Golden Age Flashback

"Golden Age Flashback" from Young All-Stars Annual #1 (DC, 1988) by Roy & Dann Thomas and Joe Kubert

One of the worst things Crisis on Infinite Earths did was kill All-Star Squadron. Roy Thomas convinced DC to let him relaunch the book with a focus on a team of kids going around the country to sell war bonds (obviously, superheroics ensued). And really, nothing against these characters, some of which were pre-extisting Golden Age characters, but the art was never very enjoyable - the exception being the odd flashback splash, see above - and going New Format, at least for me, far from comic book stores at the time, made it hard to come by.

War Is Death

"War Is Death" from Weird War Tales vol.1 #100 (DC, 1981) by Joe Kubert

Can you believe this anthology series ran for 124 issues? And mostly without the benefit of the Haunted Tank or the War That Time Forgot, too! (The latter did make a return in WWT, but had been a mainstay in Star-Spangled War Stories.) New weirdness eventually came in the form of G.I. Robot, Viking Commando and the Creature Commandos, but they all came pretty late to the party. On the weird things today is Death as narrator. Because she wasn't in her cute Goth chick form, I never realized she was another of Sandman's "horror hosts".

News From the Front

"News From the Front" from Unknown Soldier vol.1 #221 (DC, 1978) by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert

It's funny. Because he drew his first story (in a Sgt. Rock tale in Our Army At War), and did all those Unknown Soldier covers - and the Who's Who entry - I associated Joe Kubert with the Soldier, but he really only drew one issue of any series called "Unknown Soldier". With respect to the work of Dick Ayers who drew most of the original series (under that title), I just can't pass up the chance to show a Kubert piece. It's a weakness.

The Beating

"The Beating" from Tor vol.1 #1 (DC, 1975) by Joe Kubert

I love Kubert's work, and he makes Tor just about the best caveman strip ever drawn. (Sorry, B.C.!) The art is so gorgeous, the anachronistic dinosaurs and strange monsters thrill you rather than irritate you. The comic actually started in the 50s in a book called "1,000,000 Years Ago" which became "3-D Comics" with its second issue and finally "Tor" with its third (all from St.John). The original five issues were reprinted in the 70s by DC after an original issue (well, almost original, since it was expanded from an attempt at a Tor newspaper strip). Eclipse then reprinted the 3D issues and published a new story in Sojourn. I first encountered Tor in the gorgeous over-sized Epic mini-series and was more than happy to pick up a new mini-series from DC in 2008. Tor also appeared in Kubert's last published series, Joe Kubert Presents. Beautiful stuff.

Tarzan Eats Crocodiles for Breakfast

"Tarzan Eats Crocodiles for Breakfast" from Tarzan #211 (DC, 1972) by Joe Kubert and Burne Hogarth

Issue 211 makes it sound like Tarzan had a huge run at DC, but they picked up the numbering from Gold Key at #207. Still, they kept the license for some 6 years after that, also publishing Korak, Son of Tarzan, which later became Tarzan Family.

The Unknown Soldier's Greatest Role

"The Unknown Soldier's Greatest Role" from Star Spangled War Stories #156 (DC, 1971) by Bob Haney and Joe Kubert

So picking up Star Spangled Comics' numbering with #131, this series turned to the war comics popular at the time and managed to stay in publication for another 15 years, until 1977's #204. In its heyday, it published some memorable strips - Mademoiselle Marie, The War That Time Forgot, Enemy Ace and Unknown Soldier (who took over the numbering with #205 LET'S KEEP GOING!) - and a heck of a lot of Joe Kubert covers.

War Comics Family

"War Comics Family" from Sgt. Rock vol.1 #422 (DC, 1988) by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert, Andy Kubert and Adam Kubert

How long-lived is Sgt. Rock as a character? Enough that his series was still being published when the over-bright Flexographic process took over. He first appeared (in his best-known form, there were prototypes in previous issues) in Our Army at War #83 (June 1959), appearing in every issue after that, right up until the point DC had to rename the series Sgt. Rock. By then, it was up to issue #302 (March 1977) and would last anoter 120 issues to #422 (July 1988). Crazy. His last issue is advertised on the cover as the first comic Joe Kubert worked on with both his sons - Andy on inks and letters, and Adam on colors.

Rima, Friend to the Animals

"Rima, Friend to the Animals" from Rima the Jungle Girl #1 (DC, 1974) by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert (layouts only) and Nestor Redondo

A forgotten classic from the 70s, probably because Rima was a licensed character (from Hudson's Green Mansions). Great art by Redondo, with covers by the then master of jungle action, Joe Kubert. The short series also featured SF back-ups by Kanigher, usually with Alex Nino. An odd choice, perhaps, but artistically of following a similar style.

Ragman the Tatterdemalion

"Ragman the Tatterdemalion" from Ragman vol.1 #1 (DC, 1976) by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert and the Redondo Studio

The people's hero, it's a little like Kanigher and Kubert wanted to create a Sgt. Rock for the ghetto, telling stories of ordinary folks through the character. The five issues of this short-lived series have that vibe about them. The mini-series of the 90s (all longer than the original monthly!) would give Ragman more of a mythology, tying him into Jewish legends and making Rory Reagan not the first to wear the rags and cloak. The Giffen/Broderick series might have a made a good ongoing. I liked what they had there.

Pardon My Helmet

"Pardon My Helmet" from Our Army at War #157 (DC, 1965) by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert

Our Army at War lasted a whopping 301 issues (from 1952 to 1977), but of course, it had the best war strips: Sgt. Rock and Easy Company from #81, and Enemy Ace from #151. It didn't really end with #301 though, it was simply retitled Sgt. Rock and lasted another 11 years! I don't think there's another war comic that lasted 422 issues.

Don't Turn This Page!

"Don't Turn This Page!" from G.I. Combat vol.1 #140 (DC, 1970) by Joe Kubert

This fourth-wall-breaking Haunted Tank illo is from the long-running G.I. Combat, which was started by Quality Comics way back in 1952 before being sold to DC in 1957, skipping not a beat in bringing readers lots of WWII (mostly) war comics until 1987. Ulp! That's 30 years at DC alone! Among its best-remembered features are the Haunted Tank (impressively running from '61 to '87), the O.S.S., and the Bravos of Vietnam, but it was mostly the Haunted Tank's book.

Wikipedia tells me G.I. Combat #274 was the Monitor's first full appearance, which is just the craziest thing.

Buffalo Bill and the Iron Horse

"Buffalo Bill and the Iron Horse" from Frontier Fighters #7 (DC, 1956) by Dave Wood and Joe Kubert

For 8 issues in the mid-50s, DC published an anthology featuring various real-life frontiersmen like Davy Crockett and (above) Buffalo Bill. Probably because the Buffalo Bill stuff was drawn by Joe Kubert, some of those particular stories were reprinted in the early 70s. But only some, and that's a real shame. Pretty much a forgotten series.

Golden Age Splash

"Golden Age Splash" from DC Universe: Legacies #2 (DC, 2010) by Len Wein, Andy Kubert and Joe Kubert

Though Legacies had some good art, its retelling of DCU history, apparently the definitive post-Final Crisis one, had three major problems. First, its framing tale was entirely derivative of Busiek's Marvels. Second, this history would all come crashing to an end in the oncoming Flushpoint, a major tell-tale that the New52 wasn't quite as planned as some would like us to believe. Third, it was announced to come out side by side with a new series of Who's Who, and that never came. Can I hold it against Legacies? I've decided I can and will. But an ongoing Who's Who in the post-Final Crisis universe would have been a major pain for New52 architects...

The Resurgence of Blackbriar Thorn

"The Resurgence of Blackbriar Thorn" from DC Comics Presents #66 (DC, 1984) by Len Wein and Joe Kubert

Told you the day before yesterday I had a soft spot for Blackbriar Thorn comics. What it is, actually, is a soft spot for the late days of DC Comics Presents. DCP #59, in which Superman teams up with the Legion of Substitute-Heroes against a not-yet-full-on-parody Ambush Bug was the first comic I ever bought with my own money, and the weirder the team-up the more likely I was to buy future issues (or pick up old ones from bargain bins). Among my favorites, the ones with OMAC, Freedom Fighters, Kamandi, Bizarro, and Swamp Thing. Basically, once they'd done all the big names once or twice, it turned into a weird tour of the DC Universe. Loved it. Consequently, the next Superman team-up book, post-Crisis Action Comics, was a deep disappointment to me. Too many headliners!

Cannon Rider!

"Cannon Rider!" from All-American Men of War #52 (DC, 1957) by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert

I see a war comic anthology, I immediately think of Joe Kubert. And that's what I want to see. Every time. Even if that means not showcasing one of the book's more memorable features, like Johnny Cloud, Gunner and Sarge, or Balloon Buster (who WAS drawn by Kubert on one occasion, but alas, no splashes).

Accepted to the Kubert School

"Accepted to the Kubert School" from Kubert School ad (various DC Comics, 2012) by Joe Kubert

Not technically a splash since it's an ad, but I can't resist Joe Kubert, no way, no how.

A Dangerous Table of Contents

"A Dangerous Table of Contents" from Our Army at War #164 (DC, 1966) by Joe Kubert

Death of the Dinosaurs

"Death of the Dinosaurs" from Tor #1 (Epic, 1993) by Joe Kubert

Love the big format these came in.

Tarzan - Bambi's Protector

"Tarzan - Bambi's Protector" from Tarzan #230 (DC, 1974) by Joe Kubert

Sometimes, I just want to look at some Kubert art. I think I'm gonna put up a few pieces in a row.

Hawkmen and Menhawks

"Hawkmen and Menhawks" from Brave and the Bold vol.1 #43 (DC, 1962) by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert

All this week, a little something I call "Hawkman Through the Ages". He's been reincarnated often enough, and so has his series! Sheesh! We start of course the only place we can, for there is no better Hawkman artist than Joe Kubert. I'm surprised at how few stories he actually drew.

(Sorry Golden Age fans, I couldn't quite get my hands on a Hawkman splash from the era - if any exist.)