any other details are not currently known.

  7. Publication Title: [Photographer] (other) - Role: artist
    Employer Name : Self-Employed
    Notes: Joe Kubert was a photographer. Details of work, dates of the work, and whether it was professional or amateur is not known.

  8. Publication Title: [Trading cards] (other) - Role: artist - Year: 1991
    Employer Name : Acclaim / Valiant
    Work Title: ?
    Notes: Kubert did pencil and ink artwork for the trading card inserts for Valiant Comics (Acclaim / Valiant) in 1991. Additional details on the cards are currently not known.

Relations:

  1. Employee of - Chesler Studio (b. 1936)
    Notes: Kubert started as an apprentice doing pencil and ink work for the studio in 1939. He returned to do further pencil and ink work for Chesler in 1945.
  2. Employee of - Demby Studio (b. 1939)
    Notes: Did pencils and inks circa 1941.
  3. Employee of - Iger Shop
    Notes: Kubert did assistant pencil and ink work for the shop circa 1942.
  4. Owner - Joe Kubert Studio (b. 1949)
    Notes: Kubert was the owner and the head of his own studio in 1949.
  5. Parent of - Adam Kubert (b. 1959)
  6. Parent of - Andy Kubert (b. 1962)
  7. Relative - Emma Kubert (b. 1994)
    Notes: Emma is the granddaughter of Joe.
  8. Relative - Katie Kubert (b. 1984)
    Notes: Katie is the granddaughter of Joe.
  9. Owner - The Kubies (b. 1976)
    Notes: Co-owner.
  10. Employee of - Will Eisner Studio (b. 1940)
    Notes: Kubert worked as an office boy for the studio circa 1941.

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