Hi, all - just a curiosity. Like most people, I am a huge Neal Adams fan. As a kid, I grew up worshipping his work, especially GL/GA, Batman, Strange Adventures, X-Men and all those wonderful DC covers of the 1960s. (I'd add those great Tarzan book covers too, which came a bit later)

When Neal left to form Continuity, something changed. Obviously, he wasn't drawing the comic characters we all know and love, but also the art itself seemed less impressive. I guess some of this had to do with changing styles, also other artists "helping" with the art.

I don't follow comics anymore, except this forum and of course the films and TV shows (all the reasons we all talk about, not the same anymore, etc.). I know Neal has been doing comics here and there and I have not read them, just checking artwork posted online and reviews. His writing, it seems, is always the reason for the mixed or poor reviews.

My point is what do you think of Neal? It seems his greatest period was 60s and early 70s, and after that more experimentation, making money, etc. Not dissing him - he's an old guy and certainly did his part, but I wonder what the general feeling is about Neal's entire career and perhaps his career since say 1980 (Ms. Mystic era).

When I look at his work now, it's not what it was. Often his sketches you see at conventions, etc. are similar poses, "pre-penciled", somewhat lazy ink work, etc. Anyone else have opinions on this? If it has been discussed before, apologies, but as someone who loved Neal's old DC and Marvel work, thought I'd throw it out there.

As an aside - JB's work has only improved since his "glory years". I love the old stuff and wish he were doing regular work for Marvel and DC, but understand why he doesn't. The artistry however is as good or better now than ever. I don't see any laziness or decline of quality.

Thanks.

The years around then are my favorite, for sure.

But even if his recent work isn't my preference and can't ever resonate for me the way his vintage work always will, some of what I've seen online from just a year or two ago is pretty freakin' sweet.

I'm glad he did some pencilling work on SUPERMAN VS THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.

Though it's clear that he just loves drawing (every moment, he's either drawing or looking at something thinking about drawing it), he's a total professional and he's all about the work.  But he is there to make money and he does comics to make money.  He's proud of treating it like a job.  I think this has led him to work faster.  The last few years, he has written, penciled, and inked 13 issues of BATMAN ODYSSEY, 6 issues of THE COMING OF THE SUPERMEN, and presently 6 issues of DEADMAN, as well as illustrating an X-MEN mini-series and numerous short stories and covers--all on time!  (Not to mention all the commissions!)  All looking better than most everybody else out there!  And he's 76!

I too preferred the "dynamic realism" of his 60's and 70's work, right up to MS. MYSTIC and the other first issues of his Continuity Comics--it was amazing how much he did there!  He wasn't being helped by numerous artists, he was the one HELPING all his artists!  He did covers, layouts, and/or finishes on a whole line of comics!  It does seem that he has incorporated some things I have to call "Image-isms"--instead of realistic shadows, he's just as likely to do "under-lighting" now.  He's gotten more cartoonish (compare his present-day bulbous monster Hulk to his more human Hulk on some covers/pin-ups of the 70's), but I'm confident he's CHOOSING to be quicker and emphasizing the "dynamic" in "dynamic realism" now, rather than the "realism" part.

Remember, there were stories of him working slowly in the early days, spending days to get one page just right.  Now, he can probably do two pages a day with no problem.  No, the present-day Neal Adams is not as good as "his old stuff," but I'd rather have the almost three dozen issues he produced in the last 4 or 5 years than not have them.  Still better than most.