Sgt. Rock - Joe Kubert

I'm really not a fan of commissioning artists to draw me things, and had only ever done it three times before, but when I got word back in 2012 that Joe Kubert, one of the best comic book illustrators of all time, was doing a signed and numbered series of sketches to promote his book sales, I struggled with the idea of getting him to do something for me. As I contemplated the idea, I began to think about how many of my favorite artists had passed away over the years without my being able to meet them, much less get a personalized piece of art from them. I'd seen Kubert in person at a convention earlier that year, and he looked the picture of health. However, I also knew that no matter how healthy one appears to be on the outside, suddenly not waking up one morning is something that can happen to anyone on any given day, especially for someone fortunate enough to already have lived into their eighties. I didn't want to risk regretting not taking advantage of the opportunity, so I got in touch and made arrangements. Since I couldn't decide between the handful of characters he's most associated with, with Joe's permission I got two commissions done.

Karma certainly worked in my favor that day, as not more than a couple of months after receiving my commissions, I received the sad news that Joe Kubert had passed away. Joe had been drawing fairly regularly for DC Comics in the couple of years prior to his death, and it was amazing to see that right up until the end, he drew better than he ever had. He was one of the few comic book artists who actually continued to get better with age. All the sketches he did had so much life in them, it was exquisite to just stare at anything he did for long periods of time, especially all the other commissions he managed to do apart from mine, many of which are also posted here on CAF. His work is sorely missed!

NOTE: The additional scan is shown at actual size.

Measures 7.125" x 7.25" on thick, textured paper.