Neal Adams Recommends Dont forget to scroll down for Neals Blog
Growing World
ABOUT HIS SCIENCE PROJECT
"This project is the biggest, most incredible
thing I've ever done in my life. For friends who think I've invested
too much of my reputation in this project and failure if I'm
wrong would disgrace me somehow, I say 'don't you worry about
if for one minute.' I'm a big boy and I've done my homework and
the fact that I don't resort to Latin or big esoteric words doesn't
mean I don't fully understand the sciences on a basic and profound
level. I do.
For those of you who don't think I'm serious about
what I do and I'm light meat, do this.
Ask artists and writers what impact my battles with
the publishers have had on their income and lifestyles since
them days 'til today in simple overt areas like royalties and
return of original art.
I know comics are light and fluffy compared to the
sciences but I don't make my moves 'til I've dotted my i's and
crossed my t's. And yes, I know I'm up against 99.9 percent of
the scientific community.
But, to be honest, I kinda' like those odds. And
try this what if I'm right. Wouldn't that be a hoot?
There are actually two blogs. Oneís for the science site, in the science area. This one here is for everything else. Weíll be trying to keep you hooked-up to and part of, the new comic book, movie, previews and news. If you look over to the top left, you can hook into the new upcoming movies, and they are the subjects of this blog.
Unless you havenít noticed it, comic books are taking over the world. I would argue that comic books represent our country more, and better than our government these days. Our movies are telling people around the world what we believe in. Truth and justice, honesty, and the ability to volunteer for a hard task. All that good stuff. As we move forward into the next administration, America will have to find itself again.
The thing is, our films, our television, our comic books, and our books, have been keeping the image alive and well, and ready to be found and rekindled...
We
were very delighted at Haven Distributors new catalog/magazine.
Haven , Partnered with Enemi Entertainment, is a new
distribution opportunity for small press books, artists
who do sketch books, and any publisher or self publisher
who would like to get their books into stores.
This week, we got our copies of the first catalog/magazine.
It is a wonderfully put together magazine with full
color glossy pages and an interview. They were sure
when they put this book together to use large images,
so that every product in the book is displayed attractively.
The 5 page interview with Neal is in the front of the
magazine with lots of images. Oh, and the Neal Adams
cover is awesome as well.
If you're a store who'd like to carry our sketch books
please order. Haven Distributors can be contacted through
their site at http://www.havendistro.com
Preview
The Neal Adams Interview By Batman Producer Michael
Uslan
We've
taken some time to update the Check List page this week.
We will be doing more soon. Our check list has been helpful
to fans, not only to check up on what's missing from their
collections, but also to see what books might show up
in a check list that was not actually done by Neal. For
example, it was rumored that Neal worked on the issue
of Jonah Hex that the image on the right shows. But as
you can see above it, the image was just re-drawn by another
artist who was copying Neal's work. This sort of thing
happens a lot, and fans can be fooled because of it.
New
Exciting Original Art in our Store
In
order to get Neal to make new original's for the site
whenever we can, we have to let him let loose and have
some fun. Not just drawing black ink on white paper.
But that works out well for everyone because he ends
up making really fantastic pieces for us to sell. A
few months ago, he did a series of busts on grayish
stipple texture paper which he then did some marker
coloring on, just for fun. Because he can do markers
much faster than painting, we were able to keep the
prices down. The result was, they sold out fast. He
hasn't had the time to do it in a while, with all the
work going on at his office, but we managed to finally
get some time out of him, and he created the four pieces
to the right. One of them sold with in 6 hours of offering
them. The others are sure to go soon. You can find them
in our store.
Join
Neal's Facebook Fan Page.
The facebook Bug got us too. We've started a page for
Neal's fans that Neal can slip in and make comments
on when he has a moment during the day. Click
Here to see the page.
New
items in our Store
The
NY Comic con was a lot of fun, and we had some new products
available for the first time there. These are items you
can only get at conventions and here on our site. There
are some things we like to keep strictly for the shows,
but we're willing to have a limited number of them here
on our web site for those who can't make the shows. The
neal Adams 2009 Sketch Book is available. We also have
3 shirts that were not available on our site. We have
them in sizes small through extra large.
Click Image to see Frame
Another
item that was a surprise hit was the Collage Picture
Frames. It is an item that Neal's son, Spyda,
had put together originally as a Christmas present for
his sister, Kris, to frame a couple of originals in. He
takes damaged books and recycles them by cutting them
up and collaging over wooden picture frames. While doing
them, he made a few extra ones, which fans snatched right
up at the show. There's 2 of them left which we sell with
art in them on our original art page. A number of people
also asked for commissions to frame their own originals
in. If you are interested in commissioning one, you can
contact Spyda at spyda@spydacreations.com.
"
I think my favorite thing about the frames is, you can
have a really simple piece of art, like a bust, and
surrounding it you see a history of the artist's work
on the character. It's no longer just a head shot of
a character in a frame." -Spyda
New
Book
DC Universe Illustrated by Neal Adams
New
and in stock. Visit our store. We sell this book signed
by Neal Adams.Also available with a Superman Head Sketch
inside!
This
is the first of three volumes collecting nearly every
DC Comics story and cover by Adams not already collected
in Green Lantern/Green Arrow, Batman or Deadman titles.
This focuses on the rarely seen artwork from Our Army
at War #182, 183, 186; Star Spangled War Stories #134,
144; Detective Comics #369, Teen Titans #20-22; Action
Comics #425, Superman #254, Weird War Tales #12, 13
and more!
Because
we've had requests from fans, we've convinced Neal to
let us sell signed
photo prints of him. We had a favorite picture from
his younger days which was photo painted at his studio.
We sell the black and white photo as well as the computer
painted one. Your choice. It's the same image we will
be using to promote his autobiographical book "Last
Stop, Coney Island."
Batman
Black & White Statue in COLOR!!
This was done just for fun. We've had so many N.A. fans
tell us they'd love to see a color statue of his Batman.
Not easy to do, but our friend Dan Jorgensen managed
to take apart a statue, get the black and white paint
off and repaint the statue in full color.We love it!
Thanks Dan!
Click the images below to see them bigger.
NA
Original Art Club
We
started a little club for our repeat customers who buy
original art from us. It works very simple. When someone
buys an original from us for the first time, we send
them an email inviting them to be included in a special
mailing list. It costs nothing.When Neal finishes an
original or two, we offer it to our club members for
one week at 10% off. if no one buys it in that week,
it goes up on our web store for the full price. This
gives repeat customers, not only a chance at a discount,
but also, fisrt crack at new work.
Dina
Babbit
This
is an article we'd really like everyone to read. Read
Article
After you've read the article, please download the
6 page story Neal did. It's free. Download
PDF
This was one
busy convention at San Diego for the Adams's.So much work
to do and fans to see that little play was done. However,
we did manage to get some photos taken of the set up of
the show that you might enjoy. Click the picture to the
left for more.
Neal
Adams Batman Statue Big Success!!
It
was just a day or two before they left for the San Diego Convention
that they got their shipment of Batman Statues from the Distributor.
Everyone was very excited and couldn't have been more pleased
they we slipped one out of the box. They hadn't seen the final
painted version until then. There were changes that needed to
be made in the pain job since the last time they saw it, and didn't
know what to expect. What they saw made them all very happy. You'll
note that the box art looks a bit different. That is because the
photos used on the box art was the paint job from before it was
corrected. Gray painted lines on the cheek differed from the sleek,
smoothed, yet chiseled look Neal draws. But, the final paint job
represents exactly what Neal wanted. Sculptor, Jason Spyda Adams,
was just as happy as Neal. The detailed and exacting anatomy is
what stands out the most and represents what both illustrator
and sculptor hoped to achieve. That and the dynamic pose and character
style Neal is so famous for re-inventing.
The shipment made it to the office of Neal's Continuity
Studios just in time to ship them back out, this time to San Diego
for the convention. Fans would have the chance to purchase the
statue signed by both Neal and Spyda. Fans were very excited and
most of the conversation was over the statue. Lots of people pre-ordered
at their local stores and some even remembered to bring the base
from the statue to the con for autographs. The base is removable,
which makes it easy to bring along to a show without having to
lug the whole thing.
While in San Diego, they got the news that there were no
more statues available to stores through the distributor. They
had sold out within 6 days. What ever stores had in hand is all
they are going to get. Some internet stores, even now, are offering
them on their site based on hopes to re-order. But there's none
to come.
If your local store has one in stock, grab it up now. There's
even a few still on Ebay at discounted prices. Expect those to
be gone soon as well. You'll soon see this statue on ebay at far
higher prices. Beware of web sites that don't have it in stock
but still offer it for when they will get them. It's not their
fault, but they just don't know yet that there is no more.
Talk around the water cooler is, DC Direct is doing the next line
of Black & White of secondary characters. Neal and Spyda hope
to work together again on the next one. ManBat perhaps?
February
2008 Update
New
Batman & Robin Alternate Cover
Well. This is the cover sketch Neal didn't use, in favor of this one...
We can put the
cover up now (click for larger image):
People have asked
about BATMAN,and if I redesigned him.
If
I redesigned Batman, I wouldn't exactly redesign him. I would revamp
him. I would find the perfect story to do this in and I would attempt
to correct errors made along the way as well as make the costume do
the work better.I would take disadvantages
of the old costume and make them into advantages.
1. The fins on
the gloves should not be fabric, but pointed and sharp. The blade should
be hidden and pop out with a muscle twitch.
2. Batman's Belt.
The old capsules ceased being effective 25 years ago. No, they never
were effective, nor is a World War 2 garrison belt. But a utility belt,
as in a carpenter's utility belt that holds weapons, grapplers, guns
and crime-fighting paraphernalia as a uniquely designed true utility
belt would be perfect.
3. Boots are thick
soled ninja boots with wraparound flaps velcroed up his leg. In the
shank, weapons.
4. Costume. Bulletproof
and watertight, thermal coils and refrigerant coils throughout, acid
resistant, padded at the shoulders and riddle with structural supports
for (if needed) a kind of super strength.
5. Cowl is pulled
over a face plate containing radio, infrared biometrics and night vision
as well as video feed. A waterproof breathing mask slides and seals
over the face for breathing underwater. (Oxygen in utility belt.)
6. Bat symbol subtle
but bold. Dark against dark.7. Cape stiffens
for flight. Acts as fins underwater.
Same ol' Batman.
Man of tomorrow.
Neal Adams
BLOOD
As you may
have heard, Neal has been working on a new graphic novel called BLOOD.
We're not giving away the plot at this time but Neal asked us to give
you a sneak peek at a few of the pages. Click on an image to make it
bigger.
An Open
Letter to DC and Marvel
Our business must focus
a broader audience or we will be shaved to a smaller and smaller audience.
The Jim Lee Batman sold to a broad audience and maintained this audience
through 12 issues.
What this broad appeal series does and can do is bring new and extra
audiences into the market. Joe tells Tom, Tom tells Frank and Frank
for the first time in 15 years goes to a comic book shop to buy Batman.
What's bad? Bad is tons of spin-off titles that sell ten thousand copies.
This only appeals to our limited inbred community of fans that actually
have 30 to 70 bucks a week to buy comics.
We must make newsworthy,
well crafted product. Product that will attract outside readers. A broad
range of readers and we must reach out to these readers.
We think the Jim Lee/Jeph Loeb Batman was a big success and puffed
out our comics community chest. But outside the community, I saw nothing.
My own Batman reprints are a good example.
Are they advertised to the general public? The battle over the new
seps, finally turned positive, but this was an inner industry bit of
business did DC present this as a premiere product to the general public?
No, they printed 5000 copies and they were shocked when they sold out
in days and they had to print more.
Did the general public
know of this product? Would they want to have known? Would they buy
if they knew?
If a promotion worked, how many copies at $50 per pop could DC have
sold? How many old/new customers would have come into comic book stores
to buy it and other product.
It's not me, folks. I'm immaterial, 3 near legendary books of works
on Batman, a world-wide icon namely, Batman. What's the potential?
Marvel's Ultimates by Bryan Hitch talked about on TV and radio. Worth
talking about? Sales would increase 10 fold and those same people
will buy other product.
If
I redesigned Batman, I wouldn't exactly redesign him. I would revamp
him. I would find the perfect story to do this in and I would attempt
to correct errors made along the way as well as make the costume do
the work better.I would take disadvantages
of the old costume and make them into advantages.
