Illustrator Amanda Conner was honored this past weekend at Comic Con Revolution in Ontario, California, as the 2019 recipient of the Joe Kubert Distinguished Storyteller Award. The annual award, which was first awarded to Stan Sakai last year, recognizes “outstanding comic book creators who exemplify both Joe Kubert’s artistic talent and his commitment to nurturing the comic book community.”
The award brings life full circle for Conner; she attended the Kubert School from 1983 to 1985, studying under Joe Kubert himself. She said, “I am so incredibly honored to have been chosen for this Award. To this day, when I’m in the midst of creating a story, I still go back to the lessons that Joe taught when we were students of his. There were many ‘A-ha’ moments when Joe was teaching, and they still help shape my work now,” adding, “Telling stories visually was probably the lesson that stuck with me the most. He was a master at it, and I hope to be able live up to that, and to carry on that great tradition for a whole lot more decades!”
“I couldn’t be happier and more proud of this year’s recipient of the Joe Kubert Distinguished Storyteller Award,” said Andy Kubert, Joe Kubert’s son. “Amanda is not only an exemplary example as one of my father’s protégés and Kubert School alum, but she upholds the epitome of what he taught and what he brought to the art of storytelling.”
Conner began her career in comics working on projects for Marvel and Archie Comics, and later went on to contribute work on projects like Claypool Comics’ “Soul Searchers & Co.” before moving on to possibly her best known work, Harris Comics’ “Vampirella.” She has also contributed to many top titles, including “Lois Lane,” “Codename: Knockout,” “Birds of Prey,” “X-Men Unlimited,” “Harley Quinn,” and “Power Girl,” among others.
