A special Sgt. Rock cover drawn by the Kuberts for the latest issue of Comic Book Artists.

DRAWN & QUARTERED
Graphic Arts As Literature

Comic masters pass
baton to their sons

By Gary C.W. Chun
gchun@starbulletin.com

Comic art trends may come and go, and tragedy can arise at any time, but there's always family to fall back on. The sons of legendary artists Joe Kubert and John Romita can attest to that. Adam and Andy Kubert and John Romita Jr. have stepped from under their fathers' shadows to have successful careers of their own. The adage "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" is true here, and interviews with both families in the latest issue of Comic Book Artist show there's much love, pride and respect between fathers and sons.
Over its 20-issue run, Comic Book Artist, published by TwoMorrows (John and Pam Morrow) continues to be the magazine to turn to to read about and view the work of the great artists, writers and editors of this lively, never-say-die industry. It vows to bring "new life to comics fandom," and each thick, well-researched issue does just that.

Each issue highlights either an established artist (with plenty of accompanying art, both published work and pieces never seen before by the comic-buying public) or profiles of companies that have contributed to the genre's history.

There's a bit of an insider appeal to the magazine, but anyone who's ever enjoyed reading "Sgt. Rock: Our Army at War," "Enemy Ace," "Hawkman" or any number of Spider-Man and X-Men titles over the decades will get a kick out of the Kubert and Romita interviews. Everyone concerned is forthcoming and effusive in these conversations. There are even a couple of interviews with the wives of the senior Kubert and Romita, to publicize TwoMorrows' upcoming book, "I Have to Live With This Guy!"

Kubert is in the enviable position of still drawing important work -- his book-length "Fax from Sarajevo" is a must-read. He also runs a successful school for budding comic book artists and has his two sons on staff as instructors while remaining artists for Marvel Comics.

The trend in the industry has been what the Kuberts call "pin-up shots" -- one-page splash panels featuring hulking heroes and villains duking it out -- but they are glad to see a returning emphasis on solid storytelling, something they encourage in their teaching.

An important point is made in the Kubert interview that holds true with the Romitas as well: The older artists had a wider range of influences than their sons. The elders were influenced not only by comic-book artists, but also magazine illustrators, comic-strip artists and others, while many of their sons' generation have been influenced simply by other superhero comic-book artists.

"You can see that in the students' work," Adam Kubert says in response. "You have to make them forget about that, and just pound it into their head that what's important is to tell the story clearly. You can't do pin-up shot after pin-up shot and still tell a story."

The Romitas' special drawing for the flip cover of the magazine.

Even though the Kubert boys started at DC Comics like their father, they're now premier artists for the competitor, Marvel. Their work on "Ultimate X-Men" and the excellent "Wolverine: Origin" miniseries are proof positive. And brother Andy says of the proficient, younger Romita that "his design, storytelling and basic drawing are some of the best in comics." Look no further than the stellar work John Romita Jr. is doing on "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" titles.

Romita Jr. continues the family line on Spider-Man that his father began when he took over from original artist Steve Ditko.

And while the elder Romita is rightly considered one of comicdom's nicest guys and a favorite from Marvel's Silver Age, his son has had to battle through both professional and personal low points to get to where he is today.

But what a career high point he's reached! People are still talking about "The Amazing Spider-Man" No. 36, the 9/11 issue with the all-black cover, a perfect pairing of riveting art and sensitive scripting by J. Michael Straczynski.

"Working on that comic book was more ... cathartic isn't the word, but it freed me," Romita Jr. said. "It took everything I had ever learned in comics from him (pointing to his father), and it took every bit of energy to do. I know it sounds corny, and I'd laugh at a movie star who said that, but this was like I was being drained of blood by a vampire. I felt physically and emotionally drained."

Through it all, Dad Romita has been his son's rock and most avid supporter, even occasionally inking his son's drawings.

"My father is my hero, my teacher, and he's the best man I'll ever know," Romita Jr. said. "It's quite simple to say that."

To which Romita Sr. jokingly replied, "You're back in the will, kid!"

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