Randy DuBurke (born 1962) is an American artist best known as the author and illustrator of the Steptoe Award winning book ''The Moon Ring'' (2003) and as the illustrator of '' Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty'' (2010). He previously worked as a

comic book artist A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the literary ...

in the 1980s and 1990s.

Early life

Randy DuBurke was born in

Washington, Georgia Washington is the county seat of Wilkes County, Georgia, United States. Under its original name, Heard's Fort, it was for a brief time during the American Revolutionary War the Georgia state capital. It is noteworthy as the place where the Co ...

in 1962. He graduated from New York Technical College with a graphic arts degree.

Career

DuBurke made his debut in the comics industry with the story "A Life in the Day" as part of the DC Comics Bonus Book program in ''

Doom Patrol Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has appear ...

'' vol. 2 #9 (June 1988). He drew the "

Black Canary Black Canary is the name of two superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. As one of the earliest female superheroes in the DC Comics universe, the character has made numerous appearances in prominent team-up titles, ...

" feature in ''

Action Comics ''Action Comics'' is an American comic book/Comic anthology, magazine series that introduced Superman, one of the first major superhero characters. The publisher was originally known as Detective Comics Inc., which later merged into National ...

Weekly'' in 1988 and contributed to the various volumes of

Paradox Press Paradox Press was a division of DC Comics formed in 1993 after editor Mark Nevelow departed from Piranha Press. Under the initial editorship of Andy Helfer, Andrew Helfer and Bronwyn Carlton, the imprint was renamed. Paradox was best known for pu ...

' ''

The Big Book Of ''The Big Book Of'' is a series of graphic novel comics anthology, anthologies published by American company DC Comics imprint (trade name), imprint Paradox Press. Publication history The ''Big Books'' were published between 1994 and 2000. Just o ...

'' series from 1994 to 2000. In the early 2000s, he began working in the field of

children's books A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''chi ...

and his ''The Moon Ring'' received the Steptoe Award in 2003. DuBurke collaborated with writer Andy Helfer on ''

Malcolm X Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little, later el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz; May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) was an African American revolutionary, Islam in the United States, Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figur ...

: A Graphic Biography'' (2006) which has been recommended as part of a "Suggested Core List of Graphic Novel Titles for High School Students". Writer Greg Neri and DuBurke produced '' Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty'' in 2010 about the life of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer. The book was praised by ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'', ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

'', and ''

Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...

''. The ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'' noted that "Playing not just with expressions and characters but with light and shadow as well, it's DuBurke's choices that lift this book up and make it far more compelling than it would be merely on its own." As of 2014, DuBurke was working on a graphic novel with jazz saxophonist

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (August 25, 1933 – March 2, 2023) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Shorter came to mainstream prominence in 1959 upon joining Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, for whom he eventually became the primary comp ...

. The graphic novel was included with Shorter's ''

Emanon Emanon is an American musical duo formed in 1995, in Los Angeles, California, composed of rapper and singer-songwriter Aloe Blacc and record producer Exile. History Emanon released the extended play (EP) ''Anon and On'', on Ill Boogie Record ...

'' album released in August 2018.

Personal life

DuBurke resides in Switzerland with his wife and children.

Bibliography

Books

* ''The Moon Ring'' 36 pages, 2003, * ''Just For You!: The Bravest Girls In The World'' (written by Olivia George) 32 pages, 2004, * ''Halloween Night on Shivermore Street'' (written by Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso) 32 pages, 2004, * ''Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream'' (written by Crystal Hubbard) 32 pages, 2005, * ''Little Mister'' 22 pages, 2006, * ''When It's Six O'Clock in San Francisco: A Trip Through Time'' (written by Cynthia Jaynes Omololu) 32 pages, 2009, * '' Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty'' (written by Greg Neri), 96 pages, 2010, * '' Best Shot in the West: The Adventures of Nat Love'' (written by Patricia McKissack and Fredrick McKissack) 129 pages, 2012, * ''Game Changer: John McLendon and the Secret Game'' (written by John Coy) 32 pages, 2015,

Comic books

DC Comics

* ''

'' #609–616, 624–634 (

); #750 (

Superman Superman is a superhero created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, which first appeared in the comic book ''Action Comics'' Action Comics 1, #1, published in the United States on April 18, 1938.The copyright date of ''Action Comics ...

) (1988–1999) * ''

Checkmate Checkmate (often shortened to mate) is any game position in chess and other chess-like games in which a player's king is in check (threatened with ) and there is no possible escape. Checkmating the opponent wins the game. In chess, the king is ...

'' #33 (1991) * ''

'' vol. 2 #9, ''Annual'' #1 (1988) * ''

The Flash The Flash is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in ''Flash Comics'' #1 (cover date, cover-dated Jan ...

Secret Files and Origins ''Secret Files and Origins'' (abbreviated ''SF&O'') is a series of one-shot comic books and miniseries produced by DC Comics during the late 1990s and 2000s. Publication history The books are a combination of origin stories (similar to the earl ...

'' #1 (1997) * '' Flinch'' #7 (1999) * ''

Green Arrow Green Arrow is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and designed by George Papp, he first appeared in ''More Fun Comics'' No. 73 on September 19, 1941 (cover dated November 1941), th ...

'' vol. 2 #7, ''Annual'' #2 (1988–1989) * ''

JLA Gallery The Justice League, or Justice League of America (JLA), is a group of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The team first appeared in ''The Brave and the Bold'' #28 (March 1960). Writer Gardner Fox conceived the ...

'' #1 (1997) * ''JLA Secret Files and Origins'' #2 (1998) * ''

Justice League Quarterly ''Justice League Quarterly'' (''JLQ'') was a quarterly American comic book series published by DC Comics from Winter 1990 to Winter 1994; it lasted 17 issues. It had a variable cast, pulling from the Justice League membership. The title centred o ...

'' #17 (1994) * ''

Martian Manhunter The Martian Manhunter (J'onn J'onzz) is a superhero in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in the story "The Manhunter from Mars" in ''Detective Comics ...

Special'' #1 (1996) * ''

New Gods The New Gods are a fictional extraterrestrial race appearing in the eponymous comic book series published by DC Comics, as well as selected other DC titles. Created and designed by Jack Kirby, they first appeared in February 1971 in ''New Gods'' ...

Secret Files and Origins'' #1 (1998) * '' Showcase '96'' #6–7 (

Firestorm A firestorm is a conflagration which attains such intensity that it creates and sustains its own wind system. It is most commonly a natural phenomenon, created during some of the largest bushfires and wildfires. Although the term has been used ...

) (1996) * ''

Weird War Tales ''Weird War Tales'' is a war comic book title with supernatural overtones published by DC Comics. It was published from September - October 1971 to June 1983. Publication history The original title ran for 12 years and 124 issues. It was an an ...

'' vol. 2 #1 (1997) * ''

Who's Who in the DC Universe ''Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe'' (1985–87), usually referred to simply as ''Who's Who'', is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional ch ...

'' #10 (1991) * ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

Gallery'' #1 (1996) * ''Wonder Woman Secret Files and Origins'' #1 (1998)

Eureka Productions

* ''

Graphic Classics ''Graphic Classics'' is a comic book anthology series published by Eureka Productions of Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. ''Graphic Classics'' features adaptations of literary classics by authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, H. P. Lovecraft, and Edgar Allan ...

– African-American Classics'' #22 (2011)

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

* ''

: A Graphic Biography'' #1 (2006)

Marvel Comics

* ''Tales of the Marvels: Inner Demons'' #1 (1996)

Paradox Press

* '' The Big Book Of Bad'' (1998) * ''The Big Book Of Conspiracies'' (1995) * ''The Big Book Of Death'' (1995) * ''The Big Book Of Freaks'' (1996) * ''The Big Book Of Grimm'' (1999) * ''The Big Book Of Hoaxes'' (1996) * ''The Big Book Of Little Criminals'' (1996) * ''The Big Book Of Losers'' (1997) * ''The Big Book Of Martyrs'' (1997) * ''The Big Book Of Scandal'' (1997) * ''The Big Book Of The 70s'' (2000) * ''The Big Book Of the Unexplained'' (1997) * ''The Big Book Of the Weird Wild West'' (1998) * ''The Big Book Of Thugs'' (1996) * ''The Big Book Of Urban Legends'' (1994) * ''The Big Book Of Vice'' (1999) * ''The Big Book Of Weirdos'' (1995) * '' Gangland'' #2 (1998) * ''Hunter's Heart'' #1–3 (1995)

Awards and recognitions

He earned the following awards for '' Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty'': * the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance Once Upon A World Children's Book Award * 2011 YALSA Top 10 Quick Picks * 2011 IRA Notable Book for a Global Society * Chicago Public Library - Best Informational Books for Older Readers of 2010 * Cynsational Books of 2010 He earned the following awards for '' Best Shot in the West'': * 2012 BCCB Blue Ribbon Book * 2013 Bank Street CBC Best Children's Book of the Year. * 2013

Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles (SILA) was founded in 1953 by a group of Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and Cultural area, cultural List of regions of California, region that ...

Silver Award

References

External links

* * at Graphic Classics
Randy DuBurke
at Mike's Amazing World of Comics {{DEFAULTSORT:DuBurke, Randy 1962 births 20th-century African-American artists 20th-century American artists 21st-century African-American artists 21st-century American artists American children's book illustrators American children's writers American comics artists American expatriates in Switzerland Artists from Georgia (U.S. state) DC Comics people Living people People from Washington, Georgia Coretta Scott King Award winners Writers who illustrated their own writing