Career Timeline of Neal Adams: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Neal Adams built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Neal Adams was a highly influential American comic book artist, co-founder of Continuity Associates, and a significant advocate for creators' rights. He played a pivotal role in securing pensions and recognition for Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Adams' artistic contributions include co-creating notable characters for DC Comics such as John Stewart (Green Lantern), Man-Bat, and Ra's al Ghul, leaving a lasting impact on the comic book industry.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1959: Freelance Attempts

In 1959, after graduation, Neal Adams unsuccessfully attempted to find freelance work at DC Comics and turned to Archie Comics.

1960: First Comic Panel

In January 1960, Neal Adams' first panel ran in Adventures of the Fly #4, marking his entry into the comics industry.

November 26, 1962: Ben Casey Comic Strip Debut

On November 26, 1962, the first daily Ben Casey comic strip, drawn by Neal Adams, appeared.

1963: Juliet Jones Ghost Artist

In 1963, Neal Adams ghosted two weeks of dailies for Stan Drake's comic strip, The Heart of Juliet Jones.

September 20, 1964: Ben Casey Sunday Strip Added

On September 20, 1964, a color Sunday strip was added to the Ben Casey comic strip, which Neal Adams was illustrating.

1965: Tangent Samples

In 1965, Neal Adams drew 18 sample dailies of a proposed dramatic serial, Tangent, but it was not syndicated.

July 31, 1966: Ben Casey Comic Strip Final Appearance

On Sunday, July 31, 1966, the final Ben Casey comic strip, which Neal Adams had been drawing, appeared.

1966: Peter Scratch

In 1966, Neal Adams worked as a ghost artist for a few weeks on the comic strip Peter Scratch.

April 1967: Creepy #14

In April 1967, Neal Adams debuted as penciler and inker of writer Goodwin's story "Curse of the Vampire" in Creepy #14.

May 1967: Eerie #9

In May 1967, Neal Adams collaborated with Archie Goodwin on the story "Fair Exchange" in Eerie #9.

June 1967: Creepy #15

In June 1967, Neal Adams collaborated with Archie Goodwin on "The Terror Beyond Time" in Creepy #15.

July 1967: DC Debut

In July 1967, Neal Adams made his DC Comics debut as penciler-inker of the story "It's My Turn to Die" in Our Army at War #182.

August 1967: Jerry Lewis

In July-August 1967, Neal Adams drew The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #101, his first work on licensed titles starring fictional versions of TV, film, and nightclub comedians.

November 1967: First Superhero Covers

In November 1967, Neal Adams was assigned his first superhero covers for Action Comics #356 and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #79. He also drew his first superhero story in Detective Comics #369.

1967: Hired by DC Comics and Deadman

In 1967, Neal Adams was hired as a freelancer by DC Comics. Later in 1967, he became the artist for the superhero character Deadman in the comic book Strange Adventures.

1967: Peter Scratch end date

In 1967, Peter Scratch series ended.

1967: Deadman Debut

In November 1967, Deadman debuted in DC's Strange Adventures #205. Neal Adams succeeded co-creator artist Carmine Infantino.

May 1968: First Batman Interior Story

In May 1968, Neal Adams drew his first interior story featuring Batman, titled "The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads" in World's Finest Comics #175.

June 1968: Took over the Scripting of Deadman

In June 1968, Neal Adams took over the scripting of Deadman, starting with issue #212.

1968: Primary Cover Artist

In 1968, Neal Adams became DC's primary cover artist and drew covers and stories for The Spectre #2-5, also writing the latter two issues.

1968: Ghosting Juliet Jones

In 1968, comics historians credit Neal Adams with ghosting two weeks of dailies for Stan Drake's The Heart of Juliet Jones. However, the dates are uncertain.

April 1969: Teen Titans Revised

In March-April 1969, Neal Adams was called upon to rewrite and redraw a Teen Titans story which had been written by then-newcomers Len Wein and Marv Wolfman, which appeared in Teen Titans #20.

May 1969: Teaming with Roy Thomas on X-Men

In May 1969, Neal Adams teamed with writer Roy Thomas on X-Men, starting with issue #56. Adams handled pencils, colors, and significant plotting.

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June 1969: Marvel Comics

In June 1969, Neal Adams began freelancing for Marvel Comics, penciling several issues of X-Men.

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1969: Collaboration on Vampirella #1

In 1969, Neal Adams collaborated on "Goddess from the Sea" in Vampirella #1, scripted by Don Glut, while working for DC Comics.

1969: Updating Green Arrow's Visual Appearance

In 1969, Neal Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance in The Brave and the Bold #85, designing a new costume and giving him a distinctive goatee beard.

March 1970: Paint a Picture of Peril

In March 1970, Neal Adams and writer Dennis O'Neil released their second Batman story "Paint a Picture of Peril" in Detective Comics #397, revitalizing the character's dark nature.

April 1970: Rechristening Green Lantern

In April 1970, Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil re-christened Green Lantern vol. 2 as Green Lantern/Green Arrow with issue #76, teaming the two superheroes in a social-commentary journey across America.

June 1970: Introduction of Man-Bat

In June 1970, Neal Adams introduced Man-Bat, co-created with writer Frank Robbins, in Detective Comics #400.

1970: Shazam Award for Best Individual Story

In 1970, Neal Adams won a Shazam Award for Best Individual Story for "No Evil Shall Escape My Sight" in Green Lantern vol. 2, #76, which he created with writer Dennis O'Neil. He also won Best Pencil Artist (Dramatic Division) in 1970.

June 1971: Introduction of Ra's al Ghul

In June 1971, Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil introduced Ra's al Ghul in the story "Daughter of the Demon" in Batman #232, a character who would become a major Batman adversary.

1971: Introduction of John Stewart

In 1971, Neal Adams and writer Dennis O'Neil created and introduced the Green Lantern character John Stewart in Green Lantern.

1971: Established Continuity Associates

In 1971, Neal Adams established the art and illustration studio Continuity Associates with Dick Giordano.

1971: Shazam Award for Best Individual Story

In 1971, Neal Adams won a Shazam Award for Best Individual Story for "Snowbirds Don't Fly" in Green Lantern vol. 2, #85, which he created with writer Dennis O'Neil.

1971: Goethe Award for Favorite Pro Artist and Favorite Comic-Book Story

In 1971, Neal Adams won the Goethe Award for Favorite Pro Artist. He also won the 1971 Goethe Award for Favorite Comic-Book Story for "No Evil Shall Escape My Sight" (written by Denny O'Neil) in Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76.

May 1972: Series Finale of Green Lantern/Green Arrow

In May 1972, Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil concluded their landmark run on Green Lantern/Green Arrow with issue #89, after undertaking a social-commentary journey across America.

1973: Revitalizing the Joker

In 1973, Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil revitalized the Joker in "The Joker's Five-Way Revenge!" in Batman #251, restoring him to his homicidal maniac roots.

1976: Advertising Portfolio

In 1976, Neal Adams mentioned that after leaving the Ben Casey comic strip, he shopped around a portfolio for advertising agencies and men's magazines, but his material was considered too realistic.

1976: Adams on Freelancing

In 1976, Neal Adams recalled his experience freelancing for both DC and Marvel Comics simultaneously, which was rare at the time.

1976: Inkpot Award

In 1976, Neal Adams won an Inkpot Award.

1976: Earning from Archie Comics

In a 1976 interview, Neal Adams recalled earning about $16.00 per half-page and $32.00 for a full page for his work in Archie's Joke Book Magazine around 1960, which was significant for his and his mother's financial situation at the time.

1977: Favourite Comicbook Artist at the Eagle Awards

Neal Adams was voted the "Favourite Comicbook Artist" at the 1977 Eagle Awards.

1978: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali

In 1978, Neal Adams drew Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, which he considered a personal favorite, marking his last complete story at DC before opening Continuity Associates.

1978: Favourite Comicbook Artist at the Eagle Awards

Neal Adams was voted the "Favourite Comicbook Artist" at the 1978 Eagle Awards.

1980: Directing Nannaz

In 1980, Neal Adams directed and starred in Nannaz, later released by Troma as Death to the Pee Wee Squad, featuring his children and fellow comics professionals.

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1984: Founded Continuity Comics

In 1984, Neal Adams founded his own comic book company, Continuity Comics.

1987: Return of Original Artwork

In 1987, Neal Adams won his battle for artists' rights when Marvel returned original artwork to him, Jack Kirby, and others, helping establish the practice of returning artwork to artists.

1988: Robin Costume Redesign

In 1988, Neal Adams designed a new costume for DC's Robin character Dick Grayson, which was later adopted for the new Robin, Tim Drake.

1994: Continuity Comics Closed

In 1994, Continuity Comics, which was founded by Neal Adams in 1984, closed.

2005: Return to Marvel

In 2005, Neal Adams returned to Marvel after a long absence, drawing an eight-page story for Giant-Size X-Men #3.

April 2010: Screening of "La Guardia's War Against Hitler"

In April 2010, the first episode of They Spoke Out: American Voices Against the Holocaust, titled "La Guardia's War Against Hitler", was screened at a festival sponsored by the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. The series features Neal Adams' artwork and narration.

2010: Batman: Odyssey Miniseries

In 2010, Neal Adams returned to DC Comics to write and draw the miniseries Batman: Odyssey.

2010: Son Josh Illustrated Batman Pinup

In September 2010, Neal Adams's son Josh illustrated a pinup of Batman in Batman: Odyssey #1.

October 2011: Relaunch of Batman: Odyssey

In October 2011, Neal Adams' Batman: Odyssey was relaunched with vol. 2, #1.

2011: The New Avengers vol. 2, #16.1

In 2011, Neal Adams penciled The New Avengers vol. 2, #16.1 for Marvel Comics.

May 2012: Work on X-Men

In May 2012, Marvel announced that Neal Adams would work on the X-Men again with The First X-Men, a five-issue miniseries.

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June 2012: End of Batman: Odyssey vol. 2

In June 2012, Neal Adams' Batman: Odyssey vol. 2 concluded after seven issues.

March 2014: Short Story for Detective Comics vol. 2 #27

In March 2014, Neal Adams produced a short story for Detective Comics vol. 2 #27.

February 2016: Revisiting DC Covers

In February 2016, Neal Adams revisited some of his notable DC Comics covers from the 1960s and 1970s, replacing the original characters with the New 52 ones.

2017: Deadman Limited Series

In 2017, Neal Adams wrote and drew a Deadman limited series.

November 2019: Batman vs Ra's al Ghul Publication

In November 2019, Neal Adams' Batman vs Ra's al Ghul miniseries was initially published before delays occurred.

August 2020: Fantastic Four: Antithesis Release

In August 2020, Neal Adams and writer Mark Waid released Fantastic Four: Antithesis, a four-issue miniseries, marking his final work as an interior artist.

March 2021: Delayed Issues of Batman vs Ra's al Ghul

In March 2021, the final two issues of Neal Adams' Batman vs Ra's al Ghul were published after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic; this was his final work as a writer and artist.