John Romita

JOHN ROMITA (John Victor Romita also known as John Romita Snr)

24 January 1930

Avengers Inking: #23

Avengers Covers: #23, 94, 102,111 114-119, 121-125, 127, 128,134-138, 141, 142, 176, 203

Romita broke into comics in 1949 with an unpublished romance story for Famous Funnies. Later he started penciling as an uncredited ghost artist for a Timely title. In 1951 Romita was drafted into the army where he produced recruitment posters. On returning to the comic-book industry he went on to draw horror, war, romance and other genres for Timely’s new incarnation, Atlas, and this included a short-lived revival of Captain America in Young Men 24-28.

Romita includes in his influences the likes of Noel Sickles, Roy Crane, Milton Caniff, and also Alex Toth, Carmine Infantino, and Jack Kirby. Romita was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2002.

In the late 1950s Romita moved to DC exclusively where he did an abundance of romance titles but in 1965 Romita returned to Marvel inking Jack Kirby’s cover and Don Heck’s penciling of The Avengers #23. Sadly, aside from covers this was his only formal Avengers assignment. Romita’s deal in returning to Marvel was to do inking only but Stan soon had him penciling first Daredevil, initially over Jack Kirby's layouts and then Amazing Spider-man replacing Steve Ditko.

Romita was increasingly required to do contribute to art corrections, touch-ups, and interact with other artists and writers. This led to Romita unofficially being regarded as Art Director, a title that would be formalised at a later date. This forced Romita to cut back on pencilling Spider-man but remained involved with ideas, plots, layouts, inking and covers. 

This role also led to Romita being behind the design of many other successful Marvel characters such as The Punisher, Luke Cage, Wolverine and Bullseye.

(It seems almost criminal to devote so few words to such a legend and influential artist as John Romita. These entries are intended as thumbnail profiles of the creators who have contributed to The Avengers. I hope at some point to present a fitting tribute to one of my all-time favourite artists.)