Just in time for this year’s Adams BIRTHDAY SALUTE…
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 (click here), the EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK at the book’s complete table of contents (below!), and a really groovy faux Batman ’66 cover (!) crafted by none other than our own Walt Grogan (click here).
The broad strokes of the book’s contents — which cover 1967 to 1970 — were listed in the solicitation that was released in November 2025. But here, for the first time, are the full details, along with an opening design page and a credits spread.
Dig this:
This is the book I’m most looking forward to this year. Whenever 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 FIRST LOOK at the BATMAN BY NEAL ADAMS: ABSOLUTE EDITION Cover. Click here.
— The Groovy NEAL ADAMS BATMAN ’66 Comic We All Wanted. Click here.
June 15, 2026
This is wonderful! Thank you! there are several things here that I am grateful for. First and foremost I am just happy that this is coming out at all. Now that it is, I’m happy that it will be spread across two volumes instead of three. I’m also happy that he kept the presentation of the stories and cover art in chronological order. Unlike the blue covered Paperback re-release A few years ago Which had all the cover art placed in the back of the book like bonus material.
Neal’s Absolute along with Batman Bronze Age omnibus one are my most anticipated releases.
June 15, 2026
I am not a fan of this movement to go back to the original coloring on these older books. I respect colorists. They play an important role in the comics creation process. But they are in a submissive support role to the primary artist, the penciller. If the penciller wanted this work re-colored, then his wishes should be respected. This is not a radical position. In addition to Adams, Dave Stevens, Walt Simonson, David Mazzucchelli, and Brian Bolland (amongst others) have also had their work re-colored to reflect their preferred vision.
June 15, 2026
Neal did get what he wanted. His reworkings have been published multiple times. And his reworked Deadman was used for the recent DC Finest volume.
So there is room to also reprint works as they originally appeared. There is something to be said for historical accuracy and preservation.
It’s good that DC has considered the artist’s wishes at times. But there are also the wishes of the consumers to consider as well.
Many want collections to reflect the experience of the original versions. And they’re the ones paying for it.
And let me toss in here that this issue has been hotly debated for 20 years now in the Star Wars community. Prioritizing the artist over the art sounds good until you can’t experience the original version anymore…
June 15, 2026
>>And let me toss in here that this issue has been hotly debated for 20 years now in the Star Wars community.
>>
Han shot first. There. I said it. 😉
June 15, 2026
>>Hope that helps!
>>
Yep, yep. I get it. Some fans are about the original coloring vs updated. I don’t usually get that invested in one vs the other…I’m primarily interested in making sure I have all the completed stories. I want my grandsons to be able to read every story ever told. For me, I do enjoy seeing the original sized original pencils, inks. For some reason, I’m a geek about the raw published pages.
June 15, 2026
Was none of this covered in the ($$$) Artist’s Edition? (seen here: https://13thdimension.com/sneak-peek-inside-the-neal-adams-dc-classics-artists-edition/) These books aren’t cheap….just need to be sure I’m not paying for something twice.
June 15, 2026
They are completely separate animals. The Artist’s Edition is all original art in original art size and is a selection of Adams’ work. This (and the eventual Vol. 2) collects all of his stories and covers, presented how they were originally published. How this is different from other comprehensive Adams collections is explained in the story. Hope that helps!
June 15, 2026
Argh. My “thank you” to your response got tagged to a thread above. Thanks again, Dan. Yes. This helps.
June 15, 2026
Thank you for clearing that up Dan. Now I have to find myself that artist edition.
But these absolute editions with full stories within them are what I’m most excited for. Cannot wait!!!
^___^
June 15, 2026
An amazing collection of work, an awesome preamble to the tectonic shift when he is paired with Dennis O’Neil & they basically create the Batman we know & recognize today…
June 15, 2026
According to some reputable sources, the on-sale date for Brave and the Bold #75 was a week earlier than Detective #370 so it’s not really chronological is it?
June 15, 2026
OK