John Romita Sr., An Original Marvel Legend, Passes Away at 93

Legendary comic artist John Romita Sr. died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 93. His passing was announced via a tweet by his son, John Romita Jr.

I say this with a heavy heart, My father passed away peacefully in his sleep. He is a legend in the art world and it would be my honor to follow in his footsteps. Please keep your thoughts and condolences here out of respect for my family.
He was the greatest man I ever met. pic.twitter.com/Pe2K3ywbWX

— John Romita JR (@JrRomita) June 14, 2023

John Romita Sr. (born January 24, 1930) was a legendary American comic book artist and writer known for his influential work in the comic book industry. He is best known for his significant contributions to Marvel Comics during the Silver Age of Comics.

Romita began his career in the late 1940s working for smaller publishers before joining Timely Comics, which would later become Marvel Comics. He gained recognition for his work on various titles, including romance, crime, and horror comics. However, it was his work on superhero comics that truly left a lasting impact.

One of Romita Sr.'s most notable contributions was his work on The Amazing Spider-Man. Starting with issue #39, Romita Sr.'s distinctive style, characterized by clean lines, dynamic action, and expressive characters, helped define the visual aesthetic of Spider-Man for a generation of readers. He co-created several iconic characters and storylines during his tenure, including the introduction of characters like Mary Jane Watson and the Kingpin.

In addition to his work on Spider-Man, Romita also had notable runs on other Marvel titles, such as Daredevil and Captain America. His artistry and storytelling skills made him one of the most influential comic book artists of his time. He retired from comics in the early 1990s, but he continued to work as an illustrator.

John Romita Sr.'s legacy in the comic book industry is marked by his exceptional talent, artistic contributions, and his role in shaping the Marvel Universe. His work continues to inspire and resonate with comic book fans and creators to this day.

Marvel shared touching tribute to the late legend, celebrating his life and impact on the industry. Creators across industries have shared the impact Romita Sr. had on their lives and careers on Twitter, including a heartfelt story from Dan Slott.

I grew up with John Romita's Spider-Man as my Spider-Man. He was already one of my heroes before I'd ever set foot in Marvel.

When I was an intern in the 90's, it was surreal to me that he worked on staff, and I was in awe seeing him walk through the halls.

One day...
1/7

— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) June 14, 2023

John—it goes without saying that your father was an amazing, beautifully talented draftsman and artist who inspired and entertained so many generations of fans and creators. But for me, he was more than that. Your dad was just an incredible role model whose insightful words… https://t.co/oemxd7Qguz

— Jim Lee (@JimLee) June 14, 2023

Sorry to hear about the great comic book artist John Romita Sr passing at the age of 93. My brother & I wrote Mr. Romita when we were young kids & sent him drawings of superheroes we were working on. He wrote us back, telling us what he liked about the drawings! A truly… pic.twitter.com/VV1slBPmwH

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) June 14, 2023

My condolences go out to his family and friends.