When DC Comics tapped author Jeremy Adams to take over the ongoing series The Flash in 2021, I knew right away that he would knock it out of the park for his stellar work and achievements in various DC animation projects over the years. Sure enough, Adams has written some of the best stories for the Scarlet Speedster in recent years, and most importantly, has restored Wally, a fan-favorite Speedster, to his previous glory. His tenure in the Flash title ended in 2023, but his comic career didn’t slow down a bit. He has become a valuable contributor to DC’s publication plans that write multiple titles, including the new Aquaman ongoing series, the iconic Lantern Hal Jordan, and the Green Lantern Series, which co-written the recently released Green Lantern Squadron 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. Beat had great joy in chatting with Adams about his DC exclusive deal, his previous attempts to break into the comics industry, and more!
Taimur Dar: First of all, congratulations on the DC exclusive agreement. How much you love your work first in animation, and how much you haven’t kept it a secret in comics in the last few years. Therefore, this exclusive agreement is not surprising to me. Have you ever expected that?
Jeremy Adams: I didn’t know. I am very grateful and humble for it. My life has been a freelancer forever when it comes to comics, movies, etc. It comes with its own internal crisis management that seeks to find work. To come to me and say, “We want you to stay with us and work with us” is a huge vote of confidence that I will not underestimate. I’m very grateful and hopefully they won’t regret it. (lol).
Taimur Dar: While most of your comics career has been for DC, you’ve written for Marvel in the past, and the ongoing series of Flash Gordon is currently an ongoing series at Mad Cave Studios, which you’ve signed with a certain number of issues. Will DC-only affect other projects?
Jeremy Adams: That’s all. Flash Gordon was like the only thing I did outside of DC when it came to comic work. There was something I was trying to pitch. I’m really looking forward to being able to focus on DC. Honestly, they are some of the sweetest people. DC is having a very cool moment internally in the comic, along with (editor-in-chief) Marie (Jabins) and the absolute universe, but James Gunn and Peter Saffron come in. It’s just a small part of it, and going through it, is like a comic fan (explosion).
Taimur Dar: I fully agree with you about DC’s overall approach to comics and other media. Whether it’s DC or Marvel, I understand why, but I don’t always like when comic publishing tries to change characters to suit film or television versions or follow studio instructions.
Jeremy Adams: I think comics should lead so many things. The reason these films existed is because the comics existed and the creators of them existed. Some have been chorded. For me, more successful versions of comic book movies remain true to the heart of those comics. For me, the most successful film is the Christopher Reeve Superman film. Even Keaton Batman was a huge deal. The Dark Knight and Batman had the Frank Miller vibe and the Daredevil series. I’m not criticizing anything in particular, but I think “Well, this is how they cast this in the film, so let’s reflect that in the comics,” and I think it’s the moment. To be fair, I’m always a super comic nerd and get upset when people change their hair colour. I become strangely hostile. (lol).
Taimur DAR: I didn’t know how long it had been for Aquaman to have his own ongoing series until Aquaman announced he would be releasing a new ongoing series. How was this new Aquaman book born?
Jeremy Adams: They asked me to do Batman issues: Bold with Brave and Jackson Hyde and Miss Martian. I’m “I like Mikey” in the manga, so I say yes to anything. This idea from Blue and Benmears was, “Hey, that’s a huge idea. You should think about selling it as an Aquaman book.” I kept thinking about it, so I sent a text from editor Paul Kaminski and said, “If you want Aquaman a pitch, I want to sell something.” He wrote back that they were thinking of this book and I’m perfect for it. So we got together and talked about it. Paul and I have this unique relationship where he listens to his desires and he hears mine. We fight it and sometimes it can be hostile, but I have that kind of affection for him and hope he has affection for me. Then there’s the alchemy that comes out. This story is far from what I think a normal Aquaman book would be considered. However, I have a great time playing in the ocean.
Taimur Dar: You wrote my headline right away!
Jeremy Adams: (laughs).
Taimur Dar: Some time ago, artist Travis Mercer was sharing pitch art for a potential DC Young Heroes book. Are you interested in what happened?
Jeremy Adams: I’ve said I want to do a young, continuous book with a young hero. Travis was looking for something to do and tried to put the pitch together. We were trying to put it out and show people were excited about it. It may not have been the road, but I’m new to this! People didn’t respond to it internally, but that’s fine. I did a swing. And I think it was fun to see Travis’ art at such a level. I’ll write the one then 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 I put the character of Principal Cunningham from the Super Sons animated film fight I wrote about in Green Lantern #11 a few months ago.
Jeremy Adams: Obviously, you know that Super Sands movies are one of my favorites I have ever had to participate in. I thought it would be hilariously interconnected. Especially since I came from the animation world, I’m always playing around to see if I can connect the animation world to the comic world. Clearly, Razor is in the Green Lantern, and Hawk Woman is showing up in the GLC. I love Easter eggs like that. I love people like you going. That’s about to come! ”
Taimur Dar: Obviously, you’re relatively new to animation and manga from TV, but in my research I didn’t realize that you tried to break into manga by pitching Batwing Book over a decade ago.
Jeremy Adams: That was the only thing I was offered. I became friends with Mike Martz, the editor of the Bat Office, and worked as an assistant at a toy company. I met him and I think the only thing I’ve done is the Green Lantern: Animation series. I don’t think Monsno, the second show I’ve worked on, did a few things. He said, “If you want to sell this, I’m willing to listen to it.” I still have a pitch somewhere. My biggest problem with Batwing was, in a way, the same as the War Machine problem. That meant he didn’t want to recognize him as a mimic character for another character. Why should I care about this character? I had this thing he was framed for murder, and he has to go on this global adventure to clear his name, and the whole bat family is about to defeat him. But through that, we know that he is clever and interesting as a character, and is capable as an individual, not as a person funded by Bruce Wayne.
Taimur DAR: I think you said there was at least one animated video tweed project in the pipeline. Is your main focus now manga, or do you have a TV or animation project on the horizon?
Jeremy Adams: My main focus is on comics, but I still do a lot with animation. I don’t think I can die these two loves. If you know me, if you know me, I have a huge ability in terms of how much I can write and how much I like to write. So far, I have reached all the deadlines. Jim (Krieg) always told me, “Did you not think writing is a job? Writing is fun. You get paid for notes.” I have a great time. I love comics and I’m incredibly satisfied. The script is incorporated in animation and will be released in two years. Therefore, there is no immediacy. The limited amount of live action television I can do is very pleased.
But there is immediacy in comics that I love to incorporate scripts and regain art very quickly. Television is extremely supportive, but its collaboration is limited. That’s why I really enjoyed working at Warner Animation. There wasn’t a very large hierarchy above you, so you were flooded with so many notes that it watered the project to the point where you didn’t mind it. Often it was just me, Jim and the producers were like Bruce Tim or Rick (Morales). It was a high-minded creativity. We get notes, but they were very modest and usually very constructive. It’s very similar in comic books, which feel like they’re doing shows every month.
Taimur Dar: Should I ask if I’ve ever thought about working on a manga owned by a creator?
Jeremy Adams: That’s right. Last year I really got close and then ran through the chickens. I felt it was too stupid. (lol). Comics as an individual are especially expensive. I pitched a bunch of creator-owned (books) to various publishers that I wasn’t interested in. I was thinking I would do Kickstarter, but if that were the case, if anyone wanted to invest in me, I wouldn’t wait a year to get their book. I was so self-conscious about it, and I numbed myself in my head. I definitely have some ideas. We must overcome the fear of failure.
Taimur Dar: Lanterns are known for their ability to overcome great fear, so it seems appropriate to write a green lantern and wear a green lantern hat during this interview.
Jeremy Adams: This is one of the reasons why I never have a ring.
(Laughter)
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