My regard for Joe Kubert's work is very, very high. Along with my comic jones, I've started collecting comic art and a piece by Joe Kubert was high on the list, but doing commissions isn't high on his - a dilemma.
One day I was cruising eBay and discovered a charity auction sponsored by
Metropolis Collectables raising funds for
Modest Needs. The winner of the auction would get to select a character and Joe would draw it. Given that it was for charity, my wife and I decided we could bid more than we would normally spend. So, the day that the auction was to close, I bid and re-bid and re-bid and, ultimately, lost.
I was really bummed. It was nice to know that I helped raise money for a worthwhile group, but what a drag. I had my chance to get a drawing by Joe and lost it.
A couple of days later, I got a note from the folks running the auction. Joe had agreed to do a drawing for me if I'd pay what the winner paid. It took about 10 seconds to make that decision and most of the time was reading the note.
Of course, that led to yet more stress. I had to pick a character! Hawkman? Sgt. Rock? Enemy Ace? Viking Prince? Tarzan? The list seemed endless and I had only one chance.
I picked Sgt. Rock and it is wonderful as you can see here.
The real winner went for
Hawkman and it is glorious, but I'm sure that Rock could take him.
If you would like to read the Press Release and see the other artwork, click
here (or
here). There are also two pieces by John Romita that were offered in separate auctions.
Thanks for taking a look. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.
P.S., If you are looking for more Kubert goodness, I have a
Hawkman by him as well.
P.P.S. I've always thought Joe looks lonely on that 11x17 sheet of paper so I had Matt Clark take a scan of the image and use it as the basis of a jam. Check it out (click to embiggen)
.
I think it's pretty cool.
