Comic book artist Neal Adams dies. He drew some of the most iconic characters you know

A page from a Spider-Man comic is the most expensive in history 1:21

(CNN) --

Iconic comic book artist Neal Adams died Thursday in New York at the age of 80, according to his daughter Zeea Adams Moss and daughter-in-law Saori Adams.

Adams worked with DC and Marvel comics in the 1960s and 1970s, drawing characters such as Batman, Superman, the Avengers, and the X-Men.

He was one of the creative forces behind the Green Lantern/Green Arrow series of the early 1970s, where they tackled social issues like drug addiction and racism.

His son, Josh Adams, said in a Facebook post that his father passed away at 2 a.m. Thursday.

"His career was defined by an unparalleled artistic talent and an unwavering character that led him to constantly fight for his peers and for those most in need. He would become known in the comics industry as one of the most influential creators of all time and advocate for social rights and creators," Josh Adams said in the post.

His daughter, Zeea Adams Moss, told CNN that her father's death was unexpected.

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In a statement, DC Comics called Neal Adams "one of the most acclaimed artists to have contributed to the comics industry."

Neal Adams works on a sketch in New York in 2008.

Adams was born on June 5, 1941, and received his artistic training at the School of Industrial Arts in New York, according to the statement.

At age 21, he began drawing Ben Casey's syndicated newspaper strip and in 1967 moved to DC Comics, where he drew covers for war comics and contributed stories to The Adventures of Jerry Lewis and The Adventures of Bob Hope.

"His big break came a year later, when he started drawing Batman. The artist showed a natural affinity for the Dark Knight, and in 1970, DC publisher Julius Schwartz assigned the Batman comics to Neal and writer Dennis O' Neil," the statement read.

Jim Lee, editor and chief creative officer at DC, praised Adams' illustrations of the Dark Knight.

"Neal Adams was an incredible illustrator, he changed comics. I loved his take on Batman. He was agile, acrobatic and dynamic. Neal's work continues to inspire me. It's a huge loss for the entire industry," Lee said in a statement.

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