...or Meeting Neal Adams...again

Two years ago, while attending Philadelphia Wizard World 2012, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Stan Lee. Anyone who has seen Stan in the past few years knows a meeting with him only lasts a few seconds. The amazing part about it was how I met him the first time. On the first day he attended the con, during his first signing I was escorted to the front of the line. How could it get better than that?

Let's flash forward to NYCC 2013. I was getting signatures for CGC to witness. The one I chose for Neal Adams to sign was Superman Unchained #1 by Scott Snyder, the Neal Adams Variant. He charged $20. I also wanted a signature in a sketch book I was currently filling and didn't mind paying the additional $20 to have it done. It's what he said while doing it that had me disappointed and trepidatious about meeting this living legend a second time.

Flash forward again, this time to Wizard World 2014. I was able to walk around the convention hall much earlier than anyone who purchased tickets courtesy of Small Basket Studios. During my stroll of the floor I saw Neal Adams and felt that maybe the third time would be the charm.

His table was four booths long. A quick conversation had him notify me that he needed some help for Thursday and Friday. He already had a young lady; he just needed one more worker. I felt, why not, even before I found out I was to get paid. During this short time I met his wife (a wonderful woman) and Buzz (dare I say his protégé).

I paid attention to the job I was assigned, but every chance I had, I listened to his conversation with the fans. He told stories, he listened to stories, and he signed comic books and sketched the magic he does so well. I learned a little more about Neal those two days. It was the third day when I talked to Buzz, I learned so much more.

Continuity Studios, originally known by the name Continuity Graphics Associates, was the creator-formed company by Neal Adams and Giordano. This company has served as an art packager for Charlton Comics, Marvel Comics, and Neal Adams' own Continuity.

Continuity Studios is still around today. They are a full service, editorial facility, which means they do more than just help get your comic books out there. Neal Adams travels the convention circuit for a myriad of reasons, one major one being that a surprising amount of people count on him. Stan Lee's signature is between $65 and $80, his catch phrases considerably more. Neal Adams' charges twenty for a signature for anything you bring to him, but if you buy a print he will sign it for free, even personalize it. A picture with the legend will also cost $20, but before you think he is whoring out his name, let me assure you he is not.

We all have our expenses, Neal is no different, but the one thing I did find out was incredibly honorable and respectable, and now less than a year later after seeing him at the NYCC 2013, I might still not like what he said, but I understand and respect it.

Continuity Studios would not be around if not for Neal, and I don't mean his part in creating it. I mean that it is his generosity that bankrolls the business. In today's world, most businesses would close, but not with Neal at the helm. The storm has approached and instead of giving up, he tirelessly travels from city to city, convention to convention, and store to store, not asking for money from his fans, but willing to trade his artwork and name for our hard earned cash.

The initial feeling I had from him left me feeling cheated, but not after two days of working with the legend and understanding a bit more, not to mention learning how influential he was. I did finish my con experience by purchasing a book that fit in with my newly acquired desire to get any book from April of '72. It happened to be a book he inked the cover on, and I happily handed over my $20 in front of a CGC witness, especially since I know it's going to someplace worthy.

Thanks for Reading

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