rascal_father
06-06-2005, 02:31 PM
It was something of a surprise announcement at today’s DCU Coming Attractions panel in Philadelphia that showed the exclusivity battles between Marvel and DC are alive and well:
Adam and Andy Kubert have signed 3 year exclusive contracts with DC.
The sons of comic book legend and New Jersey's The Joe Kubert School Of Cartoon And Graphic Art (where both are faculty members as well) founder Joe Kubert, Andy and Adam Kubert have been formally exclusive to Marvel Comics for the last several years, and effectively exclusive for most of the last decade and a half. Together they've illustrated many of the publisher's most high-profile projects over that time, including X-Men, Origin, and 1602 [Andy], and Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and Wolverine [Adam].
That’s not to say that the brothers have never worked at DC – Andy was attached to a pair of pulp projects in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s - Adam Strange (1990) and Doc Savage (with Adam) in 1987. Prior to that, the brothers joined on Sgt. Rock #394 in 1984. Of course, Andy also illustrated the Dark Horse/DC joint project, Batman Versus Predator in 1991 (written by Dave Gibbons). Of course, given their father's work volume for DC, the arguement could be made that the brothers, despite their Marvel work, are DC legacy artists. "Joe is a big part of our history, and we wanted to make Adam and Andy a big part as well," DC's Dan Didio said at the panel.
As Newsarama readers know, Marvel and DC have escalated their battle over exclusive creators signings over the last several years, with many big names declaring their alliance to one or the other publisher and a few even moving "across the isle" to do so, offering solid public relations opportunities for both companies. Perhaps the last signing that had this much surprise impact, however, was when then New X-Men writer Grant Morrison signed with DC, announced now infamously during 2003's San Diego Comic-Con International (along with Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale and Greg Rucka).
What makes the dual Kubert signings perhaps even more surprising and significant is most industry observers did not regard the brothers' services as "in play". For years they were two of Marvel's most reliable commercial performers and "go-to" artists, and their exits leave both a substantial vacancy in Marvel's creative roster and a PR blow to weather. Of course, the acquisition of the Kuberts’ services by DC will also surely cause some to wonder if any of Marvel’s creators are immune from the reported lure of the DC roster of characters, Dan Didio, and the packages that can be hammered out between creators and the publisher.
Though DC did not name what projects the Kuberts will take on with them at this time (preferring to save that announcement for another day and PR opportunity), it's likely to be very high profile titles starring DC's highest profile characters, perhaps in the mold of an All-Star title or a Jim Lee-like runs on iconic monthly titles.
There's no word from Marvel yet on how - or if - this may affect the in-progress pair of Ultimate Iron Man 5-issue limited series Andy Kubert was penciling. Issues #1 and 2 have been released to date.
Adam and Andy Kubert have signed 3 year exclusive contracts with DC.
The sons of comic book legend and New Jersey's The Joe Kubert School Of Cartoon And Graphic Art (where both are faculty members as well) founder Joe Kubert, Andy and Adam Kubert have been formally exclusive to Marvel Comics for the last several years, and effectively exclusive for most of the last decade and a half. Together they've illustrated many of the publisher's most high-profile projects over that time, including X-Men, Origin, and 1602 [Andy], and Ultimate X-Men, Ultimate Fantastic Four, and Wolverine [Adam].
That’s not to say that the brothers have never worked at DC – Andy was attached to a pair of pulp projects in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s - Adam Strange (1990) and Doc Savage (with Adam) in 1987. Prior to that, the brothers joined on Sgt. Rock #394 in 1984. Of course, Andy also illustrated the Dark Horse/DC joint project, Batman Versus Predator in 1991 (written by Dave Gibbons). Of course, given their father's work volume for DC, the arguement could be made that the brothers, despite their Marvel work, are DC legacy artists. "Joe is a big part of our history, and we wanted to make Adam and Andy a big part as well," DC's Dan Didio said at the panel.
As Newsarama readers know, Marvel and DC have escalated their battle over exclusive creators signings over the last several years, with many big names declaring their alliance to one or the other publisher and a few even moving "across the isle" to do so, offering solid public relations opportunities for both companies. Perhaps the last signing that had this much surprise impact, however, was when then New X-Men writer Grant Morrison signed with DC, announced now infamously during 2003's San Diego Comic-Con International (along with Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale and Greg Rucka).
What makes the dual Kubert signings perhaps even more surprising and significant is most industry observers did not regard the brothers' services as "in play". For years they were two of Marvel's most reliable commercial performers and "go-to" artists, and their exits leave both a substantial vacancy in Marvel's creative roster and a PR blow to weather. Of course, the acquisition of the Kuberts’ services by DC will also surely cause some to wonder if any of Marvel’s creators are immune from the reported lure of the DC roster of characters, Dan Didio, and the packages that can be hammered out between creators and the publisher.
Though DC did not name what projects the Kuberts will take on with them at this time (preferring to save that announcement for another day and PR opportunity), it's likely to be very high profile titles starring DC's highest profile characters, perhaps in the mold of an All-Star title or a Jim Lee-like runs on iconic monthly titles.
There's no word from Marvel yet on how - or if - this may affect the in-progress pair of Ultimate Iron Man 5-issue limited series Andy Kubert was penciling. Issues #1 and 2 have been released to date.