Portrait of the artist as a younger man
Portrait of the artist as a younger man

Next February, DC Comics will be offering an “open to buy” series of variant covers drawn by Neal Adams! These covers don’t require any order minimums or ratios; retailers can order whatever amount they desire!

I’m no expert on Adams’ catalog, but some of these covers are inspired by his earlier iconic work, such as the “Speedball Speedy” cover for Green Lantern/Green Arrow #85Superman #233, and Action Comics #400. I managed to identify many of the original covers, but I’ll let our intrepid readers identify the rest!

The Grand Comics Database lists 889 covers by Neal Adams, and I’m certain DC could commission another series based on other covers he drew and designed!

If you click the links below, you’ll be directed to Diamond Previews, where the preliminary pencil sketches can be seen, along with the catalog copy.

[NOTE TO RETAILERS AND COLLECTORS: the order numbers listed below should read “DEC” not “NOV”.]

From the Diamond Previews Retailer Order Form dated December 2015:

NEAL ADAMS VARIANTS

The following titles feature an Open To Buy Variant Edition by Neal Adams which may be ordered in any quantity:

JUSTICE LEAGUE_VAR_48-5
JUSTICE LEAGUE: DARKSEID WAR SPECIAL #1 • NOV150217 [Original]

JLA_VAR_8
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #8 • NOV150220 [Original]

AQU_VAR_49
AQUAMAN #49 • NOV150222 [Original]

CYB_VAR_8
CYBORG #8 • NOV150225 [Original]

DTHSTR_VAR_15
DEATHSTROKE #15 • NOV150228 [Are those real people on the cover? I think they look like notable DC staffers, but I don’t want to guess.] (Original)

FLASH_VAR_49
THE FLASH #49 • NOV150232 [A word balloon! On a DC cover!]

GA_VAR_49
GREEN ARROW #49 • NOV150234 [original]

MM_VAR_9
MARTIAN MANHUNTER #9 • NOV150237 [That’s a lot of pencilling. I suspect this will be inked digitally, otherwise the graphite will prevent the ink from adhering to the board.]

RH_ARSENAL_VAR_9
RED HOOD/ARSENAL #9 • NOV150244

STRFR_VAR_9
STARFIRE #9 • NOV150246 [Original]

TT_VAR_17
TEEN TITANS #17 • NOV150249 [Original]

TITANSHUNT_VAR_5
TITANS HUNT #5 • NOV15251

TELOS_VAR_5
TELOS #5 • NOV150254 [Original]

WW_VAR_49
WONDER WOMAN #49 • NOV150256 [Original]

BM_SUP_VAR_29
BATMAN/SUPERMAN #29 • NOV150261 [Original]

ACT_COM_VAR_49
ACTION COMICS #49 • NOV150263

SM_WW_VAR_26
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #26 • NOV150265 [Original]

SM_VAR_49
SUPERMAN #49 • NOV150268 [Original]

SM_LOIS_CLK_VAR_5
SUPERMAN: LOIS & CLARK #5 • NOV150270 [original]

BM_VAR_49
BATMAN #49 • NOV150272

DETECTIVE_VAR_49
DETECTIVE COMICS #49 • NOV150281

GRYSN_VAR_17
GRAYSON #17 • NOV150284   [Original]

ROB_SOB_var_9
ROBIN, SON OF BATMAN #9 • NOV150290

WAR_VAR_9
WE ARE ROBIN #9 • NOV150292

GL_VAR_49
GREEN LANTERN #49 • NOV150294

SINESTRO_VAR_20
SINESTRO #20 • NOV150297 [Original]

7 COMMENTS

  1. these are pure comics crack. The Sinestro one in particular. Looks like Sinestro just did 9/11 and is real gleeful about it.

  2. Re; Martian Manhunter #9 Variant.

    This image is based on Adams’ cover for Batman 232. The figure in background was reproduced from the pencils by shooting it as a halftone. Only the two figures in the foreground were inked. I suspect the variant cover will be handled the same way. If he wanted to ink the background figure he could lightbox it on vellum.

  3. This art is fantastic, but is such a waste. I’d love to see Adams tackle real DC heroes in their real costumes instead of these Nu52 posers. Ugh. Why does Superman have his S-Shield on his chest and his belt? Does he have to look down and remind himself what it looks like? Nu52 costume design is ugly. Adams should have stuck with the good costumes for this project, like Darwyn Cooke did recently. I may have actually bought some of those.

  4. Jerry Smith , “real DC heroes” , thanks for letting me know , I always thought , this whole comic book heroes thing was fiction. I had no idea they really existed , I must read the newspaper more.

  5. Does anyone here know…if these “Neal Adams Pencil only covers,” will be on the glossy-cheap paper DC uses for their standard comic book covers? Or, on the Bristol like cover-board, that most companies like Marvel and DC are currently using for their “Blank Comic Book Covers.”
    Thank You.

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