Doug: We're now 60% through our celebration of #Inktober. So far we've featured a couple of the masters inking themselves in John Buscema and John Romita. Today we finish that trend with a look at Joe Kubert's DC Comics revival of Tarzan of the Apes. While you won't find a lot of the pencil lines that were featured in the previous two posts, I hope you'll still appreciate the natural beauty of Kubert's work. There's a reason he's considered among the best ever.
Next weekend we'll look at some Spider-Man pages penciled by Romita, Gil Kane, and Mike Zeck, all under the influence of various inkers. After that? I got nothin'... yet.
For me, this is how Tarzan would look. I was eight or nine when DC acquired the ERB series and I don't think I missed any of them. To paraphrase Bum Phillips, Joe Kubert may not have been in a class by himself, but it sure didn't take long to call roll.
ReplyDeleteFor years, Joe Kubert Tarzan comics were "lost" Bronze Age treasures to me, akin to Tomb of Dracula (a bunch of comic shops in my area and maybe 5 overpriced issues between them), Superman vs. Muhammad Ali (the only copy I found went for $100!), and Master of Kung Fu (nowhere to be found in my area). A few years ago, Bedrock Comics in Framingham, MA bought a huge collection or three and I finally got to buy some Kubert Tarzans from their copious dollar bins. They were worth the wait! Kubert's storytelling mastery, unique line work, and ability to convey action made Tarzan (a character that I've never really warmed up to) a must read. I found out they were reprinted in expensive hardcovers a little later. I rarely buy books in new formats if I already own them, but I might splurge for them.
ReplyDeleteI also bought a ton of Master of Kung Fu and Giffen/ Levitz Legion of Super-Heroes. That store has the best cheap back issue selection! ToD & Superman vs. Ali I bought and enjoyed in Essentials and hardcover respectively. Hooray for the Golden Age of Reprints!
- Mike Loughlin
Joe Kubert rocks! Love these samples-- the black + white, the compositions, the inking touch, the animals. He has a rough, natural, impressionist style that is just right for Tarzan. I wouldn't want Kubert on Spider-Man, but possibly on Conan. I recently read Kubert's first Abraham Stone graphic novel, which was excellent, and now looking forward to the second. Kubert also had some great covers, especially in the war books like Sgt. Rock.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that really worked for Kubert, I think, was doing his own inks, so his work in comics dominated by the standard division of labour always had a really distinctive look.
ReplyDeleteI suspect he pencilled fairly loosely, with the result that he was able to get a lot of movement in the final inked drawing. Great stuff.
-sean
I've made it clear here before that I consider John Buscema's Tarzan the definitive comic book version, but that doesn't mean I don't like these. I'm a big fan of Kubert's art in general, and these images really showcase his craftsmanship.
ReplyDeleteSean, I was curious about the pencil-to-ink ratio of drawing, myself. Look at the mane of that lion that Tarzan's astride. As far as I can see, there's no penciling at all, is there? And certainly no hard outline-- which is extremely unconventional in almost all comic art. The mane is defined and shaped by the arrangement of all of its roughly parallel lines. Boy, it's somehow realistic and impressionistic all at the same time-- it's just great.
ReplyDeleteMy art-history is awfully weak-- but is it fair to say that Kubert does in fact exhibit a definite Impressionistic influence? Ha! It would be so great to see his work in the halls of the National Gallery in D.C.-- in some ways, I think his work could fit right in. . .
HB
Here's Joe Kubert and John Romita drawing together:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcjgDMLmncQ
And talking about being comic artists.
Doug- once again you have provided us with a beautiful array of artwork to enjoy this weekend! Those Kubert illustrations are amazing; the lighting, the linework. Look at the vibrant expression he gives the chimp in that next-to-last panel; then admire the mood in the nighttime exterior panel with the two figures framed on the porch. This is why I love comic art; just makes the soul feel good...
ReplyDeleteHB- I'm with you: there are numerous comics artists whose works would be quite appropriately presented in a formal gallery setting; Kubert is definitely one of them.
Garett- thanks for posting that link! That was a blast to watch, two prime artists showing their skills for all to see. And watching Kubert work straight with ink without pencil layouts? I'm almost speechless.
Yeah now this is how Tarzan should be drawn! Kubert has a loose, flowing style which seems perfectly suited to an action character like Tarzan. His lean, lithe version of Tarzan is the gold standard for the Lord of the Jungle (to me, at least), with all due respect to Big John and, er, Joe Jusko if he's reading this blog!
ReplyDeleteAs for his pencils, yes it seems like Kubert did some really minimal pencils in some instances; if these panels are any indication, he was justified in doing so because the finished art looks great!
- Mike 'Kubert bundolo!' from Trinidad & Tobago.
Kubert bundolo? I didn't know he had such a violent temper... :P
ReplyDeleteHB (and Redartz), totally agree with the observation about comic-book artists, and other illustrators, for that matter getting the proper credit for their work and talent. And yes, that means suitable appreciation of their works by critics and the public in general and adequate displays in the finest museums and art galleries. There's a great blog called Illustration Art, which, in the words of blog-owner David Apatoff, celebrates "great art in humble places: the glorious talents of the artists who illustrate stories, advertisements and comics." I visit the site occasionally - it's perfect idling away the hours on one of those lazy, rainy Sunday afternoons (sometimes the comment threads are also quite interesting).