John Romita Sr. Died: His 11 Greatest Comics of All Time

John Romita Sr., the iconic comic book artist died on Monday, June 12, 2023, at his Long Island home. He was 93. In his long run at Marvel he helped establish the aesthetic of Spider-Man and helped design some of Marvel’s most beloved characters, including Mary Jane Watson and Wolverine.

His son, John Romita Jr., a comic book artist, announced his father’s death. “I say this with a heavy heart, my father passed away peacefully in his sleep,” Romita Jr. wrote on Twitter. “He is a legend in the art world, and it would be my honor to follow in his footsteps.”

“Millions came to know Marvel through his art, and millions more came to know Peter Parker through the unmistakable bold brushwork Romita brought to his pages,” Marvel said in a statement.

Mr. Romita took up artistic duties on Spider-Man, which was written by Stan Lee, in 1966, after Steve Ditko, the character’s original artist and co-creator, left Marvel. Within a year, the title had risen to become Marvel’s best-seller. Since Spider-Man is his best known work I thought I’d share some of his greatest comic book artwork over the years.

1. Daredevil #16 (1966)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: May, 1966
Official Synopsis: Spider-Man duped into attacking Daredevil! After the Masked Marauder has his goons dress up in Daredevil costumes, New York’s wall-crawler falls for a switch n’ bait against Matt Murdock! Will Daredevil be able to prove his innocence to a fellow hero?

Frank Farnum’s idea of dressing a bad-guy up as a good-guy and having him do crime in the hero’s name is a Marvel trope, but having an army of bad-guys do it at the same time is new. This idea was the brainchild of Frank Farnum, who by day is Nelson and Murdock’s landlord and who also wears a purple hood and becomes The Masked Marauder. Spider-Man is tricked at first and Daredevil meets Spider-Man.

The story involves extended rooftop fights that go nowhere and are ridiculous because Spider-Man has both spider-sense and super-strength. By the end, the heroes figure out the truth and the Daredevil army is defeated and Marauder escapes. Daredevil has some empathy for Spider-Man, but it is too derivative and an obvious marketing ploy to rise above average for Marvel at the time. But it stands out as Romita’s first time illustrating old webhead.

2. The Amazing Spider-Man #39 (1966)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: May 10, 1966
Official Synopsis: Peter Parker never seems to catch a break, at least not under the pencils of legendary artist John Romita.

During Lee and Ditko’s original run, the Green Goblin was one of the most popular villains. He appeared in a few issues, making Hulk illusions and fighting the Crime-Master. The identity of the villain remained a mystery throughout Ditko’s run. When John Romita joined the series, he and Lee worked together to create the reveal of the Goblin’s identity. “How Green Was My Goblin!” was a fantastic narrative that highlighted Romita’s artwork.

The characters were alive and expressive, and the action sequences were spectacular. After the Goblin discovered Spider-Man’s identity, the stakes were raised even higher, and Romita joined the book, the stakes were raised even higher.

Romita’s lines are direct and to the point, never missing a beat. His are also gave Ditko’s scrawnier Peter Parker a more chiseled makeover, which was typical of the artist’s tendency for sketching Hollywood-looking leads on the covers of romance serials.

3. The Amazing Spider-Man #42 (1966)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: November 1966
Official Synopsis: The first full appearance of Mary Jane Watson! After multiple attempts by Aunt May to set them up, Peter Parker meets Mary Jane Watson for the first time. Plus, Spider-Man robs a bank?!
Spidey is framed for a crime he did not commit, the Rhino nearly escapes captivity, and John Jameson (with newly gained superpowers) challenges Spider-Man to a fight in ASM #42. This issue is noteworthy because it features Mary Jane Watson’s first full appearance.

MJ was taunted for a variety of reasons, always hiding behind flowers or other objects. Finally, on the final page of the issue, Peter and MJ were set up on a date. One of the most iconic panels in comic books is MJ’s dramatic entrance with the words “Face it, Tiger, you just hit the jackpot!” beautifully illustrated by Romita.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man #47 (1967)

Readers envision Kraven the Hunter as centered and powerful, dressed in his lion’s mane vest and surrounded by spider-sized heroes. In other words, TASM #47’s cover.

This portrayal of the violent game hunter is especially poignant because he was haunted by the memory of his mother’s spider-infested asylum, and here, the hunter stands confident and tall, as if poised to tame the Wall-Crawler.

5. The Amazing Spider-Man #50 (1967)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: July 01, 1967
Official Synopsis: One of the most iconic Spider-Man stories – SPIDER-MAN NO MORE! Peter becomes frustrated with his life and decides to throw away his Spider-Man outfit and quit being Spider-Man. What will it take to remind Peter that with great power comes great responsibility?

With Aunt May’s declining health, Peter was unable to concentrate and his grades suffered. He also declined a date with Gwen Stacy, citing a lack of distractions. The final straw came when he turned on the TV and heard Jameson’s anti-Spider-Man tirade again. Enough was enough, and Peter resolved to step down as Spider-Man.

From Spidey’s suit in the garbage to the cover art, ASM#50 contains several famous imagery. The plot has been adapted in TV shows and films such as Spider-Man 2 and remains an important element of Spidey’s history and persona. Without Romita’s wonderful art to depict Peter’s every feeling, the issue wouldn’t be nearly as memorable.

6. The Amazing Spider-Man #56 (1968)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: January, 1968
Official Synopsis: Using the nullifier device he stole Doc Ock convinces Spider-Man that he is one of the Doctor’s henchmen!

While the early Lee and Ditko stories were typically limited within a single issue, Romita’s Spider-Man issues saw the start of multi-issue arcs that sometimes spanned four or five issues. Doctor Octopus reappeared in issue #53 and fought Spider-Man numerous times in the months that followed. Spider-Man’s memories had been obliterated, and he believed he was Doc Ock’s criminal associate. Issue #56 delves into the consequences of Peter’s memory loss. The Daily Bugle had hard evidence that Spider-Man was a criminal, while Peter’s family believed he’d been kidnapped or dead. For months, Lee and Romita kept the tension high, creating a thrilling and fascinating storyline.

This storyline and the various twists and turns it took were fantastic. We got to see a lot of various aspects to Peter, and they were all fascinating. Doc Ock demonstrates his scientific and cunning mind at work as Spider-Man is befuddled and frustrated! Overall, a must-read, and one of my favorite story lines from the 1960s.

7. The Amazing Spider-Man #59 (1968)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr., Don Heck
Release Date: April, 1968
Official Synopsis: Mary Jane has taken a job as a go-go dancer. But Peter soon discovers that the club MJ works for is actually a front for a criminal enterprise, where a man named Dr. Winkler brainwashes his victims!

Not all of the best Spider-Man comics were action-packed. As shown in issue #59, John Romita and Stan Lee investigated Peter’s social life in the late 1960s and early 1970s. While the issue included the Kingpin’s secret, brainwashing dance club, the majority of the tale concentrated on Peter and his social group. Spider-Man comics from the 1960s were dubbed “Archie comics with superpowers” because of the love triangle between Gwen, MJ, and Peter. ASM #59 contains some of that drama, with Gwen and MJ taking the show.

The Spider-Man/Stacy relationship is rooted in the cover to #60, where Kingpin is supposed to be a normal guy. However, Kingpin’s men have hypnotized Captain Stacy into committing crimes, which causes Peter Parker torment. After Captain Stacy snaps out of his brainwashing, Kingpin orders a hit on both him and his daughter, but instead plans to drop a vat of boiling acid on them. Spider-Man and Norman Osborn arrive just as Kingpin’s men are about to kill the father and daughter, and save the day. Meanwhile, MJ is a club dancer and she gets her own Spidey interaction.

8.  The Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine #1 (1968)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: July, 1968
Official Synopsis: The new mayoral candidate, Richard Raleigh has a strange hold over the masses of New York City. But simmering beneath the urbane exterior is something far more sinister and Peter Parker is the only one that notices…

Spider-Man received his second comic book publication, Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine, in 1968. The series had two issues, each of which was lengthier than the normal comic book. The magazine’s initial edition was produced in black and white with grayscale shading. The paintings of John Romita Sr. was nicely displayed in this manner. DC Comics releases Batman: Black & White, a series aimed at highlighting the industry’s pencillers and inkers. The original Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine’s beautiful art makes a strong case for Marvel to recreate a comparable series for Spidey.

9. The Amazing Spider-Man #67 (1968)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: December, 1968
Official Synopsis: Mysterio has miniaturized Spider-Man and placed him in a tiny amusement park. Can Spider-Man survive this deadly Hall of Mirrors?

John Romita’s first run on Amazing Spider-Man ended with issue #58, although he would return several times to illustrate one-off issues or centennial/anniversary storylines. Romita collaborated once more with Stan Lee on ASM #67, demonstrating his artistic abilities in a stunningly breathtaking narrative featuring Mysterio’s astounding illusions. The interior art in ASM#67 was mind-bending, depicting Spider-Man’s exhilarating encounter with the master of illusions at a massive carnival and a funhouse of mirrors. However, Romita’s cover art, which depicted huge Mysterio hands clutching a diminutive Spidey, made this issue unforgettable.

The villain breaks out of prison and swears revenge on Spider-Man, leading to a fight at an amusement park where Spider-Man wins. Normal Osborn’s amnesia is fading and he is beginning to remember that he is Green Goblin and that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

With his mind-bending visuals, close-ups, and ability to manipulate perspective, Romita Sr. makes the Web-Slinger’s situation seem dreadful and unsettling.

10. The Amazing Spider-Man #87 (1970)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: John Romita Sr.
Release Date: August, 1970
Official Synopsis: Peter Parker finally reveals to his friends that he is Spider-Man.

The shocking cover of Amazing Spider-Man #87 reads, “Unmasked At Last!”. Peter stands there, holding his Spider-Man mask, as his companions stare in disbelief. This cover is a bit misleading since this didn’t happen. But, to be fair, Peter did confess his identity to Harry, MJ, Gwen, and Captain Stacy on the cover. However the narrative was resolved before the end of the issue. Regardless, ASM#87 is a tremendous issue in its own right.

Peter thought he’d lost his spider-powers and decided it was time to tell his family the truth. Spider-Man has been sick and his powers are fading, leading him to tell everyone at Gwen Stacy’s birthday party that he is really Spider-Man. He then goes to a doctor who tells him he has the flu. He sets up his solution: Peter Parker and Spider-Man in the same place at the same time. Another unique feature of this issue was John Romita’s illustration of Hobie Brown, a.k.a. The Prowler, a character created by his son, John Romita Jr.

11. The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (1996)

Writer: Stan Lee
Artist: Ron Frenz and John Romita Jr. 
Release Date: October 1, 1964
The 1996 annual issue of Amazing Spider-Man had two short stories by famous Spider-Man creators, each of which focused on a different aspect of Spidey’s existence. Ron Frenz illustrated the first narrative, which was finished by John Romita Sr.

Ben Reilly was Spider-Man at this point. Reilly remembers a time in Peter’s life when things were simpler. There were no symbiotes or clones in the room; only Peter, his pals, and the Coffee Bean. While the combat scenes with Kraven were stunning, the story’s strength was in the quiet chats between Peter and his closest friends.

12. The Amazing Spider-Man #500 (2003)

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: John Romita Jr., John Romita Sr.
Release Date: October 22, 2003
Official Synopsis: Two generations of the greatest Spider-Man artists of all time mark a milestone! It’s Peter Parker’s birthday … but how do you throw a surprise party for someone with a Spider-sense? Someone figures out how and Spidey spends his special day looking back at his career and EVERY villain he’s faced over those years … against his will! A special story for Spidey fans new & old! 

John Romita Jr. illustrated the majority of Amazing Spider-Man #500. In an issue that was very much a love letter to the character, Spider-Man ventured to a possible dark future and battled villains from his history. While the issue was action-packed and full of cameos, the most poignant scenes occurred in the book’s last pages, illustrated by John Romita Sr.

Doctor Strange bestowed upon Peter one final discussion with Uncle Ben, during which the two exchanged memories and hugs. Uncle Ben inquired as to Peter’s happiness and expressed his pride in him. Romita could only have depicted the touching moment.

Which is your favorite issue of John Romita Sr.?