Joe Kubert was born in Jezierzany, Poland in 1926 and died in Morristown, New Jersey in 2012. He is a highly decorated Comic Book Artist, Art Teacher, and Founder of The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Madison, New Jersey. He and his wife, Muriel, founded the school in 1976. During that first year their school garnered a roster of 22 students.
In 1938, at age 12, Joe Kubert began inking comics for $5 a page. That same year Action Comics introduced us to Superman in its debut issue. Kubert spent decades illustrating comics for DC and many others. Sgt. Rock, Hawkman, Tarzan, and Superman were some of his most iconic characters. Small world as I also got started when I was 12 selling watercolors to family and friends for $100.
In 1988 while visiting my girlfriend’s Dad in New Jersey I got invited to visit Joe Kubert’s home. In shock I immediately jumped at the opportunity in case I was in fact dreaming. My girlfriend pinched me assuring this wasn’t a dream. Around every corner were framed covers of some of my favorite pantheon legends and mighty superheroes. What stood out the most during that visit was the simplicity of his basement studio. It was adorned with a drawing board and ink well. I imagined the decades of history he inked in that unassuming space. Artistic simplicity at its best. For more information visit The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art: