The Batman presents arguably the most realistic take on The Dark Knight in the movies yet. And this fidelity to realism in modern Batman adaptations stems largely from Neal Adams, whose photorealistic art style played a major role in modernizing Batman in the early 1970s. Adams ed away last week, leaving behind a monumental legacy of timeless art and a tireless commitment to fighting for creators' rights.
The best Adams comic books brought a highly detailed art style that revolutionized the way superhero comics depicted characters. Renowned comic book artists of the '80s, '90s, and beyond took inspiration from Adams' best comic books for Marvel, DC, and later his Continuity Comics. His lasting contributions to Batman, the X-Men, Green Lantern, and Green Arrow not only influenced later comics but their depictions in movies and television as well.
Green Lantern #87
Adams helped create many great characters in DC Comics lore, including John Stewart. Green Lantern #87, written by Adams' frequent collaborator Denny O'Neill, introduces one of the first Black superheroes in the DC universe.
As with many of Adams' best comic book issues, this book provides realistic art and for the time, a realistic reflection of a changing world. John Stewart factors heavily in the mythos of Green Lantern comics, and also appears in other media like the Justice League Unlimited animated series.
Batman #234
Batman #234 ranks among the best Adams comic issues for bringing back Two-Face after a very long absence. The best Two-Face comics owe a great deal to this issue, which reimagines the iconic character as a serious threat with deep connections to Batman.
Adams contributed to the revitalization of Batman in the 1970s along with O'Neill. Batman #234 embodies their partnership, which reintroduced classic characters and introduced many new ones.
Avengers #96
The Kree-Skrull War takes place between The Avengers #93–97 and stands as one of the best Avengers comics events ever. Issue #96 gives fans the penultimate battle, with Adams delivering his best takes on the Avengers as they head into space.
The cosmic scope of the storyline benefited from Adams' photorealistic art style, greatly enhanced by his longtime inker Tom Palmer. Adams didn't finish out the arc, but his contribution remains essential to a story that influenced later comics and the MCU.
X-Men #59
The best Adams comics often feature signature scenes for characters that fans never forget. Cyclops fights alone against the Sentinels in an unforgettable moment for the character in X-Men #59, in the book's most dynamic art to date.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Adams nearly saved the X-Men from cancellation with his new and vital art style. However, at the time, information on sales arrived slowly back to publishers. The book went into reprints with issue #67 before ultimately being revitalized with Giant-Size X-Men #1.
The Brave and the Bold #85
Adams contributed a lot of iconic characters and designs to superhero comics. The Brave and the Bold #85 counts among the best Adams comics ever for introducing his updated Green Arrow, a look that would go on to become the character's signature style.
Adams created the now-classic Errol Flynn style look, complete with goatee, in this classic issue. He went on to make Green Arrow a powerful and trailblazing character in many great comics that followed not long after this one.
Green Lantern #85
Adams contributed an iconic cover and story in Green Lantern #85. This famous issue provided the first real depiction of the serious issue of drug addiction in comic books with Green Arrow discovering that his ward Speedy was using.
This monumental development benefitted from Adams' hyper-detailed approach to art. He rendered Speedy as fatigued and hollowed by his experience in perhaps the best Green Lantern comic book of the 1970s.
Batman #244
Batman #244 features some of Adams' best work during his legendary run on the title. The issue continues the introduction of Ra's al Ghul, one of the greatest Batman villains ever, as well as his daughter Talia. Both figure heavily in the lore of Batman that followed.
This issue, written by O'Neill, includes some of the most iconic images of Batman from this period. His shirtless duel with Ra's in the desert created a template for a more realistic Batman that trickled into later comics and other media, especially the movies.
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali
Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, officially All-New Collectors' Edition #C-56, brought together two of the biggest pop culture figures of the 1970s in Superman and heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. The comic gave Adams a chance to show one of the biggest fights in comic book history.
Adams' realistic style and attention to the body pay off enormous dividends in his depiction of the very real Ali fighting the mythic Superman. The story, pitting the two heroes against an alien invasion, comes off as silly but the art remains legendary.
X-Men #58
In X-Men #58, Adams helps introduce Havoc, one of the most powerful X-Men in the comics. He does so in iconic fashion, with an all-time great cover that showcases Adams' talent for graphic design even in the earliest days of his career.
The iconic cover incorporates Havoc's signature power of generating energy blasts in a visually striking way. The costume design also ranks among Adams' most interesting creations and has become an enduring part of Havoc's character.
Batman #251
For many fans, Batman #251 ranks not only as a great Adams comic book but also an important comic in DC Comics history. This issue brought back the Joker after several years of being out of the comics entirely, redefining the villain for a new era.
Also written by O'Neill, this issue forms a cornerstone in the complete tonal shift of Batman and his Rogues Gallery away from the goofy aesthetic of the Silver Age and the Adam West series. This more realistic take led to the popular conception of Batman as 'The Dark Knight.'
