RIP: John Romita

Comic book artist John Romita - frequently called "John Romita Sr." because his son is likewise a famous comic book artist - passed away this week on June 12, aged 93.

Romita worked at various comic book companies throughout his career but he's certainly best-remembered as a Marvel Comics artist and especially for his work on the Amazing Spider-Man. Romita spent most of the 1970s and 80s as Marvel's art director, shaping the visual look of the entire Marvel Comics line; even after he stepped down from that role he had influenced so many artists that his presence continued to be felt throughout Marvel's line. When people talk about the "Marvel look" or "Marvel style" they are almost certainly referring to Romita's designs.

As a fan of Marvel's 1950s output (particularly the era where the company was known as Atlas) Romita was one of only a handful of remaining Atlas Age artists. He worked in almost every type of story from crime, horror and western to super hero; recurring features of his included Jungle Boy, Western Kid and Captain America -- unfortunately, his Captain America stories were the arch anti-communist stories that made Cap seem so deranged that they were later excised from Cap's continuity. But his 1950s output is best-remembered for all his work in romance comics.

Romita succeeded Steve Ditko on the Amazing Spider-Man; he's been noted (and criticized) for making the cast more conventionally good-looking, swerving away from the more awkward and gangly characters Ditko had drawn. Suddenly, Peter Parker went from looking like an average guy to a teen magazine cover model! I'm certainly one who prefers Ditko's visuals but I think we spider-fans are mostly in agreement that Romita did fine work on Amazing Spider-Man as he was the first to depict Mary Jane Watson, among other landmarks (Ditko had drawn cameos of Mary Jane but hadn't revealed her face). His additions to Spider-Man's antagonists weren't all up to the standards Ditko set, but the Rhino and the Kingpin definitely proved to be durable super-villains; he also gave us the Shocker, Silvermane, Man-Mountain Marko, Hammerhead... and, admittedly, the Kangaroo and the Gibbbon. They weren't all winners.

Still, there's no doubt he was one of the best super hero comic book artists and his legacy is assured; certainly his son has likewise become one of comicdom's greatest artists. Rest in peace, Mr. Romita.