Adam Kubert (born 1959)[1] 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.
Kubert was rated by Wizard magazine as one of the "Hot 10 Writers and Artists" in the industry in 2008.[2] He is the son of Joe Kubert and brother of Andy Kubert, both comic book artists as well, and the uncle of comics editor Katie Kubert.[3]
Adam Kubert was born in 1959,[1] the son of Muriel (née Fogelson) and Joe Kubert.His siblings include a sister, Lisa, and brothers David, Daniel, and Andrew.[6] Comics editor Katie Kubert is his niece.[3] He and his siblings grew up in Dover, New Jersey.[5] He began his professional comics career at age 12 as a letterer.He attended the Rochester Institute of Technology and graduated with a degree in medical illustration.He subsequently attended his father's The Kubert School in Dover, New Jersey.[7][8]
Career
Adam Kubert began his comics career as an occasional letterer for DC Comics in late 1977. His first credited work as a colorist came in 1982, in the Dr. Fate backup feature in The Flash #310.His first credited artwork for the company is the story "Gremlins" published in Sgt. Rock #394 (Nov. 1984).[9] In 1988, Adam Kubert drew the Jezebel Jade limited series, a spin-off from the Jonny Quest series, for Comico.[10] He collaborated with his brother on Adam Strange (1990)[11] and the Batman Versus Predatorintercompany crossover (1992).
Marvel Comics
Adam Kubert is known for his work at Marvel Comics. From 1993 to 1996 he illustrated 17 issues of writer Larry Hama's run on Wolverine between issues #75 to 102.His first issue on the series featured the after-effects of Magneto removing the adamantium from Wolverine's body.[12] Kubert drew the Weapon X limited series as part of the "Age of Apocalypse" storyline in 1995.[13] The following year, he drew the Onslaught: X-Men and Onslaught: Marvel Universe one-shots which lead into the "Heroes Reborn" crossover.[14] From 1997 to 1998 he illustrated 12 issues of Peter David's run on The Incredible Hulk from #454 to 467, as well as the -1 issue (July 1997).From late 1998 to early 1999 Kubert drew X-Men #81 - 84, on which he was teamed up with European colourist Richard Isanove, who subsequently followed Kubert to Ultimate X-Men, employing the pencils-to-color approach seen on most of Ultimate X-Men covers.
In 2001, Kubert drew the new Ultimate X-Men title,[15] penciling the first four issues, and then illustrating 16 various issues beginning with #7, before leaving the title with issue #33 (July 2003).In 2004, he began a run on Ultimate Fantastic Four, once again with writers Mark Millar and Brian Michael Bendis,[16] illustrating that series' first six issues, and then issues 13-18.
DC Comics
Both Kubert and his brother Andy signed exclusive contracts with DC Comics in June 2005.[17][18] Kubert's first project for DC was illustrating "Last Son", a Superman story arc co-written by Geoff Johns and Richard Donner, which ran in Action Comics #844–847, 851 and Action Comics Annual #11.Further delay forced DC Comics to bring in substitute creative teams and delay the fourth part of the "Last Son" storyline and the 3D issue to #851, which was released in early July 2007.The final part of the storyline was in Action Comics Annual #11.[19] Following his work on Superman he penciled the "Final Crisis" tie-in, DC Universe: Last Will and Testament, written by Brad Meltzer.[20]
Return to Marvel
May 2009 marked Adam Kubert's return to Marvel, his first interior work being published as one of two stories in Wolverine #73 and 74.[24] Following this he contributed several covers to New Mutants and Wolverine: Weapon X, and pencilled the "Dark Reign" tie in, The List: Amazing Spider-Man.[25]
When he returned to pencilling for Marvel, he continued to do some work for DC, contributing the stories for the Wednesday Comics "Sgt. Rock" feature, drawn by his father.[26] He has since stated that he is Marvel-exclusive, but they are allowed him to work on the "Sgt. Rock" feature as he had signed on to do it before his contract at DC had expired.[27] Kubert's next job was providing pencils on Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine.[28]
Teaching work
Kubert and his brother Andy teach at The Kubert School, which was founded by their father, who also taught there before his passing in 2012.[7]
Archive
Kubert donated an archive of his and his father's work to the Cary Graphic Arts Collection, a rare book library at his alma mater, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), in Henrietta, New York.The archive includes process work and finished art, as well as his father's drafting table, which is on permanent exhibit.[33][34] The Kubert Archive joins other comic archives at the Cary Collection, such as a synchronic collection of every comic book published in April 1956, which includes some illustrated by Joe Kubert.[35][36]
The Kubert Lounge and Gallery opened at the Cary Collection in September 2022 with an exhibition of Adam Kubert's original cover art for the first five issues of Spider-Man India.[37]
Awards
1992 Eisner Award for Best Inker for Batman Versus Predator[38]
14.Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 280: "Onslaught truly rose to power in the Onslaught: X-Men special by writers Mark Waid and Scott Lobdell and artist Adam Kubert."^
15.Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 304: "Looking to repeat the success of Ultimate Spider-Man in 2000, the second major title of this alternate universe was crafted by esteemed writer Mark Millar along with the famed Kubert brothers, Andy and Adam, taking turns at the drawing table."^
16.Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 320: "Ultimate veterans Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar, and Adam Kubert re-examined Marvel's first family, creating this alternate version of the Fantastic Four."^
21.Matthew K. Manning. Batman: A Visual History Dorling Kindersley, 2014^
22.Manning "2000s" in Dougall, p. 303: "In this one-shot scripted by new series writer Peter J. Tomasi and illustrated by Adam Kubert, Alfred Pennyworth assembled a new team of Outsiders."^
26.Cowsill, Alan "2000s" in Dolan, p. 338: "The [series] contained fifteen continuous stories, including a new Sgt. Rock saga drawn by the legendary Joe Kubert and written by his son Adam."^
His last work for his latest tenure at DC was the Batman and The Outsiders Special, released in February 2009. This issue, written by Peter Tomasi, highlighted Alfred Pennyworth's efforts to recruit a new team of Outsiders in the wake of Batman's apparent death.[22] After the release of the comic book, Kubert said he was pleased with his work at DC and had done, "what [he] set out to do," which was to draw Superman.[23]
In 2012, Kubert pencilled issues #8–10 and #12 of the Marvel crossover miniseries
Avengers vs. X-Men
.
He then drew issues #4–6 of Jonathan Hickman's run on The Avengers.
In June 2017, Kubert began penciling Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man written by Chip Zdarsky.The revamped title being billed as a “back-to-basics” approach for the character.[29][30]
In February 2020, Kubert and writer Benjamin Percy were the creative team on a new Wolverine series that debuted as part of the Marvel's Dawn of X relaunch the X-Men line of comics.The series was Wolverine's first ongoing series since his resurrection following the Hunt For Wolverine one-shot and Return of Wolverine miniseries.[31] Issue #1 was best-selling comic for the month of February 2020.[32]
