CRIVENS! COMICS & STUFF!: 07/20/14

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS. Copyright DC COMICS

What can I tell you about comicbook artist NEAL ADAMS that you don't already know? Not much, so here are some great cover illustrations instead. Ah, but that's too easy, so let's have a stab at imparting some basic information. Neal Adams was born on June 6th 1941 on Governor's Island in Manhattan. He's a member of the WILL EISNER COMIC BOOK HALL Of FAME and the JACK KIRBY HALL Of FAME, having been inducted on the basis of many impressive contributions to various DC and MARVEL comicbooks down through the years. (I, of course, am a member of the NO-HOPERS HALL Of INFAMY - according to some.)

Along with JULIUS SCHWARTZ and DENNY O'NEIL, he helped restore The BATMAN to his dark, avenging, creature-of-the-night roots, for which fact alone he should be awarded a gold BLUE PETER badge and a big bag of Jelly Babies, in my famously humble opinion. And there's more - but you can look it up for yourselves as my typing finger is getting sore and it's past time for my milk and cookies and my afternoon nap. How will I ever get to sleep? I've only just woken up! Anyway, while a trio of heavenly handmaidens prepare my light repast and ready me for my subsequent slumber, here are some of Neal's covers to make you realise why you'll never be a comicbook artist - unless you're this good.

(I'm sure I'm not the only person crying into my milk right about now. Well, they'll be crying into their own, but you know what I mean.)