Today in Comics History, June 15: Happy birthday, Neal Adams!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published June 15, 2022.

Born on this day in 1941: the recently passed (April 28, 2022) and still unsurpassed comics artist Neal Adams (Batman, The Spectre, X-Men, Strange Adventures, The Avengers, Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, National Lampoon, the award-winning Green Lantern/Green Arrow among many others). He's the co-creator of Ra's al Ghul, Man-Bat, Hellgrammite, Green Lantern John Stewart, Ms. Mystic, and more!


from (L) Mighty Marvel Memory Calendar 1977 (Marvel, 1976)
(right) 1975 Mighty Marvel Convention Program Book (1975), photograph by Michele Wiofman






from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)
How award-winning? So award-winning!



from (top) DC Comics cover-dated December 1970, and
(bottom)DC Comics cover-dated November 1971
How important? So important he's mentioned in Stan Lee's autobio comic AND in the Jack Kirby bio comic!


from (left)Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir (Simon & Schuster, January 2019), script by Peter David and Stan Lee, art by Colleen Doran, and
(right) Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics (Ten Speed, July 2020), script and art by Tom Scioli
Some biographical bits about Neal Adams. One of 'em's really tall!




from (top) DC Comics cover-dated October 1977,
(middle) Limited Collectors' Edition #C-23 (DC, Winter 1973), and
(bottom) Limited Collectors' Edition #C-51 (DC, August 1977)
And an interview with the Spectre! No, not Neal interviews the Spectre, but...


"The Spectre Interviews Neal Adams" in from The Spectre (1967 series) #2 (January 1968)
Neal Adams not only drew the out-of-this-world Superman/Muhammad Ali prize fight, he also attended it! Can you spot him on the cover?

cover of All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56 (DC, March 1978), layout by Joe Kubert, pencils by Neal Adams, inks by Neal Adams (?) and/or Cory Adams (?), logo design by John Workman
(Click top picture to GOAT-size)
There's a lot of unflattering portrayals of Neal Adams within comics stories for various reasons. I'm not gonna post 'em. If you must see them, dig up Fantastic Four #263, Married with Children: Bud Bundy, Fanboy #1, normalman/Megaton Man Special, or Pencil Head #5.


Have a happy birthday, Neal!


from (left) Fantastic Four Annual #7 (Marvel, November 1969) and (right) FOOM #10 (Marvel, June 1975)
We miss you but we'll remember you everytime we read your stories.

"The Endless Line" from DC Comics cover-dated October 2022, pencils and inks by Josh Adams, colors by Hi-Fi, letters by Clayton Cowles
(Click picture to Batman's stack o'comics-size)

"Marvel Remembers Neal Adams" in Marvel Comics cover-dated August 2022
(Click picture to galactic-size)