Joe Kubert (photo credit to Luigi Novi)

About 5 years ago I was looking into going to college outside of Vermont. I wanted to go to a school that would help me develope my artistic skills into something that would find me a job. Thanks to an ad in the back of MAD magazine, I found The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon & Graphic Art. I applied, sent in a CD of my comic and my portfolio.

I was surprised when I received a call from the man himself. Joe Kubert called me, personally, and told me that he had seen my comic and my portfolio and was impressed. He hadn’t seen a non-student portfolio that looked so professional in a long time. He set up my interview with one of his professors, an Inker from the old RoboTech comic book series whose name escapes me at the moment. Mike….something.

A month later I got a hand-written letter from Joe, included with my form letter. I’d been accepted. I was doing somersaults on clouds I was so happy. My whole family was psyched that I’d finally found a college that was going to help me, FINALLY, do something “useful” with my skills as a 2-D artist.

—Unfortunately, I didn’t have the $100 to hold my spot open and never got to go. I regret never having had the chance to meet Joe in person. Sadly, I never will.

Joseph Kubert has passed on. *hangs head* (Its very difficult for me to be writing this. Joe was one of my personal heroes in the field. My chest hurts because he is gone. *sniffles*)

Joe by Joe

According to Wikipedia.com:

Joseph Kubert (September 18, 1926 – August 12, 2012) was an American comic book artist and founder of The Kubert School. He is best known for his work on the DC Comics characters Sgt. Rock and Hawkman. His sons, Andy Kubert and Adam Kubert, have themselves become successful comic-book artists.

Kubert’s other creations include the comic books Tarzan, Tor, Son of Sinbad, and Viking Prince, and, with writer Robin Moore, the comic strip Tales of the Green Beret.

Kubert was inducted into the Harvey Awards‘ Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1997, and Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998.

He died in August 2012, 3 weeks short of his 86th birthday.

Joe – I’m sorry I never got to shake your hand. You changed the world by what you created. You were a god among Men. Thank you.

Related articles

• RIP Joe Kubert, Comics Legendary Artist, Teacher & Father (comicbookresources.com)
• Legendary Artist Joe Kubert Passes Away (ign.com)
• In Memoriam: Joe Kubert (1926-2012) (ifanboy.com)