AN OPEN APOLOGY TO neal adams

Neal,

You were right in not giving back my part in Ms. Mystic.

I turned my back on you and her to try to bring a new hope to the world. It was a tough ride as you know and it became tougher since the day I landed in the Middle-East and settled in Israel.

So, if I was to give up because I was afraid of failing, I can't rightly return and claim Ms. Mystic back. My fear should have remained mine alone and not to be thrown on you.

You were also right about my having been like a terrorist.

If a man is given the ability to give new hope to a troubled civilization, and turns his back on his mission - it's as if he let the world be destroyed. That's terrorism at it's worst.

Something about your science project has haunted me over the past few years. It wasn't the science, everything you say and feel about it are true. It's the guts you're showing - the courage to put your reputation and your life on the line in order to fully release the truths you hold. It's the faith you're showing by taking the first step, knowing you might fall a few times and still come back standing tall. That's been very inspiring to me in the same way you inspired me so many years ago as the kid in Lebanon who was set ablaze by your art.

I've been wandering in and out of the Judea Desert by the Dead Sea thinking all this over and over. Getting stronger - learning to walk the walk and talk the talk. I'm in the right place and the right time to help spark the imagination of all who've waited to see the face of the messenger who'll calm the troubled waters.

I'm very sorry about all of the accusations, the lawyers and the pain I may have caused you. I hope you may find it in your heart to forgive me.

See you in the comics, my friend

(PS. Revised excerpt from your website about your science project, http://www.nealadams.com/news2.html, bottom of page.)

This mission is the biggest, most incredible thing I've ever done in my life.

For friends who think I've invested too much of my reputation in this mission and failure if I'm wrong would disgrace me somehow, I say 'don't you worry about it for one minute.'

I'm a big boy and I've done my homework and the fact that I don't resort to the language of rabbis, priests or muftis doesn't mean I don't fully understand the human heart on a basic and profound level. I do.

For those of you who don't think I'm serious about what I do and I'm light meat, do this.

Ask everyone who knows me what impact my determination to elevate comics unto the world stage of cultural events has had on their own aspirations since those days of wandering around the California beaches and the New York streets until today.

I know comics are light and fluffy compared to religion, but I don't make my moves 'till I've dotted my i's and crossed my t's. And yes, I know I'm up against 99.9 percent of the religious community.

But, to be honest, I kinda' like those odds.

And try this - When it's revealed that The One is amongst us...won't that be the hoot?

Neal Adams / Michael Netzer