Romita, born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1930, spent decades drawing the superhero from the comic book series “The Amazing Spider-Man” for the American publisher Marvel, during what came to be called “the silver age” of comics.
“My father, John Romita, passed away peacefully in his sleep this Monday morning,” his son, John Romita Jr, also a comic book artist, wrote on his Instagram account.
“He is a legend in the world of art and it would be an honor for me to follow in his footsteps… He was the greatest man I have ever met,” said Romita Jr, 66.
British cartoonist Sean Phillips, known for collaborations with screenwriter Ed Brubaker on hit noir comics like “The Fade Out” and “Fatale,” wrote on his Twitter account that Romita was “the best Spider-Man artist ever.” “.
Romita worked with the late, legendary Marvel cartoonist Stan Lee, co-creator of several characters, including Spider-Man, who became one of the world’s most beloved fictional heroes.
He also drew titles starring Daredevil, another historical character also created by Lee.
Both Lee and fellow Spider-Man creator Stephen Ditko died in 2018, aged 95 and 90, respectively.
“Improve the stories” of others
In a 2002 interview, Romita said that he was a good fit into Marvel’s creative processes.
“I don’t consider myself a creator. I’ve created many things, but I don’t consider myself a true creator in the Jack Kirby (co-author of the famous Captain America) sense,” Romita told The Comics Reporter.
“But still I always had the ability to improve other people’s stories, other people’s characters. And I think that’s what has allowed me to earn a living for 50 years,” he stressed.
Romita Jr. worked like his father on the Spider-Man and Daredevil comics.
James Gunn, director of Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, expressed his grief on Twitter.
“I am sorry to hear that the great comic book artist John Romita has passed away at the age of 93,” he wrote.
Current Spider-Man writer Dan Slott also paid tribute to Romita.
“I grew up with John Romita’s Spider-Man as my Spider-Man. He was already one of my heroes before I stepped foot in Marvel,” he said.