A BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE: The handiwork of a master…
Hey, it’s the late, great Neal Adams’ birthday — he was born 85 years ago, on June 15, 1941 — and we’re having a three-for celebration! We’ve got the EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at the cover of the upcoming Batman by Neal Adams: Absolute Edition Vol. 1 (below!), the EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at the book’s complete table of contents (click here), and a really groovy faux Batman ’66 cover (!) crafted by none other than our own Walt Grogan (click here).
We’ve already seen the slipcase cover…
… but here, for the first time, is the cover of the book itself. Like the slipcase, which meshes original and published art (from 1973’s Batman #251), the cover presents pastiches of 1970’s Detective Comics #400 on the front, and the same year’s Batman #221 on the back.
Dig this:
This is the book — it covers 1967 to 1970 — I’m waiting for the most this year. Any time you get to see Adams’ art in oversize dimensions — especially Batman — it’s a treat. But what really sells this edition is that it features the original coloring and Adams’ illustrations as they were first published, inked by various embellishers. (Years later, Adams insisted that reprints be recolored and feature tweaked art.)
The 8 1/8″ x 12 1/4″ Batman by Neal Adams: The Absolute Edition Vol. 1 (of 2) is due Sept. 22, 2026, and lists for $100.
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MORE
— EXCLUSIVE SNEAK PEEK at the Complete BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS: ABSOLUTE EDITION Table of Contents. Click here.
— The Groovy NEAL ADAMS BATMAN ’66 Comic We All Wanted. Click here.
June 15, 2026
Oh, that is just GORGEOUS!!!!
Thank you for sharing this. SO looking forward to getting this book!!!
…sorry for my excessive use of exclamation points.
June 15, 2026
This is just amazing art from an amazing man. I met him twice at Pensacon & he was such a warm & friendly guy, always open to chatting about his work & the work of others in the medium. Batman would be very different today if not for Neal Adams…
June 15, 2026
Agreed! Neal was so wonderful to talk to in person. I miss him so much. I was fortunate to meet him twice at New York comic con and then again at a smaller comic convention. He was fantastic to talk to. I wish I could remember the name of the smaller show, but he actually offered me a chair to sit in and watch him draw. I feel bad because I wouldn’t shut up, constantly saying “Wow” and other expressions of my utter amazement. But he was so gracious. He just continued on like the professional he was and didn’t tell me to shush or anything.