Remembering Artist Joe Kubert

Remembering artist Joe Kubert on his birthday (September 18, 1926 - August 12, 2012) with a couple of incredible Batman covers he did, featuring the Gentleman Ghost....for Batman #310 (April, 1979) and Batman #319 (January, 1980).

Remembering Legendary Artist Joe Kubert

Remembering artistic legend, Joe Kubert, on his birthday (September 18, 1926 - August 12, 2012), with a very early cover in his career, from the Son Of Sinbad #1 (February, 1950) from St. John Publishing Company, which has been collected in the Joe Kubert Archives #1 - Weird Horrors & Daring Adventures (December, 2012), where he provided pencils and inks for two stories of the Son Of Sinbad...."Ransom Of The Shipwreck Shoals!" (freeing slave girl Elene from the evil Mytar) and "The Curse Of The Caliph's Dancer" (searching for a prize pearl to get the hand of Kina, the Pearl Of Baghdad), as well as likely inking the third story, "The Merchant Of Menace" (wherein he was working to recover items stolen by the Sultan).

One additional story appeared in Abbott and Costello Comics #10 (August, 1950), "The Princess Of Pirate Cove", where he rescued a woman and Princess Xenia from the island of Lahru.

Remembering Artist Joe Kubert

Remembering artist Joe Kubert (September 18, 1926 - August 12, 2012) on his birthday.  Known more for his work on DC characters like Sgt. Rock, Hawkman and Viking Prince, here, a look back to the 1950s, with a fantasy caveman named Tor, and his pet monkey, Chee-chee; work done for the St. John company.

Even more fun...the first issue was named One Million Years Ago, while the second issue 3-D Comics, with 3 variant covers and sizes (and, the third even had additional material)....before the title of the book became Tor.

One Million Years Ago (September, 1953) and 3-D Comics #2 (1st comic, October, 1953)

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3-D Comics #2 (2nd magazine, October, 1953 and 3rd comic, November, 1953)

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Tor #3 and #4 (May and July, 1954)

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 Tor #5 (October, 1954)

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Tor lived in a prehistoric fantasy world, filled with dinosaurs and sabretooth tigers...a fun and fertile playground for an artist like Kubert.

Even DC and Marvel (and more!) had runs with Tor later...over multiple decades!

A pretty big achievement for just a caveman, but very worthy with that incredible Kubert art!

Still, because you might want to see Kubert at some of his usual haunts, a little Hawkman art is here, a covering of Ragman is here, and, a team up of Sgt. Rock and Viking Prince is here!

A Big Tarzan Adventure

When Tarzan came to DC, it was a big thing...made that much bigger when the origin of Tarzan by Joe Kubert (adapting the work of Edgar Rice Burroughs) was reprinted in the larger than life Limited Collectors' Edition #C-22 (Fall, 1973).

Sadly, the treasury collection did have to edit pages for space (but did include a crossword puzzle, word search a "learn to draw" feature by Kubert and and a photo and biography of Joe Kubert), but here, we summarize what was contained in that oversized volume!

Tarzan #207 (April, 1972)

"The Origin Of The Ape-Man" began with Tarzan's parents, the Lord and Lady Greystoke, who were marooned in Africa by pirates.  

Making the best of it, John Clayton Sr. fashioned a home for himself and his wife, Alice, who gave birth to their son, John Jr.  Alice perished from a rare virus, and then John Sr. was killed by the great ape, Kerchak.  

Kala, a female gorilla, who had lost her own child, took John Jr. to raise as her own (with the young John later to be known as Tarzan). 

This issue also contains "Tarzan's First Christmas" which is reprinted from the newspaper series, and a John Carter Of Mars feature, "Arrival".

Tarzan #208 (May, 1972)

"A Son's Vengeance" is the next part of the Tarzan origin story.  

Tarzan grows amongst the apes, but also finds a knife which he takes as a weapon.  

He also learns to read and write from his parents journals, learning he is different from the apes.  

Tarzan's adoptive mother, Kala, is killed by Kulonga, a chief of a local tribe.  Tarzan then enacts vengeance and kills Kulonga.

This issue also contains "The Baby Of The Apes" which is reprinted from the newspaper series, and a John Carter Of Mars feature, "Prisoner Of The Tharks".

Tarzan #209 (June, 1972)

"A Mate For The Ape-Man" introduces Jane Porter to the series.  

More pirates put Jane and her father's party a shore.  Tarzan battles this ape rival, Terkoz, banishing him from his tribe.  

Tarzan protects the Porter party from the jungle threats, meeting William Clayton, and slowly falling in love with Jane.  

Terkoz observes this, and takes Jane to humiliate Tarzan, with Tarzan chasing after, killing Terkoz to save Jane.

This issue also contains "Fight For Life" which is reprinted from the newspaper series, and a John Carter Of Mars feature, "A Fair Captive From The Sky".

Tarzan #210 (July, 1972)

"Civilization" concludes the adaptation of Burroughs' original Tarzan novel with a full length feature, with Jane, her father and William Clayton being marooned on the African coast to be rescued by Tarzan.  Eventually, the lot heads to America, with Tarzan learning French from Lt. Paul D'Arnot, who also finds Tarzan's parents' journals.  Tarzan heads to Baltimore to reunite with Jane, but learns she is engaged to Clayton.  D'Arnot uses the journals to find out Tarzan's history, and telegrams him this (learning that Clayton is Tarzan's cousin), but Tarzan keeps this to himself to insure Jane's happiness.

DC also had a second Edition of Tarzan, reprinting more of Kubert's work, as well as 52 issues of the lord of the jungle.

Remembering Artist Joe Kubert

Remembering artist Joe Kubert (September 18, 1926 - August 12, 2012) on his birthday with a look at a few covers he did for fantasy characters over the decades, including the Viking Prince and Claw The Unconquered.

Claw The Unconquered had 9 issues done before it disappeared for a while, but when it returned in 1978, Joe Kubert provided its last 3 covers for the warrior with the demon hand.

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Musician Jim Rook found himself in another dimension, where he welded a different sword as Nightmaster, for 3 issues of Showcase in 1969.

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Viking Prince was a series Joe Kubert provided the interiors for from Brave and the Bold #1, but only covers for the last three issues of the Viking Prince's run in 1959.  

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Joe Kubert was usually know for war covers, but, as you can see, he could sneak some fantasy into those as well!

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Even more than the covers above, there was a team-up of Sgt. Rock and the Viking Prince...and you can read more about that here!

  

For Memorial Day

Remembering those who gave it all for our country this Memorial Day, with this Sgt. Rock cover to Our Army At War #297 (October, 1976) by Joe Kubert, where Sgt. Rock shows in no uncertain terms the sacrifice our soldiers have had to make for our freedoms.

Sgt. Rock Meets The Viking Prince?

Two great warriors, drawn by one great artist, but both historical figures very much defined by their times.

Still, the fates aligned, and these two heroes once met....

...and here is that story, told by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert!

The Prince And The Sergeant

The story begins in Our Army At War #162 (January, 1966), with Little Sure Shot of Easy Company telling the group of the stories of the Viking legends, with their great prince, as mortar fire rang out, ending the tale.  Aboard a British ship, Sgt. Rock would have to lead Easy Company to the shore, and to find the hidden drone base of the Nazis on the beach, as the British ship would continue to provide cover.

As the British ship was found by enemy fire, Easy Company came ashore.  There, they were nearly found by a Nazi patrol, but, Sgt. Rock took to heart the sacrifice of the British commander, planning to lure the Nazis away from his troops so they could complete the mission.

Wounded, Rock continued to fight, leading the troops into a frozen ice cave, where Rock thought he saw a man in the ice.  Things suddenly warmed up as a grenade was tossed into the cave, trying to kill the Sergeant.  Failing, it also freed the Viking Prince from his icy slumber, and Jon quickly dispatched the Nazi troops.  In shock, Rock asked Jon why he through himself into battle wanting to die....and Jon told him.  

Back in the day, the Viking Prince was a mighty warrior, and was taken to Valhalla by a beautiful Valkyrior maiden.  Smitten, Jon wanted her for his own, but she was committed to bringing the dead to Odin.  In the afterlife, Jon faced Haggor, Clefter of Heads, beating him.  At the celebratory feast after, Jon challenged Odin for his Valkyrior, angering Odin, who also realized she brought Jon to Valhalla too soon, thus sent him back to Earth to live, but now cursed to never die by metal, wood, fire or water, entombed in ice until freed by Rock's battle with the Nazis.  The pair were then set upon by a Nazi warplane, which Jon dispatched.  Rock then decided to bring Jon along on his suicide mission, hoping that will end Jon's suffering, allowing him to die (and to complete the mission). 

Kill Me -- Kill Me!

The tale of Jon and Rock continued in Our Army At War #163 (February, 1966), with Jon having renewed happiness to go on a final mission with Sgt. Rock, much to the concern of the sergeant, when the two were beset by Nazi troops, with Jon wading into battle against them.  

As it seemed the troops were to overwhelm the Viking Prince, Sgt. Rock saw spirits of Odin and the Valkyrior above, with Odin promising Jon will never have the maiden.  Jon fought on, with Rock joining the battle, The pair then met Helga, after Jon took out the Nazi tank following her.  Helga claimed to be in the underground, to lead them to the Nazi drone base.  The trio found Easy Company, and headed to the caverns below the base, but Jon's Valkyrior stopped her...

....as Helga was a traitor, leading them to the forces in control of the base.  Jon went into battle to keep the enemy busy, as Rock and Easy Company got their explosives ready, and set them off, destroying the drone base, Nazi troops, and Jon, who would be happy, dying in battle, and ending up with the maiden he loved.

This pair of stories has been reprinted many times, most notably in the Sgt. Rock Special #1 of October, 1988, The Viking Prince collection of September, 2010 and in Showcase Presents: Sgt. Rock #3 of September, 2010, because while nothing is ever easy in Easy, finding stories should be!

Read a little of Rock's end of the war adventures here, as well as a time when the Viking Prince was in another time here!

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For Memorial Day

Remembering those who fought for our country and lost their lives this memorial day with this symbolic Joe Kubert cover for Our Army At War #236 (September, 1971), featuring Sgt. Rock and Easy Company, continuing the fight in World War II, showing only death wins in war.

For Memorial Day

Remembering our soldiers that didn't come home with this Joe Kubert cover from Our Fighting Forces #135 (January-February, 1972), where the Losers lost one of their own, with Sarge, Gunner and Johnny Cloud...

...mourning for the loss of Captain Storm, but preparing to go on.

Sgt. Rock on D-Day 2

With Sgt. Rock #339 (April, 1980), Sgt. Rock proves "I Was Here Before", relating the tale (told by Robert Kanigher and Frank Redondo, under a Joe Kubert cover) of how Rock left Easy Company for a bit, working with British and Canadian commandos to storm the beaches of Normandy a year before June 6th, 1944.

Saluting Our Veterans On Memorial Day

Saluting our soldiers, and those who gave their lives in service of our country with this cover from Our Army At War #197 (September, 1968) by Joe Kubert.

Our soldiers fought to keep civilians safe, but occasionally, the civilians died as well, and Sgt. Rock salutes them as well.

Happy 4th Of July With Sgt. Rock

Saluting our war heroes on this July 4th, with this cover from Our Army At War #295 (August, 1976) by Joe Kubert.


This cover featured World War II hero, Sgt. Rock and Easy Company, and also celebrated America's Bicentennial (1776 to 1976).

Sgt. Rock On D-Day

Among other tales, Joe Kubert came back to Sgt. Rock briefly, working with writer Paul Levitz to tell the story of what Sgt. Rock was doing on D-Day in the story of "Farewell", as a teenager and his father retrace the steps of the boy's granddad on that day of June 6th, 1944 in Joe Kubert Presents #5 (April, 2013).

For Memorial Day

Remembering those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms on Memorial Day.


I present this cover, from artist Joe Kubert, from Weird War Tales #2 (November-December, 1971).


Usually, Weird War Tales stories had a supernatural or science fiction angle, but we'll let this cover speak for itself, about the bravery of our soldiers, and the pain of those they left behind.

Remembering Our Veterans With Sgt. Rock

For all the brave men and women who provide our country their service, we appreciate you, salute you, and hope you all have the opportunity to be "Goin' Home"....



...like this cover from Sgt. Rock #392 (September, 1984) by Joe Kubert.

The Original Ragman

In a world full of flashy super heroes, crazy clown lunatics and big, cosmic battles...

...who fights for the common man?

Back in the day, in a small neighborhood in Gotham, that was the Ragman, as created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.

Ragman #1

In Ragman #1 (August-September, 1976, by Robert Kanigher and the Redondo Studio, with cover and layouts by Joe Kubert), we meet Rory Regan, a Vietnam veteran who was helping his father run "Rags'n'Tatters" (a second hand store in an unsavory part of Gotham City).  Rory's dad found a large cache of cash, and decided to split it with his 3 older friends (a circus strongman, a world-class acrobat and a heavyweight boxer), though they suspected the money was not obtained legally.  The elder Mr. Regan should have heeded his instincts, as gangsters came to claim the money, shooting down power lines to execute the 4 old men, with Rory showing up as they were drying...trying to save them, he grasped his father's hand, and as they died, the four men passed on their strength and abilities to Rory.  Taking a costume made of rags he planned to use for a costume party, Rory went out to take revenge on the hoods who killed these men in "The Origin Of The Tatterdemalion". 

Ragman #2

The syndicate comes looking for their cash in Ragman #2 (October-November, 1976, by Kanigher, Kubert and the brothers Frank and Nestor Redondo) with "75-25 Or Die", as life continues for Rory Regan at Rags'n'Tatters (secretly and slowly distributing the mob million among the neighborhood residents).  Rory's journalist girlfriend, Bette Berg, who thinks Rory could do better than to stay in this neighborhood...yet, he won't leave as he feels he's the only one who cares about the people here, and advises her to leave him (which she won't do as she cares about him).  

This issue introduces the lady Opal, who is enamored with Ragman, as the criminals attempt to trap Ragman...not knowing of his full abilities and dedication and devotion to keeping his neighborhood safe, and a little bit of luck in knowing exactly where the junk in his neighborhood is.

Ragman #3

With his third appearance under a stunning Joe Kubert cover, in Ragman #3 (December-January, 1976/1977 by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert and the Redondo Studio), the tattered tatterdemalion of Gotham faces off against the gangster Mr. Big and his gang...

...all to save Teddy, a deaf-mute boy who happens to be the only witness to a murder (unless you count his cat), and thus could be a witness to put these criminals behind bars in the tale "See No Evil".

While Ragman did most of the heavy lifting in this issue, it was the cat who was the real hero (and Rory introduces Teddy to Bette, as the two head out to a date in Chinatown....).

This issue's letter page also states that Rory is Irish, not Jewish (as though one couldn't be both...).

Ragman #4

When a young boy dies of a drug overdose, Rory suits up to bring down the drug ring in his neighborhood in Ragman #4 (February-March, 1977, by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert and the Redondo brothers) in "The Dream Killers", the first of two stories in this issue.


This first story sees the Ragman facing off against Seriph and his gang (the owner of a crooked amusement park, Funland) , as well as helping Jeanne Wilson (though not successfully, as she dies).


The second, untitled story, is by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, and has Ragman dealing with 3 grave robbers looking for a hidden treasure in a silent story (as Kubert's images are powerful without words).

Ragman #5

The last issue of Ragman is a special treat, provided by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert, as Ragman #5 (June-July, 1977) features "The Junkyard Of Death".

Yet again, the mob tries to use Opal as bait to draw out the man in rags, but this time, they also have found the million dollars that was hidden in the junkyard (and Bette suggests to Rory that they get married so they could adopt Teddy, and take him out of this area and out of the orphanage).

Yet, this dream, like the cash (and the promise of a next issue)....all goes up in smoke!

This issue also is where it is revealed that Joe Kubert had done the layouts for the earlier four issues, which he had not been credited in.

Batman Family #20

Ragman did return, with Batman Family #20 (October-November, 1978 by David V. Reed, Michael Golden and Bob Smith, under a Jim Starlin cover), and "Enter The Ragman".

This issue sees Batman and Ragman meeting for the first time, as the Gotham Associates Realty Corporation tries to swindle the residents of Ragman's neighborhood out of their homes, and Batman and Ragman have to work together to stop the crooked realtors.

Brave and the Bold #196

It took a few years for Ragman to return again, this time in Brave and the Bold #196 (March, 1983, by Robert Kanigher and Jim Aparo) with the story "The Two Faces Of Midnight".


This time around, Batman and Ragman work together to deal with the Dynamiters for Democracy...a terrorist group threatening Gotham.


This requires Batman and Ragman to switch costumes for a bit, seeing how the other half lives....

...however briefly!

Among The Others

Ragman did appear again, but mostly just in the background of bigger things, with Red Tornado #3 (September, 1985) and Crisis On Infinite Earths #5 (August, 1985), showing Ragman was willing to work with others (but mostly, he was just a face in the crowd, in this case, standing next to Jonni Thunder, drawing an end to this heroes journey....).

Treasure In The Trash

Still, Ragman wouldn't go away, and the character returned, with a slightly altered history, as a part of a legacy of Jewish protectors, using a mystical rags that took the souls of criminals to repent (starting with Ragman #1 of October, 1991 by Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming, and Pat Broderick) for an 8 issue mini-series.  This Ragman came back for another 6 mini-series (with covers by Joe Kubert), and a few team-ups with Batman...

....as well as joining in larger mystical events such as the Day of Judgment 5 issue mini-series of 1999 and the Day of Vengeance 5 issue mini-series of 2005, before joining the mystic group of Shadowpact, along with Nightmaster, Nightshade, Enchantress, Blue Devil and Detective Chimp for its 25 issue run.

A different character than Joe Kubert's original.....but, thematically similar, finding treasures in the trash.....