By Todd Allen

Not a lot of details on this yet, but Twitter and Facebook are spreading the news that Joe Kubert has passed away
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Kubert, simply put, is one of the titans of the field.  He’s probably best known for his work on Hawkman (including the original version in the 1940s) and his work on DC’s war comics, like Sgt. Rock.  Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for his Tarzan.  Kubert was an editor at DC.  The founder of The Kubert School, training new artists. He is survived by his sons, Adam and Andy, both outstanding artists in their own right.

Not one to rest on his considerable laurels, Kubert was still an active artist.  Kubert is currently on the shelves, inking his son, Andy, on Before Watchmen: Nite Owl. Barely a month ago, DC announced Kubert had a new anthology coming out.

It sounds like Kubert had been ill:

This is a sad, sad day for comics.  More information as it becomes available.

Update: According to friend on Twitter, Kubert had been hospitalized for the last month or so with various health issues.

38 COMMENTS

  1. What sad news. Joe was one of the very best and knew how to “pass it forward” before any one else knew it had to be done. Spending some time with him at a DC RRP meeting was one of the most thrilling experiences of my DC career. For it, he did an ashcan that, in itself, was a pure lesson in comics storytelling. A gentleman. A scholar. A teacher. An advocate. And a really nice man. My heart goes out to his family, the “Kubies” and all who love great comics work. Sir, we are ever in your debt.

  2. Truly a sad day in a sad year of so many greats leaving us for pastures new. R.I.P. Joe, thanks for the ride.

  3. He taught us all how to draw, how to dream and how to live a meaningful life with class, honor and dignity. Joe was a giant who walked amongst us with kindness and humility.

  4. I’m not mourning. Sure, it’s a loss to his family, to his friends, to his fans, and to the art form of comics, that he is no longer around to contribute (as he was still doing). But his was a life and a career to celebrate, and the fact that he was active and vibrant and continued to produce fantastic art right up until the end of his life, is good news, not bad. I would rather die with a stylus in my hand at age 50 than to live for years beyond my ability to continue creating and contributing. Joe Kubert got to die while still working on projects at 85, and that’s fantastic.

  5. I first meet him at the Erlangen Comics Salon in 1994, and in continental Europe, he had fans.

    Later, he had a panel at the last New York Is Book Country, held at NYU. He talked about his career, but also new projects outside the war and super hero genres.

    His style was instantly recognizable. It had a rugged realism, no matter the character. The stories also had a humanism that one didn’t see that often.

    He will bet missed, but his legacy continues, in his work, and in the thousands of graduates of his school.

  6. I had the honor of meeting Mr. kubrrt at Wondercon 2010.
    Here’s to a great life and an influence that will affect comics for decades to come.

  7. God bless and keep Joe Kubert.
    From the 1970 DC Special issue featuring him and his work, to his wonderful adaptation of Tarzan in 1972, to his work with his school, his sons, his graphic novels… I always loved Kubert and his work. It’s time I read Bill Schelly’s biography of Joe.
    I regret the loss, and send love to Adam and Andy and the family and friends who treasure him.

  8. So many of the great talents have pasted this year, this one makes the world feel even more empty . Things change and even when the greats are gone we will use their history to build from . Thank you Joe…

  9. http://hayfamzone.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-shook-hands-with-joe-kubert.html

    >>

    @Brian Hayes:

    Amazing how many of us seemed to have been content just to shake JK’s hand — see my post in The Beat’s Kubert thread last month:

    https://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/07/05/joe-kubert-gets-an-anthology-at-dc/

    Seems you published first – but I did the earlier shaking – so lets call it even(?) / LOL.

    Otherwise:
    Our two bits seem to simply testify as to what a genuine respect there was/is for Joe Kubert. I think the reason I didn’t want to have conversation w/ him is because through the work, he had become for me, well.. an ideal.

    Alas:
    I’ve heard stories that once this country was run by a lot of people who commanded that same sort of respect, and I’d love to find a time machine that would take me back to those days.

  10. The life of Joe Kubert was an 85 year story of triumph!
    Goodbye Joe and thank you for Entertaining us so well.

  11. I’m currently cataloging my comic book collection — going through about thousands of comics is a slow process when you stop and read an issue because a Joe Kubert cover caught your eye…

    I’m glad he lived a great life and left behind a legacy of artwork that is, honestly astounding. I’m even happier that he founded the school that has shaped so many great artists… and happiest of all that he left behind two sons who follow in his footsteps and have become stars in their own right.

  12. Sometimes the phrase, “We have just lost a giant,” is overused — but not in this case.

    Joe was a giant, and because he was so talented and prolific for so long (seven, count ’em, seven decades as a professional comic book artist!), it’s hard to imagine the world of comics without him.

  13. RESPECT.

    Here in South India, we started to love him only after we saw his work for the Italian Tex Willer Story – The Lonesome Rider. After which, anything drawn by him meant only one thing: Quality.

    R.I.P. Joe.

    We Love You.

  14. What a great man, artist, mentor and inspiration to so many – a friend to so many more. He shall not pass this way again…

  15. While at SDCC I bought the Art of Joe Kubert from Fantagraphics and was in awe of the book and got the last copy they had on Sunday. He is one of few that that can truly be called a legend. Thankfully he left us with a rich history that will enrich generations to come. My thought are with his family at this time.

  16. When I was first getting into comics, I didn’t pay much attention to the Silver Age artists. I was more about the hot artists of the day (guys like Byrne and Perez in the late 80s, guys like McFarlane and Lee at the dawn of the 90s.) If there was one legend that stood out, immediately, to me, it was Joe Kubert. His dynamic style was, truly, unique. Every line committed to paper was, absolute, perfection. There was nothing the man couldn’t draw and draw well.

    My heartfelt condolences go out to Adam, Andy, and the rest of their family and loved ones.

    Thanks for the, amazing, body of work that we can continue to appreciate for years to come. Rest in peace, Joe.

  17. I met Joe once, at a convention. I had a chance to sit and talk with him. He signed my comics, and listened patiently while I told him that he had influenced my own art career. And so he has.

    He was a gentleman to me then, and I have remained a huge fan of his pragmatic and dramatic drawing style.

    And what a role model. To be drawing until the age of 85. Wow.

    My condolences to his family and friends.
    Good bye Mr. Kubert. Thanks again.

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