Neal Adams' Batman

[madmarva]

Neal Adams' Batman Odyssey No. 1 hits the comic shops tomorrow.

I'm pretty excited about it. Other than Kirby, Adams is the most influential super hero artist. Any of the more realistic artists to come along since the 1970s have been influenced by his work. He basically created the Batman look that has been prevalent the past four decades.

While I bought back issues of all of his Batman work, other than a book called Heroes for Hope, I've never bought a new Batman book by Adams off the stands, and I'm kind of stoked to do so.

I'm trying to contain my expectations, but I can't think of another artist I'd rather see draw the Dark-night Detective.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I have to say, Adams new art doesn't do it for me as much as his old. He tends to go overboard with the crosshatching and such (check out his "director's cut" of his early Batman stories in those hardcover book DC put out a while back). But it's still Adams, he's still got his chops, and it's Batman. I may have to bite on this one.

CHris

[BlackKnight]

I have to say, Adams new art doesn't do it for me as much as his old. He tends to go overboard with the crosshatching and such

I agree with this...
So far I got a little bit of Mix Feelings with the Art that I saw...., as far as if it will interest me. The 1st issue is a Sold Buy for me ..., however I will go from there for the rest.

[The Toyroom]

As long as the story is good (his art is already a selling point), then I'm in for the long haul. Hopefully he can school some of the modern guys on what a GOOD Batman story is...

[VintageMike]

It's Neal Adams Batman. I saw a sample of the story and it's while not quite as good as his old stuff it's still miles ahead of anyone today IMO.

[The Bat]

As Chris said...it's Neal Adams(doing Batman again!)...so I'm ALL OVER THIS!!

[madmarva]

As long as the story is good

Anthony, I didn't voice the fear that you did about the story, but I had it. And the story is very clumsy, worse than ham-fisted in Batman Odyssey 1. The character doesn't seem much like Batman, any Batman I've read or seen.

But the art and colors are gorgeous to me. I just wish they could have talked Adams into collaborating with a more skilled writer. I'm probably going to continue to buy it for the art, but Adams' writing is going to take some big-time hits from harsher critics than I.

[Earth 2 Chris]

DC missed a great opportunity by not getting Denny O'Neil on this. He could have shaped up Adams' story, and it would have been big press to reunite them, although they rarely "collaborated". O'Neil sent the script to Julie Schwartz, and he sent it out to Adams to pencil.

Chris

[Random Axe]

I was waiting to hear some feedback on this before I purchase. Looks like that was a good idea. I absolutely adore Adams, but if the story is so bad it distracts from the artwork then I'll pass and maybe, just maybe , pick up the TPB.

Scott

[aquatroy]

I agree with the Denny O'Neil comment. It's also to bad that Dick Giordano passed. His inks could have cleaned up Neal busy pencils. Still, Neal Adams work has aged more gracefully then Perez, Lee, Byrne, ect. Hell, one can just go down the list of veteran pencillers and Adams work holds it's own.

Still, the story was clunky and the dialogue was rather stale. After a bit I stopped reading and just gawked at the art.

btw, the LCS owner and I were wondering how many people at DC had to kiss Neal's *** to get him to draw Batman again? Can we expect a large hardbound edition of Neal's hollow Earth theory?

[Earth 2 Chris]

has aged more gracefully then Perez

Wow, really? I mean, not to knock your opinion, but most folks I've talked to over the years seem to agree Perez has just gotten better with age, especially compared to his peers.

Chris

[samurainoir]

btw, the LCS owner and I were wondering how many people at DC had to kiss Neal's *** to get him to draw Batman again? Can we expect a large hardbound edition of Neal's hollow Earth theory?

I'm sure DC would publish it in a heartbeat if they could call it Batman: Hollow Earth.

for those that are curious...
http://www.nealadams.com/morescience.html

[aquatroy]

I have to say, Adams new art doesn't do it for me as much as his old. He tends to go overboard with the crosshatching and such (check out his "director's cut" of his early Batman stories in those hardcover book DC put out a while back). But it's still Adams, he's still got his chops, and it's Batman. I may have to bite on this one.

CHris

I agree with this...
So far I got a little bit of Mix Feelings with the Art that I saw...., as far as if it will interest me. The 1st issue is a Sold Buy for me ..., however I will go from there for the rest.

DC missed a great opportunity by not getting Denny O'Neil on this. He could have shaped up Adams' story, and it would have been big press to reunite them, although they rarely "collaborated". O'Neil sent the script to Julie Schwartz, and he sent it out to Adams to pencil.

Chris

Wow, really? I mean, not to knock your opinion, but most folks I've talked to over the years seem to agree Perez has just gotten better with age, especially compared to his peers.

Chris

To me, Perez's stuff looks like he's used action figures to compose the panel. Everyone looks 6" tall and made of plastic.

I'm sure it's just me, though.

[The Toyroom]

Wow, really? I mean, not to knock your opinion, but most folks I've talked to over the years seem to agree Perez has just gotten better with age, especially compared to his peers.

I agree...George has gotten better over the years....his stuff is phenomenal now compared to his older stuff. Neal on the other hand seems to still believe all of his old press ... Don't get me wrong, his art has still got the chops that today's modern artists only wished they had, but his "storytelling" (i.e. writing) leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, I never really looked at him as a writer, contrary to what he'd have you believe.

[BlackKnight]

Perez on Legion of 3 Worlds ..., proved to me that He is STILL a Bad Arse in the Comicbook Community. I loved his work on that book, myself.