Neal Adams, ‘Batman’ artist and comic book legend, dead at 80
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
NEW YORK — Legendary comic book artist Neal Adams, whose photorealist stylings revolutionized the likes of Batman, Green Lantern, the X-Men and the Avengers, died Thursday at the age of 80.
Adams died in New York of complications from sepsis, his wife, Marilyn Adams, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.
The modern comic landscape would not be what it is today without the incomparable work of Neal Adams. Neal portrayed heroes as both super and human in equal measure. His work on Batman, Green Lantern, and many more was revolutionary. DC joins the world in mourning his loss. pic.twitter.com/8lZUJGLB0T
Adams was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in the comic book industry, in 1998. A year later, he was ushered into the Harvey Awards’ Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, and he was honored in the Inkwell Awards Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame in 2019, Variety reported.
According to THR, Adams influence crossed multiple generations, and he co-created such characters as Ra’s al Ghul, the Man-Bat and one of DC’s first Black superheroes, Green Lantern Jon Stewart.
Born in New York City on June 15, 1941, Adams cut his teeth drawing for Archie Comics in 1959, before landing a freelance gig with DC Comics in 1967, and later Marvel.
He also was a major “champion” of comic creators’ rights, helping to modernize the industry’s practices of returning original work to the artists and founding the Comic Creators Guild in 1978, Variety reported.
When celebrating Neal Adams as an artist, remember to celebrate him as a tireless advocate for creators' rights, too. He was instrumental in getting Siegel and Shuster their due as Superman's co-creators in the 1970s. pic.twitter.com/eTeIntLA2n
Adams is survived by his wife Marilyn; sons Josh, Jason and Joel; daughters Kris and Zeea; grandchildren Kelly, Kortney, Jade, Sebastian, Jane and Jaelyn; and great-grandson Maximus.
I am literally devastated at Neal Adams passing. He was so kind and generous and just the most amazing talent. So grateful to have called him friend.
Neal Adams through the years FOR USE WITH STORY by Luis Torres de la Llosa, US-ART-COMICS-FASHION-SUPERHEROES Neal Adams poses in his office at Continuity Studios in New York on April 14, 2008. Adams is creating nine new issues of Batmn for DC Comics. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas ROBERTS (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images) (NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years Neal Adams draws in his office at Continuity Studios in New York on April 14, 2008. Adams is creating nine new issues of Batmn for DC Comics. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas ROBERTS (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images) (NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years FOR USE WITH STORY by Luis Torres de la Llosa, US-ART-COMICS-FASHION-SUPERHEROES Neal Adams draws in his office at Continuity Studios in New York on April 14, 2008. Adams is creating nine new issues of Batmn for DC Comics. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas ROBERTS (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images) (NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years FOR USE WITH STORY by Luis Torres de la Llosa, US-ART-COMICS-FASHION-SUPERHEROES Neal Adams poses in his office at Continuity Studios in New York on April 14, 2008. Adams is creating nine new issues of Batmn for DC Comics. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas ROBERTS (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images) (NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years FOR USE WITH STORY by Luis Torres de la Llosa, US-ART-COMICS-FASHION-SUPERHEROES Neal Adams works on piece about artist Dina Babbitt, an Auschwitz concentration camp survivor, in his office at Continuity Studios in New York on April 14, 2008. Adams is creating nine new issues of Batmn for DC Comics. AFP PHOTO/Nicholas ROBERTS (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images) (NICHOLAS ROBERTS/AFP via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years NEW YORK - OCTOBER 08: Comic Book Legend Neal Adams attends the 2010 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 8, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Marc Stamas/Getty Images) (Marc Stamas/Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 13: Neal Adams poses at New York Comic Con 2011 at the Javits Center on October 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Marc Stamas/Getty Images) (Marc Stamas/Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 29: Artist Neal Adams attends the Las Vegas Comic Expo at the Riviera Hotel & Casino on September 29, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic) (Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 20: Artist Neal Adams attends Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con 2014 Day 2 held at Pennsylvania Convention Center on June 20, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images) (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 13: May Pang and Neal Adams attends New York Comic Con 2011 at the Jacob Javits Center on October 13, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Bobby Bank/WireImage) (Bobby Bank/WireImage via Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years American DC comics book and commercial artist Neal Adams, UK, 15th June 1979. (Photo by Jones/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 30: Artist Neal Adams attends the sixth annual Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con at the Las Vegas Convention Center on June 30, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images) (Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
Neal Adams through the years American DC comics book and commercial artist Neal Adams, UK, 15th June 1979. (Photo by Jones/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (Evening Standard/Getty Images)
