We’re very sorry to report the passing of US comic creator Joe Kubert, whose legacy as an industry great and influence on comic artists the world over – including the UK – cannot be in any doubt, has died. He was 85.
Quite apart from his work in comics (which includes Tarzan, Sergeant Rock, Hawkman, Tor and the acclaimed 1996 graphic novel Fax From Sarajevo, Joe was a pioneer in art instruction, opening Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art school in 1976.
Now known simply as The Kubert School, the institute has turned out several well-known artists including Dave Dorman, Steve Bissette, Alex Maleev and many more – not least of which are his sons, Adam and Andy, who also teach at the School today.
“A great artist and a great man,” commented British comics artist Dave Gibbons on Twitter as news began to break of his passing.
His final published work is likely appear in the pages of Before Watchmen: Nite Owl or his solicited six-issue Joe Kubert Presents miniseries.
• Joseph ‘Joe’ Kubert: Born 18th September, 1926, died 12th August 2012
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
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