ERBzine 5682: Kubert's Tarzan

Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site
Since 1996 ~ Over 15,000 Web Pages in Archive
Presents
Volume 5682

Various Artists Featured on the Covers of
Joe Kubert's TARZAN OF THE APES
Artist's Edition Series (IDW, 2012)
Special artist covers for an auction to raise money for the Kubert School of Art
Reference: Heritage Auctions and IDW Publishing

Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Heritage Auctions and The Joe Kubert School are raising funds for the school by auctioning off 22 original illustrations by 23 artists, each hand drawn on special blank covers on Joe Kubert’s Tarzan of the Apes Artist’s Edition. All proceeds from the sale of these very special books will go directly to The Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund.
To date, IDW has produced more than three-dozen Artist’s Editions, four of them winning the prestigious Eisner Award. Joe Kubert has been the subject of three AE books to date, with another coming this fall. Tarzan of the Apes was the first of Kubert’s Artist’s Editions, and a number of these books were printed with special blank covers that were intended to be remarqued by Kubert; sadly, his passing came before he was able to work on them. Now, a wealth of great artists have stepped forward to pay tribute to one of comics’ true legends, and also to help inaugurate the Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund.
Original covers have graciously been created by Neal Adams, Sergio Aragones, Lee Bermejo, Amanda Conner, Geoff Darrow, Jan Duursema and Tom Mandrake, Dave Gibbons, Mike Kaluta. Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Jim Lee, Mike Mignola, Kevin Nowlan, Alex Ross, Mark Schultz, Walter Simonson, Jeff Smith, Bil Stout, Tim Truman, Rick Veitch, Lee Weeks, and Tom Yeates! “It was my great honor to work with Joe Kubert on the first Tarzan Artist’s Edition,” said editor Scott Dunbier, “While saddened that Joe never got to complete the cover remarques, I know he would have been overwhelmed by all the artists, his peers and former students, who stepped forward to make the Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund a reality—a truly worthwhile tribute.”

The original Joe Kubert cover art	Neal Adams ART ONLY	Sergio Aragones ART ONLY
Lee Bermejo ART ONLY	Amanda Conner ART ONLY	Geof Darrow ART ONLY
Dave Gibbons ART ONLY	Michael Kaluta ART ONLY	Adam Kubert ART ONLY
Andy Kubert ART ONLY	Jim Lee ART ONLY	Tom Mandrake and Jan Duursema ART ONLY
Mike Mignola ART ONLY	Kevin Nowlan ART ONLY	Alex Ross ART ONLY
Mark Schultz ART ONLY	Walter Simonson ART ONLY	Jeff Smith ART ONLY
William Stout ART ONLY	Timothy Truman ART ONLY	Rick Veitch ART ONLY
Lee Weeks ART ONLY		Tom Yeates ART ONLY

THE ARTISTS
Neal Adams gives us a very fierce image of Tarzan in this remarkable image produced in ink over graphite. Adams' biggest influence in the comic book industry was as a key artist in the subtle shift from the Silver to the Bronze Age, both at Marvel and DC (with key issues in the Avengers and Green Lantern/Green Arrow).
Neal Adams was one of the first new Silver Age artists to break into a stable of DC artists that had remained virtually a closed shop for a decade or more prior to his arrival. Adams revamped the look of superhero icons Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow at DC and later the X-Men and Avengers at Marvel. He ushered in a dynamic photorealistic style of illustration that revolutionized comic book art for the modern era. He is also the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates and took an important stand alongside Jerry Robinson as a creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and recognition for Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Sergio Aragones serves up a whimsical color cover calculated to drive you MAD! The MAD Magazine artist, one of the Usual Gang of Idiots, is well known for both his marginals in that magazine, and also his original creation, Groo the Wanderer. The image is crafted in ink and color pencil.
Lee Bermejo brings his tremendous talent to bear on this magnificent cover image of Tarzan looking to rescue the lady Jane from a couple of baboons. Produced in ink over graphite, Tarzan and the tree branch he is on are produced in ink wash also, giving an incredible layer of depth to the work.
Amanda Conner: Kubert School alum Conner combines a graceful clean line with dynamic action for this classic "swinging on a vine" scene, guest-starring Jane. Conner's color cover image is produced in ink, ink wash, and watercolor over graphite.
Geof Darrow is known for the insane amount of detail he can pack into a single drawing. This fantastic ink illustration of Tarzan and his pachyderm pal sure shows that!
Dave Gibbons gives the definitive Tarzan "chest beating" image on his cover piece. Gibbons is most well-remembered as the artist on the ground-breaking DC Comics series, Watchmen. He was also the artist on another Alan Moore story, the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything", which was eventually adapted to as an episode of the animated Justice League Unlimited cartoon. This sensational cover piece is produced in ink over graphite. It is signed in the lower right "For Joe, Dave Gibbons".
Michael Kaluta has long been an artist whose work is sought out by fan and professional alike. His beautiful, almost lyrical, paintings and illustrations are a treat to the eye. His cover image of Tarzan charging through the trees with a pack of brachiating apes behind him is packed with detail and energy. It is produced in ink over graphite.
Michael W. Kaluta (American, b. 1947): After producing drawings for dozens of fanzines in the early sixties, Michael W. Kaluta broke into professional comics with work for Charlton. Soon he was working for DC, where he produced standout horror and fantasy covers and stories. Among DC fans, Kaluta is perhaps most celebrated for his outstanding work on Carson of Venus, and the Shadow series. By 1976, Kaluta was largely out of monthly comic books, creating fantasy art in a workspace alongside fellow artists Jeff Jones, Bernie Wrightson, and Barry Smith, and this group became collectively known as "The Studio." Later Kaluta works have included the space opera Starstruck, stories about the Shadow, countless fantasy covers, book illustrations, and more.
Adam Kubert's original artwork is literally off the page! He continued his wonderful ink over graphite artwork upward off the page and through the logo using white-out and ink.

Andy Kubert depicts a stealthy Tarzan in his tense cover illustration in ink and graphite.
Jim Lee's brooding Lord of the Apes is a powerful image produced in ink over graphite with a great personal message at the bottom... "For Joe, on your shoulders we ride -- Best, Jim Lee 2012".

Tom Mandrake and Jan Duursema: Both artists attended the Joe Kubert School in the late 1970s. On this time-lost cover, a very triceratops-ish looking beast is attempting to have a Tarzan snack in this piece produced with ink and whiteout over graphite.
Mike Mignola provides a Tarzan and Cheetah cover image that will make any fan of his Hellboy series drool! Dark and moody, it is produced in ink and marker over graphite with an exceptional use of negative space coupled with a mastery of light and shadow.
Kevin Nowlan is a multi-talented artist who is as good with graphite as he is incredible with ink. His work has appeared in numerous comics from DC, Marvel, and America's Best Comics. This cover piece is produced in ink over pencil.
Alex Ross's photorealistic paintings have graced many comic book covers for many different publishers since his start in the industry in 1990 on NOW Comics' Terminator: The Burning Earth mini-series. Produced in watercolor over graphite, this close-up has Tarzan striking that signature Alex Ross "staring off into the distance" pose.
Alex Ross was born in Portland, Oregon, and raised in Lubbock, Texas. In 1993, after graduating from the American Academy of Art, Alex collaborated with Marvel Comics editor Kurt Busiek to create Marvels, a graphic novel which examined the Marvel superheroes from the perspective of an ordinary man. The book's critical success demonstrated Alex's affection for the characters through both detail and believability. Many fans were astonished by Ross’ uncannily realistic portrayals of Spider-Man, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, Silver Surfer, The Human Torch and others. Afterwards, Busiek, Ross and penciller Brent Anderson created Astro City, first published by Image Comics in 1995 and later published by Homage Comics. In 1996, Ross teamed-up with writer Mark Waid for the DC Comics mini-series Kingdom Come, which helped cement Ross' place as a comic book industry superstar. He followed it with Uncle Sam, a non-superhero work. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Ross painted tabloid-sized comic books celebrating the 60th anniversaries of DC Comics’ Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, respectively, as well as two books featuring the all-star Justice League. He has also designed much DC merchandise, including posters, dinner plates and statues. In 2001, Ross gained acclaim for his work on special comic books benefiting the families of those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, including his portraits of paramedics, police and firefighters. In 2004, DC compiled the coffee table book Mythology: The DC Comics Art of Alex Ross, written and designed by Chip Kidd. His numerous awards include a 1997 Will Eisner Award and two nominations for Kingdom Come, a 1998 National Cartoonists Society Comic Book Award for Superman: Peace on Earth, and a nomination for the Comics Buyer's Guide Award for Favorite Colorist in 2000.
Mark Schultz knows a thing or two about pulp style jungle adventure. He is the creator of the acclaimed series Xenozoic Tales (aka Cadillacs and Dinosaurs). His rich and moody image features Tarzan, Jane, and two apes, produced in ink over blue pencil.
Walter Simonson's cover image will make you catch your breath! That lion is simply incredible. The image is produced in ink and graphite, and it's signed with his characteristic "dinosaur" signature, and dated on the right-hand side.
Jeff Smith is well-known for his beloved series, Bone. It combined action, adventure, and a bit of comedy. He brings that remarkable combination to this Tarzan piece produced in ink and blue pencil.

William Stout is a famed artist and dinosaur painter. His fascination with and specialization in paleontological art has led to his working on over 30 feature films, doing storyboards or production design. So it's only natural that his cover image include a prehistoric beast or two! Produced in ink over graphite and signed "For Joe!" in the lower left corner.
Timothy Truman's Tarzan stands triumphant over a defeated ape in this phenomenal cover piece produced in ink and ink wash over graphite. It is signed in the lower right side with the inscription "In Memory of Joe." Truman's work on Starslayer, Grimjack, Hawkworld, and Grateful Dead Comix has made him a fan-favorite in the comics industry for decades.
Rick Veitch: Kubert School alumnus Veitch illustrates the ferocity of a mother ape protecting the baby Tarzan in this touching, yet dangerous cover piece produced in ink over blue pencil. Veitch is best known as artist to Alan Moore's Swamp Thing stories, where he eventually became the writer himself in addition to supplying the pencil art.

Lee Weeks who attended the Kubert School in the early 1980s, illustrates Tarzan giving his characteristic yell in a powerful image that pairs the Lord of the Apes with the King of the Jungle. Ink over graphite in an image that you can almost hear!
Tom Yeates drops a tribute to Joe Kubert's huge body of work in various War comics, in this awesome cover illustration produced in ink over graphite. It is inscribed in the bottom right corner "For Joe -- Thomas Yeates w/J.K. 2013".

Ref: Heritage Auction

Press Release

One Of A Kind Artist’s Editions Benefit The Joe Kubert Scholarship! Joe Kubert’s lasting legacy simply cannot be overstated; as an artist, an editor and an educator, Kubert excelled at everything he set his mind too. His work continues to serve as an everlasting inspiration to comic fans and professionals alike. This August IDW Publishing is pleased to help celebrate this legacy alongside Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., Heritage Auctions and The Joe Kubert School by auctioning off 22 original illustrations by 23 artists, each hand drawn on special blank covers on Joe Kubert’s Tarzan of the Apes Artist’s Edition. All proceeds from the sale of these very special books will go directly to The Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund.
“All of us at Heritage Auctions have a deep and abiding respect for Joe Kubert and his legacy as both a pioneering artist and a teacher,” said Todd Hignite, Comic Art expert and Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “It means a lot to us to be a part of this project and to do something that benefits Joe’s school and nurtures the next generation of comic book artists.”
To date, IDW has produced more than three-dozen Artist’s Editions, four of them winning the prestigious Eisner Award. Joe Kubert has been the subject of three AE books to date, with another coming this fall. Tarzan of the Apes was the first of Kubert’s Artist’s Editions, and a number of these books were printed with special blank covers that were intended to be remarqued by Kubert; sadly, his passing came before he was able to work on them. Now, a wealth of great artists have stepped forward to pay tribute to one of comics’ true legends, and also to help inaugurate the Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund.
“We’re thrilled to be able to bring together an all-star line-up of artists to pay tribute to Joe,” said IDW President Greg Goldstein. “ Who knows? It’s entirely possible the next great superstar in our industry might benefit from this scholarship.”
Original covers have graciously been created by Neal Adams, Sergio Aragones, Lee Bermejo, Amanda Conner, Geoff Darrow, Jan Duursema and Tom Mandrake, Dave Gibbons, Mike Kaluta. Adam Kubert, Andy Kubert, Jim Lee, Mike Mignola, Kevin Nowlan, Alex Ross, Mark Schultz, Walter Simonson, Jeff Smith, Bil Stout, Tim Truman, Rick Veitch, Lee Weeks, and Tom Yeates!
“It was my great honor to work with Joe Kubert on the first Tarzan Artist’s Edition,” said editor Scott Dunbier, “While saddened that Joe never got to complete the cover remarques, I know he would have been overwhelmed by all the artist’s, his peers and former students, who stepped forward to make the Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund a reality—a truly worthwhile tribute.”
“On behalf of the students and faculty of the Kubert School,” said Pete Carlsson, Senior Art Director, Tell-A-Graphics, “I want to thank everyone who generously gave their time and talents to create the Joe Kubert Scholarship Fund. Joe would be deeply moved by the efforts of so many people working toward something he felt so strongly about: helping the students.”

Online bidding begins August 27, 2015 ~ Auction #7147,
for more information go to HERE.

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