Atomic Comics - You and Neil Gaiman are reuniting for the book “What Ever Happened To The Caped Crusader?” Previously you both worked on an amazing project for Marvel called “1602”. What's it like working with Neil?
Andy Kubert - Getting to work with Neil is one of the best things that has happened to me in my entire career. I keep having to pinch myself that I not only got to work with him once, but twice. He`s such a pleasure to work with. I click with his scripts and pacing....things just happen so smoothly for me when I break down those pages. We go over everything together either through email or phone...no matter where he is on the planet. This Batman 2-parter is a true labor of love for
the both of us, but the entire story and theme Neil came up with and it is just brilliant. You can tell he`s a huge Batman fan with a lot of respect for the characters and the creators. I keep telling Neil the only thing I don`t like about this project is that it`s going to end.
AC - So you get to draw the “Last Batman Story”. No pressure right?
AK - I had read and devoured the Alan Moore classic last Superman story "Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow", but the pressure didn`t really sink in until an art dealer friend of mine said..."I hope you realize what your doing. You have a big task ahead of you living up to that last Superman story. It was so beloved by fans. I hope the Batman one works out for you guys." After that, I was pretty nervous.
AC - Grant Morrison’s been getting an earful from online fans, what’s your take on his handling of Batman and the rest of the DCU during Final Crisis? What was it like working with the legend himself on your Batman run?
AK - Oh, working with Grant was great! I loved his scripts, and met him a couple of times in person. He`s a very nice guy! I haven`t had a chance to read all the R.I.P. stuff yet, but I will. The material I had worked on with Grant was action adventure which I love to do.
AC - Before R.I.P. you were the Batman artist for quite some time, which storyline was your favorite to work on?
AK - My favorite issue was #666. LOVED drawing that. I got a chance to draw the future Batman (Damian) and all the violence that`s associated with him along with a new bad guy and kooky sidekicks. Awesome stuff. I would love to revisit that character sometime.
AC - Rumor has it that your DC contract is coming up, any chance you’ll be headed back to Marvel soon?
AK - I have so many great projects lined up that I really want to draw at DC, it made sense for me to renew my contract with them which I did last year. But I do love drawing Wolverine, Gambit, Punisher, Ka-Zar, Cap, Thor, et al. Never got a chance yet to draw Hulk, which would be VERY cool.
AC - Your family has quite a legacy in comics. Do you have any fun stories of what it was like to be a kid whose dad is a famous comic artist? Any not-so-fun stories?
AK - When I was in grade school...I think it was around 3rd grade...my dad came in and did an assembly for the entire school. There was an overhead projector set up with a pull down movie screen in the cafeteria and he was doing some demonstration drawings. Taking requests, someone asked him to draw "Snoopy". My dad can draw anything, but what came out on the screen wasn`t Snoopy. And...when your a kid growing up in my dad`s house...don`t wake him early in the morning after a long night's work by fighting with your older brother (ADAM!). Trust me...
AC - Did you really attend the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art? Did the other students look at you like you were a silver-spoon student guaranteed to get an A? Or did you have to bust ass to prove yourself?
AK - Yes, I attended the school for the full 3 years. I never really drew before I went there. I had a little art background but nothing in terms of comics or storytelling. I was going to go through the school for 1 year then work in the office with my mom and get into the school business that way. But I got bit by the comic bug and got into it...all of it. Both Adam and I went through the school at the same time (Adam had a bachelors degree in medical illustration prior). If you know anything personally about my dad, you would know that there were NO silver spoons. We couldn`t miss any classes or receive any special treatment...which is the way it should have been. We did bust our asses...BIG time...but it wasn`t so much work as it was fun because we really enjoyed it.
AC - One would guess your father has been an influence to your art. But are their any others you would credit as being influences?
AK - Man, there are SO many influences besides my dad...from Da Vinci and Rembrandt to the Wyeths to Charles Dana Gibson, James Montgomery Flagg, the Leyendeckers, Joseph Clement Coll to Hal Foster, Alex Raymond, Milton Caniff, Noel Sickles, Neal Adams, Russ Heath, Alex Toth, Jim Aparo, John Buscema, Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta to Jim Lee, Lee Weeks, Bryan Hitch, Ron Garney and anyone else that I`m having trouble remembering. Anyone with art that I like, either with their storytelling or drawing skills, influences me in one way or another.
AC - You have worked with a slew of characters in you career from both of the “big” companies. Who are some of your favorites?
AK - This is the question I get hit up with the most at any con...okay, lets see...Batman, Joker, Wolverine, Punisher, Rogue, Ka-Zar, Captain America, Thor, and Ghost Rider. Haven`t really had a chance to draw too many other DC characters yet besides an occasional cover for Superman or Jonah Hex or a Flash poster (inked by my dad!) but I will!
AC - If you could draw any team-up book with any characters, who would you want to do?
AK - A book like "Worlds Finest" would be killer. Or even Justice League or Green Lantern...