The Kubert School

Last updated
The Kubert School
The Kubert School- 2014-03-15 11-13.jpg
Type Private for-profit art school
Established1976
Founder Joe Kubert
President Anthony Marques
Academic staff
10–15 per school year
Undergraduates 150
Location
Dover
,
New Jersey
,
United States
Campus Urban
MascotTor
Website kubertschool.edu

The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, commonly known as The Kubert School or Joe Kubert School, is a private for-profit art school focused on cartooning and located in Dover, New Jersey. It teaches the principles of sequential art and the particular craft of the comics industry as well as commercial illustration. It is the only accredited school devoted entirely to cartooning. [1]

Contents

The school's instructors are full-time professionals working in the industry, many of them graduates of the school themselves, and the instruction is hands-on and practical. The school has a reputation for demanding and intensive coursework. Its alumni include Amanda Conner, Lee Weeks, Andy Price, Ed Piskor, and Alex Maleev, as well as many other comics pencilers and inkers. [2] [3]

History

The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art was founded in September 1976 by cartoonist Joe Kubert and his wife Muriel in the old Baker mansion on 45 Lehigh Street in Dover; then, from 1984 onwards, Dover's former high school, whose tall windows offered optimal lighting. [4] Its first graduating class of 1978 included Stephen R. Bissette, [5] Thomas Yeates, [6] and Rick Veitch.[ citation needed ]

By 1984, the school offered a three-year program in Cartoon Illustration, Graphic Arts, and Cinematic Animation, accredited by the National Association of Trade and Technical Schools. Approved by the New Jersey Department of Education, the Kubert School advertised itself to veterans and "non-resident alien" students. [7]

In 1993, Dark Horse Comics announced it would begin funding the "Jack Kirby Scholarship" at the school. [8]

Founder and teacher Kubert kept his own studio in the school, later joined by his sons Adam and Andy, who are also comic book professionals and who teach at the school. [9] [10] (In addition to The Kubert School, in the late 1990s, Joe Kubert was offering "Joe Kubert's World of Cartooning" correspondence courses to prospective students.) [11]

In the fall of 2019, former student Anthony Marques purchased the school with $2.4 million in combined 7(a) term and 7(a) Express loans through TD Bank’s Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending Group. [12]

Campus and student body

Anthony Marques and Adam Kubert at a Kubert School presentation at the 2012 New York Comic Con 10.12.12KubertSchoolPanelByLuigiNovi2.jpg
Anthony Marques and Adam Kubert at a Kubert School presentation at the 2012 New York Comic Con

The school houses the Kubert Art Store, which sells art supplies needed for assignments, such as books and drafting tables.[ citation needed ]

There are usually no more than 150 students attending the school at any time. As well as regular weekday classes, the school also holds a weekly class every Saturday, which is available for people who are not enrolled in the main program. The class is on basic lessons in cartooning, and is taught by various alumni.

The school attracts students from countries such as Japan and Malaysia, in addition to students from the local area. Kubert expressed the school's philosophy in a 2003 profile:

There's no other way to learn this stuff, except through other people in the business. ... 80 to 90 percent of the students get jobs in related fields, but they really have to work. The average student is drawing 8 to 10 hours a day, 6 to 7 days a week. ... You get a complete and total dedication from these students. ... This is their lifeline out. A chance to make a livelihood at something they love to do. [4]

Criticism

A 2003 article in The Comics Journal criticized the school for turning out "hack" artists with no individual character. [13] Similarly, Kubert alum Ed Piskor (who only attended the school for one year) criticized the school for its hackneyed approach and outmoded techniques. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High School of Art and Design</span> Public high school in Manhattan, New York

The High School of Art and Design is a career and technical education high school in Manhattan, New York City, New York State, United States. Founded in 1936 as the School of Industrial Art, the school moved to 1075 Second Avenue in 1960 and more recently, its Midtown Manhattan location on 56th Street, between Second and Third Avenues, in September 2012. High School of Art and Design is operated by the New York City Department of Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Kubert</span> American comic artist and writer (born 1962)

Andrew Kubert is an American comics artist, letterer, and writer. He is the son of Joe Kubert and brother of Adam Kubert, both of whom are also artists, and the uncle of comics editor Katie Kubert.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Shanower</span> American cartoonist (born 1963)

Eric James Shanower is an American cartoonist, best known for his Oz novels and comics, and for the ongoing retelling of the Trojan War as Age of Bronze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Kubert</span> American comic book artist

Joseph Kubert was a Polish-born American comic book artist, art teacher, and founder of The Kubert School. He is best known for his work on the DC Comics characters Sgt. Rock and Hawkman. He is also known for working on his own creations, such as Tor, Son of Sinbad, and the Viking Prince, and, with writer Robin Moore, the comic strip Tales of the Green Beret.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Veitch</span> American comics artist and writer (born 1951)

Richard Veitch is an American comics artist and writer who has worked in mainstream, underground, and alternative comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for Cartoon Studies</span> Art school in Hartford, Vermont

The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) is a two-year institution focusing on sequential art, specifically comics and graphic novels. It is located in the village of White River Junction within the town of Hartford, Vermont. The Center offers a Master of Fine Arts degree, both one and two-year certificate programs, and summer programs. It is "the only college-level training program of its kind in the United States."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen R. Bissette</span> American comics artist (born 1955)

Stephen R. Bissette is an American comic book artist and publisher with a focus on the horror genre. He worked with writer Alan Moore and inker John Totleben on the DC Comics series Swamp Thing in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Kubert</span> American comics artist (born 1959)

Adam Kubert is an American comics artist known for his work for publishers such as Marvel Comics and DC Comics, including work on Action Comics, Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine, The Incredible Hulk, Ultimate Fantastic Four, Ultimate X-Men, and Wolverine.

John Thomas Totleben is an American illustrator working mostly in comic books.

Notable events of 2005 in comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Conner</span> American comics artist and commercial art illustrator

Amanda Conner is an American comics artist and commercial art illustrator. She began her career in the late 1980s for Archie Comics and Marvel Comics, before moving on to contribute work for Claypool Comics' Soulsearchers and Company and Harris Comics' Vampirella in the 1990s. Her 2000s work includes Mad magazine, and such DC Comics characters as Harley Quinn, Power Girl, and Atlee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Kolins</span>

Scott Kolins is an American illustrator, writer, and creator of multiple different superhero and science fiction comic books. His main credits are as a penciler but he is an established inker as well as colorist and has some credits as a writer.

Notable events of 1976 in comics.

Ron J. Wagner is an American comics artist who has drawn for titles such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Punisher, Nth Man: The Ultimate Ninja, and Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight. He is also an animation storyboard artist, games designer, and portrait artist. He attended the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, in a class which also included Lee Weeks, Andy Kubert, and Adam Kubert. Wagner's earliest work in professional comics, while in his third and final year at the Kubert School, was drawing backgrounds for Stan Woch in World's Finest Comics.

Notable events of 2010 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. David Spurlock</span> American author, illustrator, and editor

Jess David Spurlock is an American author, illustrator, editor, and artist's-rights advocate best known as the founder of Vanguard Productions, a publisher of art books, graphic novels, and prints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Rugg</span> American cartoonist and illustrator

Jim Rugg is an American cartoonist and illustrator from Pittsburgh known for his tongue-in-cheek evocation of 1970s-era comics and pop culture. His graphic novels and comics collections include Street Angel, Afrodisiac, The P.L.A.I.N. Janes and Janes in Love, One Model Nation, and The Guild.

Notable events of 2011 in comics. It includes any relevant comics-related events, deaths of notable comics-related people, conventions and first issues by title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Piskor</span> American alternative comics artist (1982–2024)

Edward R. Piskor Jr. was an American alternative comics cartoonist. Piskor was known primarily for his work on Hip Hop Family Tree, X-Men: Grand Design, and the Red Room trilogy. Piskor also co-hosted the YouTube channel Cartoonist Kayfabe with fellow Pittsburgh native cartoonist Jim Rugg. In March 2024, Piskor was accused via social media of sexual misconduct. Piskor died on April 1, 2024, at the age of 41, hours after posting a suicide note via social media, defending himself against the allegations leveled against him.

References

  1. ↑ "Having fun doing what he was born to do: Cartoonist Rick Veitch | Vermont Business Magazine". vermontbiz.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  2. ↑ Molnar, Phillip (October 8, 2010). "Comic's Kuberts Teach Art to Next Generation". Associated Press via Newsday. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  3. ↑ "THE KUBERT SCHOOL -- Alumni". THE KUBERT SCHOOL. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  4. 1 2 Jennings, Dana (December 14, 2003). "Paper, Pencil And a Dream". The New York Times .
  5. ↑ Dahlen, Chris (July 23, 2009). "Steve Bissette". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Talent From The Kubert School: Thomas Yeates". The Kubert School. n.d. Archived from the original on December 28, 2014.
  7. ↑ "full page advertisement for the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, Inc". Vigilante . No. 7. DC Comics. June 1984.
  8. ↑ "Dark Horse Offers Scholarships"". Newswatch. The Comics Journal. No. 150. May 1992. p. 27.
  9. ↑ "Adam Kubert, Illustrator, Comic Book Illustrator and VP". The Kubert School. n.d. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Andy Kubert, Illustrator, Cartoonist and VP". The Kubert School. n.d. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Joe Kubert's Correspondence Courses". Cartoonist Profiles. No. 122. Interviewed by Peter Carlsson. June 1999. pp. 72–81.
  12. ↑ "TD Bank Provides $2.4 Million SBA Loan to Support Purchase of The Kubert School". stories.td.com. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  13. ↑ Williams, John E. (Dec 2003). "Hack U". The Comics Journal. No. 257. pp. 54–55.
  14. ↑ "Pekar, Piskor, and a Preview of Macedonia". Sequart . Interviewed by Rob Clough. 9 June 2006.

Further reading

40°53′14″N74°33′09″W / 40.8873°N 74.5526°W / 40.8873; -74.5526

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.