Joe Kubert Presents # 5 (of 6)

There's always been a debate about Sgt. Rock - namely, is he still alive?

The answer, some years back, was "yes" - because the modern day, older Rock appeared in issues of Brave and the Bold, starring alongside Batman.

But that didn't sit well with many Rock fans - and it didn't really work for the creators of the Sarge, either.

Created by writer Robert Kanigher and artist Joe Kubert, the prevailing feeling was that Sgt. Rock should have died at the end of the war, shot down by the last bullet fired before peace was declared.

Kubert actually drew that sequence for the recent Legacies series, but with this issue he draws a question mark over the story, as he works with writer Paul Levitz to create a different take on Rock, in a moving and thoughtful short story set at Normandy Beach.

This issue of Joe Kubert Presents includes an excellent feature by Sam Glanzman, hitting the key moments from the war in the Pacific during World War II.

Throw in a short horror tale called "The Biker," a short ocean adventure with "Spit" (both by Kubert) and an origin (of sorts) for Angel and the Ape by Brian Buniak, and you have yet another excellent issue.

This series is wrapping up altogether too quickly. Kubert's work is phenomenal, loaded with life and energy and amazing creativity.

I still find it impossible to realize that he's gone - he still seems like a force of nature.

Lots of that power, thankfully, is still on display here.

Grade: A-

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The Classics - Joe Kubert

Sad to hear the news this week of the passing of the living legend, Joe Kubert.

In the pantheon of all-time great artists, writers and editors, Kubert definitely belongs in the top ten, along with Jack Kirby, Will Eisner, Gil Kane, Stan Lee, Joe Simon, Steve Ditko and Carmine Infantino (to name a few).

Kubert famously started working in comics while just a teenager (and maybe even before that), and he carved out a spot as a powerful storyteller. And he just got better as the years passed.

He started out in the superhero ghetto, but soon made his lasting mark on DC's war comics, most famously co-creating that company's most iconic character, Sgt. Rock. But he also drew the occasional superhero, including the first appearances of the Silver Age Hawkman.

He eventually became editor of the war comics, and he also took over the adventures of the beloved Edgar Rice Burroughs character, Tarzan, in 1972. He did it all in that series - writing, drawing and editing - and it was that work that opened my eyes and made me a fan of Kubert, as I wrote in this "Classics" review in 2010:

It's interesting to look back and realize how tastes can change in the blink of an eye.

For example, Joe Kubert's art never really appealed to me when I was young, although my only exposure to it was in the pages of of the '60s version of Hawkman.

At DC Comics, I much preferred the "cleaner" art of Murphy Anderson, Gil Kane or Carmine Infantino. (I should add that I never read many war comics, so I sadly missed out on untold years of great Sgt. Rock stories. Thank goodness for DC Showcase reprints!)

But then I picked up this, the first DC issue of Tarzan (which continued the numbering from the previous publisher - this issued is cover dated April 1972).

The issue was edited and drawn (and presumably adapted by) Joe Kubert, and what a revelation! Here was an incredible depiction of the first Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan novel, drawn with amazing skill and power. Here was a master at work, with lush jungle vistas, raw emotions on display, vivid animal life, life-and-death battles and amazing heroic (and villainous) figures.

How could I have overlooked a talent like this? Kubert's style was perfectly suited to Tarzan's adventures, and from that day forward I avidly sought out every comic Kubert worked on.

So my apologies to Joe for ever doubting his talent - hey, I was just a dumb kid! I'm glad to say I've learned the error of my ways.

Grade: A+

And at that point (40 years ago!!), Joe was just getting warmed up.

He did work most comics fans never saw, as he took over the production of the U.S. Army's PS Magazine, which focuses on - of all things - proper equipment maintenance.

He'd go on to create countless comics and graphic novels, he'd start the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon Art and Graphic Art that has graduated a small army of creators now crafting the future of the industry - and his legacy continues through his incredibly talented sons, Adam and Andy.

He isn't really gone, of course - his work will continue to entertain as long as comics endure - but it's sad to lose him at the age of 85, when he was still creating stunning work - easily visible in the latest Before Watchmen: Nite Owl series - and he'll be terribly missed by comics fans all over the world.

A job well done, Joe, and a career for the record books.

The Classics - Our Army At War #203

It's easy to kick yourself over comics you missed.

Recently I talked about how, as a youngster, I bought precious few western comics.

Same story for war comics.

I did pick up a few issues of Sgt. Fury, and my brothers had a few issues of Sgt. Rock - and that was about it.

Big mistake, as this issue clearly demonstrates.

Published in 1969, this "80 Page Giant" (for a quarter!) is actually a collection of classic stories, and a celebration of some of the finest artists who worked on DC's comics.

The stories were all written by Bob Kanigher - not one of my favorite writers, but he did his best work in war comics. The first story is a classic Sgt. Rock story as illustrated by living legend Joe Kubert, and this story is a good example of why he's so revered. It's loaded with amazing action, numerous splash panels and intense emotions, all in service of a story about Easy Company learning whether or not it can survive without Rock.

The second story is by one of the few artists who belong in the same ranks as Kubert - Russ Heath, who illustrates a Haunted Tank story. It's the gimmick-laden tale of how Jeb Stuart discovers a previously-hidden ability to sense where the next attack is coming from, but Heath gives it amazing depth and detail - never anything less than stunning work.

None of this is to take away from the other two artists included - Mort Drucker, who would achieve greater fame for his comedic work, provides a fun story of Mlle. Marie taking on the Nazis, and workhorse Irving Novick crafts stories for Jonny Cloud and the team known as Gunner, Sarge and Pooch, and as always, he turns in excellent work.

DC's war stories could run the range (as this issue shows) from intense combat to silly morality tales, but their batting average was high, and most issues provided lots of entertainment and some terrific art.

I just wish I'd picked up more of them back when they were easier to track down.

Grade: A-

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