RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Comic Books Neal Adams, his art and his influence

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The cover of BATMAN 244 by Adams.
The perfectly done climax of the R'as Al Ghul saga by O'Neil and Adams.





Whether by O'Neil Adams/Giordano, or Robbins Adams/Giordano, O'Neil Novick/Giordano, or Robbins Novick/Giordano, there was a 6 year period where I was reading BATMAN and DETECTIVE where I never loved comics more.
HOUSE OF MYSTERY, HOUSE OF SECRETS, SWAMP THING, THE DEMON, KAMANDI, BRAVE AND THE BOLD, WORLD'S FINEST, JLA, WEIRD WESTERN, JIMMY OLSEN, NEW GODS, FOREVER PEOPLE, WEIRD WAR, GHOSTS, STRANGE ADVENTURES, OMAC, THE SHADOW and so many others were a part of that amazing period. But for me it all began with Batman.

And Neal Adams, whether I fully realized it or not, was a huge part of creating that magic. Often just a cover, or a single issue, or just the concept that was continued or imitated by others. Or completely unrelated work by other writers and artists, but who Adams helped get in the door at DC and Marvel, to do other fantastic but completely different work, in a wide array of styles.

That these stories are so revered and loved, and still set the standard over 50 years later in the current era on several generations of artists, are testament to how fresh and powerful that work remains, as its influence endures.

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Often excluded for space reasons from "R'as Al Ghul Saga" reprint collections, is the less appreciated final story from BATMAN 245.





It ties up the remaining story threads from BATMAN 242-244, where Batman faked the disappearance/death of Bruce Wayne, to prepare to go after R'as Al Ghul and take Al Ghul off guard. And If Al Ghul figured out he was still alive, rendered it useless to reveal his identity as Bruce Wayne.

I also like how this story in many ways taps into the appeal of the earliest 1939-1940 Batman stories. He is a mysterious vigilante in the shadows who operates outside the law, with no regard for local city politics or larger considerations, he is focused on the smaller victims of crime, or of those duped into involvement in crime, and irregardless of technicalities of legal procedure, stops criminals and brings them to justice.

I also like the brevity of the conclusion, how O'Neil skillfully brings Bruce Wayne back at story's end. A less skilled writer would have spent an entire plodding issue doing what O'Neil wrapped up satisfyingly in just one panel. This is an under-appreciated and quietly powerful single issue story, that perfectly captures what Batman is about, from his earliest stories.

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And while the 5-minute interview of Neal Adams is still up on page 1 of the topic, Neal Adams was one of ten "masters" interviewed, so here is the full 1 hour video, produced by Ken Viola in 1987, hosted by Harlan Ellison, who gives 1-minute introductions to each of the ten artists, each speaking for about 5 minutes.

In order they are :
1. Will Eisner
2. Harvey Kurtzman
3. Steve Ditko
4. Jack Kirby
5. Neal Adams
6. Berni Wrightson
7. Moebius
8. Frank Miller
9. Dave Sim
10. Art Spiegelman

THE MASTERS OF COMIC BOOK ART (1987) - 60 minutes