Neal Adams

Neal Adams
Adams in 2019
Born(1941-06-15)June 15, 1941
New York City, U.S.
DiedApril 28, 2022(2022-04-28) (aged 80)
New York City, U.S.
Area(s)Writer, Penciller, Inker, Editor, Publisher
Notable works
Batman
The Brave and the Bold
Detective Comics
Green Lantern/Green Arrow
Strange Adventures (Deadman)
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
X-Men
AwardsAlley Awards
  • Best Cover (1967)
  • Best Full-Length Story (1968, with Bob Haney)
  • Best Pencil Artist (1969)

Shazam Awards

  • Best Individual Story (1970 and 1971, with Dennis O'Neil)
  • Best Pencil Artist (Dramatic Division) (1970)

Inkwell Awards

  • Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame (2019)
Spouse(s)Cory McGuire
(m. 1963; div. 19??)
Marilyn Susser
(m. 1977)
Children5, including Josh Adams
nealadams.com

Neal Adams (June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022)[1][2][3] was an American comic book artist. He was the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates, and was a creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and recognition for Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. During his career, Adams co-created the characters John Stewart, Man-Bat, and Ra's al Ghul for DC Comics.

After drawing the comic strip based on the television drama Ben Casey in the early 1960s, Adams was hired as a freelancer by DC Comics in 1967. Later that year, he became the artist for the superhero character Deadman in the science fiction comic book Strange Adventures. Adams and writer Dennis O'Neil collaborated on influential runs on Batman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow in the early 1970s. For Batman, the duo returned the Batman character to his gothic roots as a contrast to the Batman television series of the 1960s.[4] During their Green Lantern/Green Arrow run, O'Neil and Adams introduced a mature, realistic tone through stories such as "Snowbirds Don't Fly", in which Green Arrow's young ward Roy "Speedy" Harper is revealed to have become addicted to drugs.[3] The duo created and introduced the Green Lantern character John Stewart in 1971.

Following his runs on Batman and Green Lantern, Adams drew other books for DC such as Superman vs. Muhammad Ali in 1978. In addition to his work with DC, Adams simultaneously freelanced for Marvel Comics on books such as Uncanny X-Men and The Avengers. In 1971, Adams established the art and illustration studio Continuity Associates with Dick Giordano. In 1984, Adams founded his own comic book company Continuity Comics, which was in business until 1994.

Adams was inducted into the Eisner Awards' Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998, the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame in 2019.

  1. ^ Miller, John Jackson (June 10, 2005). "Comics Industry Birthdays". Comics Buyer's Guide. Iola, Wisconsin. Archived from the original on February 18, 2011.
  2. ^ Schepens, Beth (2003). "Army Brats Recall Island Paradise – Sidebar: Governors Island Factoids". NYC24.org. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Kit, Borys (April 29, 2022). "Neal Adams, comic book artist who revitalized Batman and fought for creators' rights, dies at 80". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Kreps, Daniel (April 29, 2022). "Neal Adams, Legendary Comic Book Artist Who Revitalized 'Batman,' Dead at 80". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 30, 2022.