Roy Thomas, the legendary Marvel Comics writer and editor who worked with Neal Adams on Adams’ iconic runs on both X-Men and Avengers, including the Kree-Skrull War in the pages of The Avengers, paid tribute to his collaborator in the wake of the shocking news that Adams has passed away at the age of 80.
Thomas sent out a message on Facebook via his manager, John Cimino, who regularly shares Thomas’ comments on major news events, like new movies based on Thomas’ past comic book work or, more sadly, the passing of historic comic book figures (as Thomas is also one of the greatest comic book historians we’ve ever had, which can be seen in his magazine celebrating comic book history, Alter Ego, from TwoMorrows Publishing).
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Thomas opened by noting that, “I was profoundly saddened today to learn that my longtime colleague Neal Adams had passed away.” He then described Adams’ impact as a comic book artist, “Neal was one of the handful of great comicbook artists to come out of the 1960s… or, it could well be argued, out of any decade. His work first on Deadman and the Spectre, soon on Batman, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Inhumans at DC and Marvel expanded the range of what could be expected in comic art, as he combined the flourish of such action kings as Jack Kirby with the more realistic approach of such masters as Reed Crandall and others. Realism, romanticism, dynamic… Neal had a full quiver, that never went empty of new arrows to amaze and astound us.”
Thomas then discussed his specific experience working with Adams on X-Men, Inhumans (in Amazing Adventures), Conan and Avengers, “Working with him off and on for several years in the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, I found him both an inspiration (in terms of talent) and a challenge (in terms of deadlines) to work with. We often had problems, we occasionally “had words,” but I think we always had respect for each other. One evening in late 1972, when I was at a low point in my personal life, my first wife having walked out earlier that day, I mentioned my situation to Neal in a phone call (I forget which of us called the other), and he was there 15 or so minutes later by cab, giving me friendship and comfort that I’ve always remembered and appreciated, even though the darker days that came between us only two or three years ago.”
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Over the years, Adams and Thomas have had some conflicting takes on exactly who did what during their time working together, with Adams making these conflicts more public in recent years with all the attention being paid to the Avengers with the recent blockbuster Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Thomas mentioned his last time seeing Adams (an incidental run-in at the premiere of Avengers: Endgame) and noted that they politely said hello to each other with Thomas adding, “Some things–lots of things, actually–are bigger than comic books and the nebulous credits therefor. And I like to think that Neal’s and my relationship was one of those things.”
Adams closed by stating, “He’ll be missed, sure. How could he not be? He was, after all, a bit bigger than life, almost a force of nature. However, in another sense, it will be hard to miss him–because he’ll still be here, his artwork reprinted endlessly and deservedly, his influence radiating out directly and indirectly to affect new generations. He knew that, I believe, and so I cannot but believe that he went to his end a fulfilled man. None of us can ask for more out of life.”
Source: Facebook
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