Chicago Wizard World Comic Con Pre-Order Art

Because we had such a great time in Chicago at the C2E2 Convention, we have just added the Chicago Wizard World Convention August 9th through 12th. I've really gotten into this thing of preparing drawings before the Cons and finishing them up at the table for the people who pre-ordered them. It's much better than using my time in the evenings, while my family would like me to join them to see the town. Don't get me wrong. I get it that doing sketches at the table is cool. But having to send drawings by mail a week or more after a show, not so great. Necessary in cases, but not as good as getting them at the show. With the help of my son Jason, we are taking pre-orders so that you can buy a sketch before the show and I will bring it to the show so you can pick it up. You can make the arrangements with Jason by emailing spyda@spydacreations.com. He and I have worked out a way to do sketches at anyones price range so there is something for everyone. Of course, if you are not going to a Convention, you can always order a sketch on commission to be mailed to you as well. I have a convention schedule posted on my site, so be sure to see if I am going to be at a show in your city. I can even finish the inking at the table for those who prefer to watch me draw. Contact spyda@spydacreations.com

San Diego Well, San Diego Comic Con is over. I hate to admit it, but it's probably the best San Diego Comic Con EVER. Not for Artist's Alley, I'm afraid, but for everything else. A lot of business happened, some of which you're probably not interested in, but other business, I'll be telling you about in the weeks to come. On the fan front, there was a lot of happiness, many things worth mentioning, but one I'd like to talk about today in particular. The personalized sketches, or drawings commissions. I managed to get through a number of throughout the convention, which was good. I took a few of the more complicated ones home to do over the next bit of time. But thanks to my son Jason at the studio, there's a new thing happening now that my schedule is becoming a little more solid. People are pre-ordering commission drawings with Jason, so that when I get spare time in the studio, I can get the sketches done before the conventions. I then bring them to the convention, sign them and dedicate them, in some cases finish them off there, and hand them off to the fan when he comes by the booth. It's allowing me to do more of these conventions, because the time is spread-out a little bit for me. It's really a very good idea, and a happy circumstance for me. If you want to do this, the convention schedule is right here on the site, and so is Jason, who can handle this for you. (you can reach him at spyda@spydacreations.com) In fact, I'm just finishing-up a drawing this morning of Thor, Ironman, and Cap. And if I do say so myself, it's a nifty piece of work, and with the time availability last night, I still had time to do a book signing with Denny O'Neill that was goaled at raising money for people who had suffered the ravages of AIDS. Down at The Housing Project, a Soho book store that deserves your support. A store that devotes all it's proceeds from volunteered books, donated coffee and pastries, to this wonderful, significant effort. And if today isn't your day to buy a piece of comic book art, and you have a few extra bucks in your pocket, seek-out these efforts in your community, and support them if you can. It all makes for a better world. New additions to the upcoming comic con list will be up soon. I hope to see you. NealAdams

NEAL ADAMS AND DENNY O’NEIL REUNITE!

NEAL ADAMS AND DENNY O’NEIL REUNITE FOR HOUSING WORKS BENEFIT When writer Dennis O’Neil and artist Neal Adams teamed up in the early 1970s, their take on Batman restored the Dark Knight to his brooding roots, and established the version that is reflected in the Chris Nolan blockbuster films. Just as importantly, they introduced social relevance into superhero comics with Green Lantern/Green Arrow, most famously tackling the drug abuse issue, and elevating superheroes to a more adult level. A former crime reporter, O’Neil brought real world grit to superhero comics, while Adams’ photorealistic art style and design brought both a realism and dynamism to the superhero comic book. As an editor, O’Neil edited the Batman comics that introduced Bane, the arch-nemesis of this summer’s The Dark Knight Rises, and played by Tom Hardy. Adams continues to draw comics, most recently with DC Entertainment’s Batman: Odyssey series, and he will next draw The First X-Men for Marvel Comics, which will be written by Christos Gage. Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics (powerhouse Publishing) writer Christopher Irving and photographer Seth Kushner, and Housing Works Bookstore Café, reunite Denny and Neal for a special benefit panel on social relevancy in comics. The event takes place at Housing Works at 126 Crosby Street on July 17th, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Leaping Tall Buildings: The Origins of American Comics outlines the history of comic books through the creators, documented in Irving’s interview-based essays and Kushner’s photography. The Wall Street Journal calls Leaping Tall Buildings “a living history,” while The New York Times considers it “a great survey of many of the talented men and women behind the characters,” and Publisher’s Weekly calls it “nearly as epic as the field’s history itself.” Huffington Post refers to Kushner’s photography as “remarkable.”

The entire family is gearing up for the comic event of the year - the San Diego Comic Convention! I'm bringing a ton a new stuff that will thrill fans of all ages...beautiful original art for any budget, books of some of my favorite work, sketchbooks and gorgeous prints of my best-loved work (including some great kung fu movie posters and a trio of Bruce Lee prints). All three of my sons will be there. Joel with a whole new batch of Lilz prints that are his very best yet. Jason with his fabulous sculptures and the youngest, Josh, will be there signing his Dr. Who sketches and prints. I will be available for signatures, photos and conversation about anything and everything. San Diego is the biggest and the best convention of the year and we're all excited about being there. P.S. The Dark Knight Rises comes out right after the con and I fully expect it to be the best of the three. Especially with all the rumors about Ra's Al Ghul (a villain close to my heart) and even, possibly, maybe, Talia.

Batman Odyssey, Odyssey. If your store did not order enough of the second half of the Batman Odyssey series, you can buy the digital copies at this link: http://www.readdcentertainment.com/search?search=batman+odyssey In a couple of months, the whole 13 chapters will be in a hard cover book from DC. Chapter 13, will blow your mind. But if you don't read the ones before 13, you won't get the impact. Interestingly, you can get the GL/GA's there as well, while you're waiting for DC to reprint the hard covers, which are now selling at outrageous prices wherever you can get them. Who's headed for San Diego? Is it true there are no tickets left? Comic book fans, show your strength. After all, we made all this happen, didn't we? Best Wishes, Neal

Next Up, San Diego! Let me share this headache with you. Hollywood will be there. They will take everyone's attention, and spend millions of dollars giving everyone free stuff. And fans will spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars to stand on lines to get signatures, and photos, while dealers, and artists, watch the wild-eyed movie fans stream by, spending their last money on these rare and wonderful objects, to get that magical signature, and rub elbows with the stars. Kind of tough for the comic book dealers and artists selling their sketches and comic books. How do you stop the madding crowd for a moment, to buy a comic book, and be part of the comic con experience? If any of you out there have any bright ideas, short of giving away comics and going out of business, everyone would love your suggestion. The good part is that there will be tens of thousands of real comic book fans in hog- heaven, getting their sketches, going to panels, buying and even selling comic books, in the midst of the biggest comic book convention on earth. And believe me folks, there is just nothing like it. If you're coming, I will surely see you there. This is not a convention to miss. I'll be talking about 1. Batman Odyssey, 2. First X-Men (Yes, I said "First"). 3. A History Channel project called "Mankind", and if you've seen previews, you know it's going to be mighty fine filmic experience. 4. I'll be talking about "Gladiators and Zombies", Amazon Studios first big foray into big budget films, for which we did the the motions comic. 5. I might even be talking about.....Oreo's....! 6. I'll be talking about "Blood", the last chapter of the first graphic novel. It will be a lot. If you have any question before the show, or any questions, let us know. See you there. Neal Adams

Wow!

We're just back from the Floridasupercon in Miami. Last year they had 8,000 attendees. This year, they had 16,000. Last year, they were over-loaded with Manga and Gamers. This year, by going out of there way to bring-in comic book artists like Rags Morales, the great Carmine Infantino,Howard Chaykin, and little old me, with my sons, Josh and Jason. Fully a third of the folks there were true comic book fans. What a change for the Floridasuperon. They were so full up, they didn't have enough parking space. So they contacted the city, and snipped the lock on a near-by municipal parking lot that wasn't being used. I can't tell you how many fans responded to the Facebook posting I put up, inviting folks to come. But dozens and dozens came because of the Facebook mention.

Dealers and fans, I predict, 32,000 to 35,000 people will be at this con next year. It was a thrill to be part of this.

Hey Miami area! You almost missed the best comic book convention yet! The Floridasupercon. It' Sunday. The word is 16,000 people. Half of them came to our booth, an Hey Miami area! You almost missed the best comic book convention yet! The Floridasupercon. It' Sunday. The word is 16,000 people. Half of them came to our booth, an said hello. The convention is going to be open one more day. Come on down. hello. The convention is going to be open one more day. Come on down. Neal