Neal Adams, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Marshall Rogers...and others

[Number 6]

I've been wondering for quite some time now about why some of the great artists from the '70's aren't doing more work in the comics field? And what will it take to have them back in the medium? Has anyone else wondered what a Neal Adams and a Tom Palmer would do with a Geoff Johns or Mark Waid story/script for example? How about Gene Colan on Jonah Hex? Imagine a Michael Wm. Kaluta or a P. Craig Russell on Testament. Let's not forget Barry Windsor Smith on the Legion of Superheroes or the Justice Society of America. I know that I'd pay to buy a six issue (or longer) run of most any superhero comic that they worked on for DC that's a part of current continuity or that anthology/weekly ongoing Adventure Comics book that I'm damn near begging for.

Anyone who originally enjoyed reading stories by these greats and more, as I did, must want to see them grace the pages of DC (well okay, even Marvel) again before they are lost to us. I know that I'm seeing more grays in my temple hairs and my in beard, so I know these fine artists are getting on in age as well. When I think about the talent that we've lost, it just makes me want to see these guys and gals do some new comics work. I'm not talking about the occassional one-page pin-up here and there, but some honest to goodness ongoing work.

Would anyone be interested in buying such comics with these artists on a regular basis, putting out quality work that rivals what they've done previously? How about Berni Wrightson on The Spectre? How about.....

[nolanjwerner]

That would be cool.

Honestly, I think a lot of them have moved on though and aren't all that interested in doing comics. But DC/Marvel should try asking them.

[Thunderstorm]

Neal Adams is working on a theory of the creation of the universe right now, so he's kinda busy.

[GraniteCity]

That would be cool.

Honestly, I think a lot of them have moved on though and aren't all that interested in doing comics. But DC/Marvel should try asking them.Possible that some of them aren't interested, but doing the occasional arc or one shot doesn't have to be a full time job. Most artists could accomodate working on a side project, even if they had a day job.

I know Gene Colan is still available. He did a cover for the recent indie release "Shark Man" and he does commisions. He's still great! Kaluta does covers for Vertigo now and then. I don't know if he's interested in doing a book, but someone should make the offer. Marshall Rogers has done various jobs for DC and Marvel in the last few years. He just put out a story featuring the Black Rider in Marvel Westerns Presents Strange Westerns. So he's a candidate for new projects.

Neal Adams is a very successful commercial artist, so his time to spend on comics projects is limited. Also, for many years he has used a studio with a large group of assistants, so when he does comics what you get isn't entirely Adams. But hey, I'm always interested in any work he's willig to deliver.

Don't forget Bernie Wrightson, another great artist we don't see enough of. Love to see him, Barry Windsor-Smith and the others back in the fold.

[protonik]

Marshall has had some eye trouble from what I understand but has in the last year and a half had a great output with Dark Detective, some Marvel projects etc and they are doing Dark Detective II in the near future.

[D-Mac]

I would kill for a regular Wrightson book. Haven't seen him do anything since Batman/Aliens. Anyone know what he's been up to lately?

[Dav G]

A lot of the most talented artists in comics from the 1970s and 1980s all moved on to non-comics work. Mostly because they could make a *lot* more money in advertising, doing movie storyboards, etc. And the best comic artists...have built-in resumes - their comics work! So they can move on quickly and easily, if they want to.

Only in the last 15 years has it become possible for DC / Marvel stable artists to make salaries above the $100,000 per year line. Nowadays the most popular artists make well over that, especially the ones with their own studios or properties.

Which is why you're starting to see some of these artists drift back into comics work, here and there - Neal Adams, Marshall Rogers, Bernie Wrightson, etc.

[Stressfactor]

I saw an interview with Colan once and he stated flat out that he was tood old to keep up with a monthly pace and still maintain high standards.

He can still do cover images (He did a cover for Zoom Suit as well) and I would imagine that he could still handle a mini-series or something but a regular, day-in-day-out monthly schedule sounds like it would be out.

I can applaud the guy for knowing his limitations and being unwilling to turn in work that would be sub-par.

I thought Neal Adams was working on some super-secret DC project....

As for the others, I imagine that there are many who are in Colan's situation -- suffering from the toll that time takes on all of us.

[Action Ace]

Jose Luis Garcia Lopez is another 70s great that's been getting a lot of work of late. I think George Perez has actually done more interior pages than Jim Lee this year. And, of course, John Byrne had been getting steady work.

[kingofcities]

Bernie Wrightson is working on an upcoming mini-series written by Steve Niles.

Kaluta is doing covers for the new Tales Of The Unexpected series.

http://images.newsarama.com/dcnew/Nov06/dcu_nov/TOTU_Cv2_solicit.jpg

[Punchy]

Neal Adams did some covers at Marvel last year and the year before, on Captain Marvel and Avengers: Finale.

He also penciled some of Giant-Size X-Men and the Young Avengers Special.