History of Neal Adams in Timeline
Neal Adams was a prominent American comic book artist known for his dynamic and realistic style. He co-founded Continuity Associates, a graphic design studio, and significantly contributed to the comic book industry. Adams was a strong advocate for creators' rights, playing a crucial role in securing pensions and recognition for Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, the creators of Superman. His notable work at DC Comics includes co-creating iconic characters such as John Stewart, Man-Bat, and Ra's al Ghul. Adams's artistic talent and advocacy work have left a lasting legacy in the world of comics.
June 15, 1941: Neal Adams Born
Neal Adams was born on June 15, 1941, on Governors Island in New York City.
1959: Early Career Attempts
After graduating in 1959, Neal Adams sought work at DC and Archie Comics.
1959: High School Graduation
Neal Adams graduated from the School of Industrial Art in Manhattan in 1959.
1960: The Fly and Archie Comics
Neal Adams' work was published in "Adventures of the Fly #4" in January 1960. He then worked on Archie's Joke Book Magazine.
November 26, 1962: Ben Casey Comic Strip Begins
Neal Adams's daily comic strip based on the television show "Ben Casey" debuted on November 26, 1962.
1963: Possible Ghosting for The Heart of Juliet Jones
It's also possible Neal Adams ghosted artwork for "The Heart of Juliet Jones" in 1963, but the exact timing is uncertain.
September 20, 1964: Ben Casey Sunday Strip Begins
A Sunday color strip for "Ben Casey" was introduced on September 20, 1964.
1965: Tangent Sample Dailies
Neal Adams created sample dailies for a proposed comic strip titled "Tangent" in 1965.
March 21, 1966: Ben Casey TV Show Ends
The television series "Ben Casey" concluded on March 21, 1966.
July 31, 1966: Ben Casey Comic Strip Ends
The final "Ben Casey" comic strip was published on July 31, 1966.
1966: Ghost Artist Work and Peter Scratch
Neal Adams worked as a ghost artist in 1966, including on the comic strip "Peter Scratch".
April 1967: Warren Publishing Debut
Neal Adams debuted at Warren Publishing with the story "Curse of the Vampire" in Creepy #14 (April 1967).
May 1967: Fair Exchange Published
Neal Adams and Archie Goodwin's "Fair Exchange" was published in Eerie #9 in May 1967.
June 1967: The Terror Beyond Time Published
"The Terror Beyond Time," another collaboration between Adams and Goodwin, appeared in Creepy #15 in June 1967.
July 1967: Neal Adams' DC Debut in Our Army at War
In July 1967, Neal Adams made his debut with DC Comics as a penciler-inker for the story 'It's My Turn to Die' in the anthology series Our Army at War #182. This marked the beginning of his contributions to DC, including additional horror and war stories.
August 1967: Neal Adams' Work on The Adventures of Jerry Lewis
In August 1967, after being turned down for a Batman project, Neal Adams was assigned to draw 'Jerry the Asto-Nut' for The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #101. This became the first of many stories he would illustrate for the series, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
November 1967: First Superhero Covers and Story by Neal Adams
In November 1967, Neal Adams illustrated his first superhero covers for Action Comics #356 and Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #79, and drew his first superhero story for Detective Comics #369. This period marked his transition into the superhero genre, a significant milestone in his career.
1967: Peter Scratch Ends
The comic strip "Peter Scratch" ended in 1967.
1967: Neal Adams Wins Alley Award for Best Cover
In 1967, Neal Adams won the Alley Award for Best Cover for his work on Deadman, marking a significant recognition of his artistic talent early in his career.
1967: Neal Adams Starts at DC Comics
In 1967, Neal Adams began freelancing for DC Comics and later took on the role of artist for the superhero Deadman.
May 1968: Neal Adams Draws Batman for World's Finest Comics
In May 1968, Neal Adams drew Batman in an interior story for the first time with 'The Superman-Batman Revenge Squads' in World's Finest Comics #175. This event marked the beginning of his association with one of his signature characters.
June 1968: Neal Adams Takes Over Deadman Series
In June 1968, Neal Adams took over the scripting of the Deadman series with issue #212. His work on this series became a fan sensation and earned him awards for his dynamic contributions to comic art.
1968: Possible Ghosting for The Heart of Juliet Jones
It's possible Neal Adams ghosted artwork for "The Heart of Juliet Jones" in 1968, although the dates are uncertain.
1968: Award for Batman/Deadman Story
In 1968, Neal Adams and writer Bob Haney received the Alley Award for Best Full-Length Story for their Batman/Deadman team-up in The Brave and the Bold #79, further establishing Adams' reputation in the comic book industry.
April 1969: Revised Teen Titans Story by Neal Adams
In April 1969, Neal Adams rewrote and redrew a Teen Titans story that was initially rejected. The revised story, 'Titans Fit the Battle of Jericho!', appeared in Teen Titans #20 and marked a significant moment in addressing racial diversity in comics.
May 1969: Neal Adams' Work on X-Men with Roy Thomas
In May 1969, Neal Adams teamed up with writer Roy Thomas on X-Men, contributing significantly to the series' plots. Despite the series being on the verge of cancellation, their collaboration was celebrated and won them Alley Awards.
June 1969: Neal Adams Begins Freelancing for Marvel Comics
In June 1969, Neal Adams began freelancing for Marvel Comics, illustrating issues of X-Men and a story for a horror anthology. This move was notable for the rare crossover between Marvel and DC that Adams, a prominent artist, was part of.
1969: Alley Award for Best Pencil Artist
In 1969, Neal Adams was awarded the Alley Award for Best Pencil Artist, and his feature 'Deadman' was inducted into the Alley Award Hall of Fame. Additionally, he received a special award recognizing his innovative contributions to comic art.
1969: Green Arrow Redesign
Neal Adams updated Green Arrow's visual appearance with a new costume and goatee in The Brave and the Bold #85 in 1969.
March 1970: X-Men Series Concludes with Neal Adams' Involvement
In March 1970, the X-Men series ended its initial run with issue #66. Neal Adams' work on the series, including reviving the character Professor X, was a highlight of this period, demonstrating his creative impact.
March 1970: Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil Revitalize Batman
In March 1970, Neal Adams collaborated with writer Dennis O'Neil to revitalize the Batman character, moving away from the campy style of the 1960s TV series. Their work restored Batman's darker, brooding nature and began with 'Paint a Picture of Peril' in Detective Comics #397.
April 1970: Green Lantern/Green Arrow Launch
In April 1970, Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil relaunched Green Lantern vol. 2 as Green Lantern/Green Arrow with issue #76, beginning a socially relevant story arc.
1970: Shazam Awards for Best Individual Story and Best Pencil Artist
In 1970, Neal Adams received Shazam Awards for Best Individual Story for 'No Evil Shall Escape My Sight' in Green Lantern vol. 2, #76, and for Best Pencil Artist in the Dramatic Division, highlighting his narrative and artistic excellence.
1971: Goethe Awards for Favorite Pro Artist and Comic-Book Story
In 1971, Neal Adams was honored with the Goethe Award for Favorite Pro Artist and for Favorite Comic-Book Story for 'No Evil Shall Escape My Sight' in Green Lantern/Green Arrow #76, further cementing his status as a leading figure in comic book art.
1971: Shazam Award for Best Individual Story
In 1971, Neal Adams won the Shazam Award for Best Individual Story for 'Snowbirds Don't Fly' in Green Lantern vol. 2, #85, showcasing his continued influence and success in the comic book industry.
1971: Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil's Green Lantern/Green Arrow Run and Creation of John Stewart
Neal Adams and Dennis O'Neil worked on Green Lantern/Green Arrow, introducing mature themes and creating the character John Stewart in 1971.
1971: Continuity Associates Founded
Neal Adams and Dick Giordano co-founded the studio Continuity Associates in 1971.
May 1972: Green Lantern/Green Arrow Finale
The Green Lantern/Green Arrow series, known for its social commentary, concluded with issue #89 in May 1972.
1972: Green Lantern/Green Arrow in The Flash
Following the cancellation of Green Lantern/Green Arrow, the characters' adventures continued in The Flash #217–219 and #226 in 1972.
1972: Various DC Contributions
In 1972, Neal Adams contributed to various DC titles, including Superman #254, The Brave and the Bold #102 featuring the Teen Titans, Weird Western Tales, House of Mystery, Action Comics, Justice League of America, and Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man.
1973: Neal Adams' Industry Influence
By 1973, Neal Adams held a unique and influential position in the comics industry.
1973: End of "Relevance" Era
By 1973, the focus on socially relevant themes in comics, championed by Adams and O'Neil, had declined, with DC editor Julius Schwartz declaring "relevance is dead."
1976: Neal Adams Interview
In a 1976 interview, Neal Adams discussed his early career, including his work for Archie Comics and his financial situation at the time.
1976: Pursuit of Commercial Illustration
In 1976, Neal Adams discussed his attempts to break into commercial illustration after the "Ben Casey" comic strip ended.
1976: Inkpot Award Achievement
In 1976, Neal Adams was awarded the Inkpot Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the comic book industry.
1977: Eagle Awards for Favorite Comicbook Artist
In 1977, Neal Adams was voted as the 'Favourite Comicbook Artist' at the Eagle Awards, affirming his popularity and influence among comic book fans.
1977: Ms. Mystic Creation
Neal Adams and Michael Netzer co-created the character Ms. Mystic in 1977.
1978: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
In 1978, Neal Adams illustrated the crossover comic "Superman vs. Muhammad Ali".
1978: Eagle Awards for Favorite Comicbook Artist
In 1978, Neal Adams was again voted as the 'Favourite Comicbook Artist' at the Eagle Awards, continuing his streak of recognition and success in the comic arts.
1978: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
In 1978, Neal Adams worked on the oversize Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, a project he considered a personal favorite.
1978: Comics Creators Guild Formation
Neal Adams co-founded the Comics Creators Guild in 1978.
1980: Nannaz Release
Neal Adams directed and starred in the film Nannaz (later released as Death to the Pee Wee Squad) in 1980.
1981: Bizarre Adventures Contribution
In 1981, Neal Adams drew a story for Marvel's Bizarre Adventures magazine.
1984: Continuity Comics Founded
Neal Adams founded Continuity Comics in 1984.
1985: Named One of DC's Fifty Who Made DC Great
In 1985, DC Comics recognized Neal Adams as one of the 'Fifty Who Made DC Great' in their 50th anniversary publication, highlighting his significant impact on the company and the comic book industry.
1987: Victory for Creator Rights
In 1987, Neal Adams' advocacy efforts led to Marvel returning original artwork to artists, including himself and Jack Kirby.
1988: Robin Redesign
Neal Adams designed a new costume for Robin (Dick Grayson) in 1988, which DC later adopted for Tim Drake.
1993: Ms. Mystic Lawsuit
A lawsuit was filed against Neal Adams regarding the intellectual property rights to Ms. Mystic in 1993.
1994: Continuity Comics Closes
Neal Adams' Continuity Comics ceased operations in 1994.
1997: Ms. Mystic Lawsuit Dismissed
The lawsuit against Neal Adams concerning Ms. Mystic was dismissed in 1997 due to the statute of limitations.
1998: Induction into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame
In 1998, Neal Adams was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame, honoring his extensive contributions and influence in the comic book industry.
1998: Eisner Award Hall of Fame Induction
Neal Adams was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998.
1999: Induction into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame
In 1999, Neal Adams was inducted into the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, recognizing his outstanding achievements and lasting impact on the world of comics.
1999: Harvey Award Hall of Fame Induction
Neal Adams was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999.
2005: Return to Marvel
Neal Adams returned to Marvel Comics in 2005 after his last collaboration in 1981, contributing to Giant-Size X-Men #3.
2006: Coast to Coast AM and Skeptics Guide Podcast Appearances
In 2006, Neal Adams appeared on the radio show Coast to Coast AM and was interviewed on the Skeptics Guide podcast, where he discussed his controversial theories, which were criticized by skeptics for promoting pseudoscience. His ideas influenced his work on the Batman: Odyssey series.
April 2010: Screening of "La Guardia's War Against Hitler"
In April 2010, the first episode of the educational motion comics series 'They Spoke Out: American Voices Against the Holocaust' was screened at a festival sponsored by the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art. This episode, titled 'La Guardia's War Against Hitler', highlighted New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia's opposition to Nazi Germany, contrasting it with President Franklin Roosevelt's more passive approach to rescuing European Jews during the Holocaust.
2010: Family and Creative Contributions
In 2010, Neal Adams' son, Josh, illustrated a pinup of Batman in Batman: Odyssey #1, showcasing the creative legacy and collaboration within the Adams family.
2010: Batman: Odyssey Begins
Neal Adams returned to DC Comics in 2010 as the writer and artist for the Batman: Odyssey miniseries.
October 2011: Batman: Odyssey Relaunch
The second volume of Batman: Odyssey, written and drawn by Neal Adams, launched in October 2011.
2011: The New Avengers Contribution
Neal Adams penciled The New Avengers vol. 2, #16.1 for Marvel Comics in 2011.
May 2012: The First X-Men
Marvel announced in May 2012 that Neal Adams would work on The First X-Men, a five-issue miniseries.
June 2012: Batman: Odyssey Concludes
The second series of Batman: Odyssey concluded in June 2012 after seven issues.
2013: Batman Black and White Contribution
Neal Adams contributed to Batman Black and White vol. 2 #1 in 2013.
2013: Superheroes Documentary Appearance
Neal Adams appeared in the PBS documentary Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle in late 2013.
March 2014: Contributions to DC Titles
Neal Adams contributed short stories to Batman Black and White vol. 2 #1 (Nov. 2013) and Detective Comics vol. 2 #27 in March 2014.
February 2016: Revisiting Classic Covers
In February 2016, Neal Adams revisited his classic DC covers, replacing the original characters with New 52 characters.
2017: Deadman and Action Comics Contributions
In 2017, Neal Adams wrote and drew a Deadman limited series and a story for Action Comics: 80 Years of Superman.
November 2019: Batman vs Ra's al Ghul
Neal Adams wrote and drew the miniseries Batman vs Ra's al Ghul, which began publication in November 2019. It was his final work as a writer and artist.
2019: Induction into the Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame
In 2019, Neal Adams was inducted into the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame, celebrating his lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the comic book industry.
2019: Inkwell Award Hall of Fame Induction
In 2019, Neal Adams was inducted into the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame.
August 2020: Fantastic Four: Antithesis
Neal Adams and Mark Waid released Fantastic Four: Antithesis, a four-issue miniseries, in August 2020, marking Adams' final work as an interior artist.
March 2021: Batman vs Ra's al Ghul Concludes
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the final two issues of Batman vs Ra's al Ghul were delayed until March 2021.
April 28, 2022: Neal Adams Death
Neal Adams passed away on April 28, 2022.