When DC Comics tapped writer Jeremy Adams to take over the The Flash ongoing series back in 2021, I knew immediately he’d knock it out of the park due to his stellar work and track record on various DC animated projects over the years. Sure enough, Adams not only penned some of the most best stories for the Scarlet Speedster in recent years but most importantly restored fan-favorite speedster Wally West to his former glory. Though his tenure on The Flash title came to an end back in 2023, his comics career has not slowed down a bit. He’s become a valuable contributor DC’s publishing plans penning multiple titles including a new Aquaman ongoing series, as well as a Green Lantern series spotlighting iconic Lantern Hal Jordan as well as co-writing DC’s recently launched Green Lantern Corps series.
So it’s no surprise that DC publishing recently tapped Adams for a multi-year exclusive contract. The Prescott, Arizona native has certainly come a long way. The Beat had the immense pleasure of chatting with Adams about his DC exclusive contract, his earlier attempts to break into the comics industry, and much more!
Taimur Dar: First off, congratulations on the DC exclusive contract. I make it no secret how much I loved your work first in animation and the last few years in comics. So this exclusive contract isn’t surprising to me. Did you ever expect it?
Jeremy Adams: I had no idea. I’m very grateful and humbled by it. My life has been a freelancer forever as far as comics and movies and stuff. That comes with its own internal crisis management trying to find work. To have them come to me and say, “We want you to stay and work with us,” is a huge vote of confidence that I don’t take lightly. I’m very grateful and hopefully they don’t regret it. [Laughs].
Taimur Dar: Even though the majority of your comics career has mostly been for DC, you’ve written for Marvel in the past and Flash Gordon ongoing series right now at Mad Cave Studios which you signed on for only a certain number of issues. Does the DC exclusive affect any other projects
Jeremy Adams: That was it. Flash Gordon was kind of the only thing I was doing outside DC as far as comic work. There were things I was pitching and trying to do that I think I was getting closer to that I had to put on the backburner. I’m just really excited to be able to focus on DC. Honestly, they’re some of the sweetest people. DC is having a really cool moment not just internally in the comics with [editor-in-chief] Marie [Javins] and the Absolute Universe, but James Gunn and Peter Safran coming in. I think Jim Lee has a holistic way to make them all symbiotic with each other. Just to be a small part of that and live through that is such a [blast] as a comic fan.
Taimur Dar: I totally agree with you regarding DC’s holistic approach towards comics and other media. Though I understand why, whether it’s DC or Marvel, I’m not always fond when the comics publishing changes characters to match the version in movies and television or try to follow the direction of the studios.
Jeremy Adams: I think comics should lead the way in so many things. The reason those movies existed is because comics existed and those creators. There’s something about them that struck a chord. To me, the more successful versions of comic book movies are the ones that stay true to the core of those comics. The most successful movie to me is the Christopher Reeve Superman movie. Even the [Michael] Keaton Batman was such a big deal. The Dark Knight and Batman Begins had a Frank Miller vibe as well as the Daredevil series. Not to criticize anything in particular, but I feel like the minute it’s, “Well, this is the way they cast this in the movie so let’s reflect that in the comics,” I think it always backfires a hundred percent of the time. To be fair, I’m always a super comic nerd who gets upset when people change hair color. I get weirdly antagonistic. [Laughs].
Taimur Dar: I didn’t realize how long it’s been since Aquaman had his own ongoing series until they announced you were launching a new ongoing series. How did this new Aquaman book come about?
Jeremy Adams: They asked me to do an issue of Batman: Brave and the Bold with Jackson Hyde and Miss Martian. I’m the “Mikey Likes It” of comics so I’ll say yes to anything. I mentioned this idea of the Blue and Ben Mears was like, “Dude, that’s too big of an idea for this. You should think about pitching that as an Aquaman book.” I just kept thinking about it, so I texted by editor Paul Kaminski and I said, “If you ever want a pitch on Aquaman, I’d love to pitch you something.” He wrote back that they’ve been thinking of this book and I’d be perfect for it. So we got together and talked about it. Paul and I have this unique relationship where I listen to his wants and he listens to mine. We battle it out and sometimes it can be adversarial, but I have such an affection for him and I hope he has an affection for me. There is some sort of alchemy that comes out of it. This story is far field from what I think normal Aquaman books would be considered. But I’m having a fun time playing in the waters.
Taimur Dar: You wrote my headline right there!
Jeremy Adams: [Laughs].
Taimur Dar: Awhile back you and artist Travis Mercer were sharing pitch art for a potential DC young heroes book. I’m curious what happened with that?
Jeremy Adams: I’ve been saying I’ve been wanting to do a younger in-continuity book with young heroes. Travis was looking for something to do and we tried to put a pitch together. We were putting it out and trying to show that people were excited about it. That might not have been the way to go but I’m newer to this! People internally didn’t respond to it but that’s okay. We took a swing. And I think it was fun to see that Travis’ art is at such a level. I would write the heck out of it and sell it door to door if they let me.
Taimur Dar: I pointed this out on social media, but I love the fact that you put in the character of Principal Cunningham from the Battle of the Super Sons animated movie you wrote into Green Lantern #11 a few months back.
Jeremy Adams: Obviously you know that Super Sons movie is one of my favorite things I’ve ever got to be a part of. I thought that would be hilariously interconnected. I’m always playing to see how I can connect the animation world to the comics world, especially since I’m from the animation world. Obviously Razer is in Green Lantern and Hawkwoman is showing up in GLC. I love Easter eggs like that. I love that people like you would go, “Oh my gosh! That’s from this!”
Taimur Dar: Obviously, you’re relatively new to comics having come from animation and television but in doing my research I didn’t realize you tried to break into the comics over a decade ago by pitching for the Batwing book.
Jeremy Adams: Because it was the only thing I was offered. I befriend Mike Marts who was the editor of the Bat Office and I was working at a toy company as an assistant. I had met him but I think the only thing I had done was Green Lantern: The Animated Series. I don’t even think the second show I had worked on, Monsuno, had some out. He said, “If you want to pitch on this, I’ll happily hear it.” I still have the pitch somewhere. My biggest problem with Batwing was the same problem with War Machine in a way was I didn’t want to recognize him as a knockoff character of another character. Why should I care about this character? I had this thing where he is framed for murder and he has to go on this worldwide adventure to clear his name and the entire Bat Family is trying to take him down. But through that, we see that he is clever and interesting in his own right as a character and more than capable as an individual rather than someone who gets financed by Bruce Wayne.
Taimur Dar: I believe you’ve said you have at least one more animated direct-to-video project in the pipeline. Is your main focus right now comics or do you have any television and animation projects on the horizon?
Jeremy Adams: My main focus I would say is comics but I still do a lot in animation. I don’t think I could ever let those two loves die. If you know me in any amount you know I have a very large capacity in terms of how much I can write and how much I love to write. So far I’ve hit all my deadlines. Jim [Krieg] always said to me, “You didn’t think writing was the job? Writing is fun. You get paid for the notes.” I’m having a great time. I really love comics and it’s incredibly satisfying. With animation I turn in the script and two years later it comes out. So there’s not an immediacy to it. The limited amount of live-action television I’ve been able to do is very satisfying too.
But there’s an immediacy to comics I really love of turning in a script and getting art back very quickly. Television is very collaborative but limited in its collaboration. That’s why it was so fun working with Warner Animation. There wasn’t such a huge hierarchy above you that you were getting inundated with so many notes that it just watered down the project to the point where you didn’t care about it. Often it was just me, Jim and whoever the producer was like Bruce Timm or Rick [Morales]. It was a hivemind of creativity. We would get notes but they were so sparing and usually very constructive. It’s very much the same in comic books where it feels like you’re putting on a show every month.
Taimur Dar: Gotta ask if you’ve ever thought about working on creator-owned comics?
Jeremy Adams: Oh yeah. I got really close to doing one last year and then I chickened out. I felt it was too stupid. [Laughs]. Comics, especially as an individual, are fairly expensive. I pitched a bunch of creator-owned [books] to different publishers who weren’t interested. I thought I’d do a Kickstarter but if I did, I want to make sure I was far enough along that if someone wanted to invest in me I wouldn’t have them waiting a year to get their books. I got so self-conscious about it and in my head that I paralyzed myself. I definitely have some ideas. I just have to get over the fear of failure.
Taimur Dar: It seems fitting you are writing the Green Lantern and wearing a Green Lantern hat during this interview since Lanterns are known for their ability to overcome great fear.
Jeremy Adams: This is one of the many reasons why I would never have a ring.
[Laughter]
