The artist did the heavy lifting on 1978’s All New Collectors Edition #56, which is being released as a Facsimile Edition…
We brought you the news the other day that 1978’s All New Collectors Edition #56: Superman vs. Muhammad Ali will be re-released by DC Comics in August as a Facsimile Edition, in full treasury size. The thing about Facsimile Editions is that they’re published as they originally were, credits included. In this case, the writer is listed as Denny O’Neil. We’re enormous fans of Denny and his work, but the credit isn’t quite accurate: artist Neal Adams was actually the one who brought the story home. Here’s columnist Pete Stone, Neal’s son-in-law, with the background. — Dan
By PETER STONE
Superman Versus Muhammad Ali — one of the greatest Superman stories of all time. The average person would say it’s a one-punch fight: Superman could destroy an average human with a single jab. Unless… he was under a red sun, right? Then he loses his powers. OK, NOW who wins the fight? My money is on Muhammad Ali. Sure enough, in the story Muhammad Ali smoked Superman to the point where the Man of Steel was almost dead.
Neal Adams knew that, so when he started to lay out the story he knew he had to make it incredible.
In fact, when DC Comics did the Superman is killed by Doomsday story, Neal said, “Well, I had done that twenty years ago. Muhammad Ali brought him to the brink of death.” Only yellow sunlight saved his life…and then he saved the earth. The art is spectacular. The writing is wonderful and the story is fantastic.
The Facsimile Edition will reprint the original version exactly as it was all those years ago. However, after the 1978 publication, Neal fought hard to change the credits slightly. Denny, unfortunately, got sick near the beginning of the story so Neal stepped in and volunteered to finish it. DC agreed to change the credits in the future, but with this Facsimile, the old credits remain. Neal wrote most of the story and I, personally, think this is the best story he’s ever written. His dialogue for Muhammad Ali is brilliant. Neal was a huge fan of Ali’s for his stand against the Vietnam War and his outspoken comments about racial equality.
As published
The art is fantastic right from the beginning. Pages 2 and 3 might be the greatest spread of all time. The layout is spectacular. Neal showed us what the Bronx was like for the average person. He penciled it in 1977 and showed the world how good he really was. Terry Austin inked the background and did a magnificent job. The car in the foreground is amazing, the train in the background is wonderful and the mom’s booty is legendary. Who doesn’t remember the kid looking at the whale toy spouting water. That spread is still amazing more than 40 years later.
Neal’s layout
Then there is the knock-out punch by Muhammad Ali. Another brilliant spread laid out by one of the best who has ever drawn a comic page. Ali knocks Hun Ya out of the ring — proving he is The Greatest — while Superman shows he’s the greatest superhero of all time as he destroys the alien space army. Both men rise to the occasion. Both men reveal that they are heroes.
Neal’s layout
Then, when they meet at the end and shake hands…it’s so heartfelt and emotional, you can’t help but feel tremendous. Is there anything better?
As published
Neal’s early layout
Neal always said it was the greatest story he ever told. He had to capture Muhammad Ali’s likeness. He had to help create a tremendous story with aliens and spaceships. He had to make Superman spectacular.
Doing that took him almost three years but he did it.
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MORE
— DC to Release SUPERMAN VS. MUHAMMAD ALI Facsimile Edition — IN FULL TREASURY SIZE. Click here.
— INSIDE LOOK: Neal Adams’ SUPERMAN VS. MUHAMMAD ALI Art Exhibit. Click here.
May 19, 2024
I’ve loved this comic ever since I originally bought it (in 1978 or 1979). It was clearly a labor of love for Neal Adams. Now, back then, as a 10 or 11 year old kid Neal Adams didn’t mean anything to me. A couple years later, after I read his X-Men run, it certainly did, but in ’78 or ’79? Not so much – but I knew I loved the art and the storytelling here! I’ve got the hardcover reprint to go along with my battered original Treasury edition. Great stuff…
May 19, 2024
Neal made his rewriting of this story pretty clear in later interviews, and Denny often said that Neal “took over that project completely,” so it was pretty well known that this project was primarily Neal’s work. In many ways, this is one of the most challenging projects that ANY artist took on in the history of comics. The continual photo reference and that insanely detailed cover would have sent most artists running for the hills.
May 19, 2024
It definitely makes sense that Neal Adams would co-write this story in addition to doing character art for it.
May 19, 2024
There’s a segment on Youtube from a late 70s documentary on comic books. I can’t remember what it was called. In one segment, Neal is at the DC offices showing penciled pages from Superman v. Ali to Julius Schwartz and Denny. He is explaining to them what is going on in the story. Denny asks some questions and makes some comments, but it was pretty clear Neal was in charge of plotting the story at the very least.
May 20, 2024
LOVE LOVE LOVE this comic. When I bought it I would spend hours looking at panels and the faces on the cover. Neal was a comic book artist god!