As you know, I have a 1976 calendar filled with Neal Adams art work. But, as I look back through all the years I've been a collector, Adams art looms larger than any single work. His game changing efforts in the areas of style, creator rights, improved production methods, and incredible creative runs (Batman, Green Lantern/Green Arrow, X-Men) have influenced every generation since his debut. His role in comic history, can simply put, not be overstated. And, there's one man who believes that more than any other...Neal Adams himself.
False modesty is the one tool Adams doesn't have in his arsenal. It is equal parts refreshing and off-putting. However, I have found myself as captivated by his verbal pats on the back, as his classic drawings. So, I've listened to every podcast, watched every YouTube video, and read every interview Neal has given in the last few years. From time to time, I will post some of his choice quotes. That way you can enjoy the wisdom of an all time great. To kick things off-
Neal On His Philosophy : "If you make your way through to me and shove a piece of art under my face, and demand that I criticize it, I will criticize it, and that will be a bad thing".
"I'm nice up to a point that I can be nice. I try to be as nice as I can, but I have trouble looking someone in the eye and not saying what I believe to be the truth".
"I would come in with something, I would show it to people, they'd say, 'that's great', and I'd say, 'I know'. And, then they'd say go to hell'. I'd say, 'Look you don't think I know it's good? It's good. What's the big deal?'".
"I'm liked by tougher people. I'm not liked necessarily by weaker people. People who are too sensitive, people who are concerned about criticism. I'm not an easy guy".
"When a person is at the end of the line, 'I can't do anything else', call Neal. And then we turn things around, and everybody rallies".
"I design amusement park rides. I know engineering. I know science and sociology. To think of oneself simply as an artist, is really a limited sort of thing".
"The idea of Neal as an artist as opposed to a writer is very odd to me. I think of myself as a storyteller. And one of the reasons why people hold my stuff close to them is because, it's one thing to draw pretty pictures, and it's another thing to create a story".
Neal On Those That Worship The Ground He Walks On : "That's because I walk in very special places. I don't walk about those cold cracks".
Neal On Science : "My science project isn't exactly a science project. Because I think it's a very successful theory of everything. They talk about science as the theory of everything, how it all works. I think I have figured it out".
"The answer is that I know there is a lot of truth to the study of religion. Maybe if I prove it is possible to show how the universe works, maybe people will be interested in the religion"."
"They only had geology to look at. But, to be able to defend your point of view, they would have to know all the other sciences. So what I did was study all the other sciences. Cause nothing can stop me".
Next time we will hear about how he views his comics being studied, and his favorite inker (just one guess)...
John!
False modesty is the one tool Adams doesn't have in his arsenal. It is equal parts refreshing and off-putting. However, I have found myself as captivated by his verbal pats on the back, as his classic drawings. So, I've listened to every podcast, watched every YouTube video, and read every interview Neal has given in the last few years. From time to time, I will post some of his choice quotes. That way you can enjoy the wisdom of an all time great. To kick things off-
Neal On His Philosophy : "If you make your way through to me and shove a piece of art under my face, and demand that I criticize it, I will criticize it, and that will be a bad thing".
"I'm nice up to a point that I can be nice. I try to be as nice as I can, but I have trouble looking someone in the eye and not saying what I believe to be the truth".
"I would come in with something, I would show it to people, they'd say, 'that's great', and I'd say, 'I know'. And, then they'd say go to hell'. I'd say, 'Look you don't think I know it's good? It's good. What's the big deal?'".
"I'm liked by tougher people. I'm not liked necessarily by weaker people. People who are too sensitive, people who are concerned about criticism. I'm not an easy guy".
"When a person is at the end of the line, 'I can't do anything else', call Neal. And then we turn things around, and everybody rallies".
"I design amusement park rides. I know engineering. I know science and sociology. To think of oneself simply as an artist, is really a limited sort of thing".
"The idea of Neal as an artist as opposed to a writer is very odd to me. I think of myself as a storyteller. And one of the reasons why people hold my stuff close to them is because, it's one thing to draw pretty pictures, and it's another thing to create a story".
Neal On Those That Worship The Ground He Walks On : "That's because I walk in very special places. I don't walk about those cold cracks".
Neal On Science : "My science project isn't exactly a science project. Because I think it's a very successful theory of everything. They talk about science as the theory of everything, how it all works. I think I have figured it out".
"The answer is that I know there is a lot of truth to the study of religion. Maybe if I prove it is possible to show how the universe works, maybe people will be interested in the religion"."
"They only had geology to look at. But, to be able to defend your point of view, they would have to know all the other sciences. So what I did was study all the other sciences. Cause nothing can stop me".
Next time we will hear about how he views his comics being studied, and his favorite inker (just one guess)...
John!
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