Wolverine co-creator and Marvel Comics legend John Romita Sr. has died

A man who has had a significant impact on the world of comic books and popular culture, John Romita Sr., has passed away aged 93 years old.

The legendary artist was the co-creator of some of Marvel‘s most beloved characters including Wolverine, Mary Jane Watson, and The Punisher. His passing was announced by his son, John Romita Jr. who called his father “the greatest man I ever met.”

Romita Sr. was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 23, 1930. He went on to graduate from Manhattan’s School of Industrial Arts, where he studied under many notable comic artists of the time. He got his first job aged only 17 years old creating a medical exhibit on pneumatology medicine for the Manhattan General Hospital. He then went on to work as a lithographer before making his way into comics in 1949, working as a ghost artist for a friend from high school who was an inker at Timely Comics, which would eventually evolve to become Marvel Comics.

He would go on to create artwork for DC Comics, and Marvel Comics working with Stan Lee at the latter. Romita Sr. had a hand in some of Marvel’s most well-known titles, such as The Avengers and Daredevil, before being put onto Spider-Man, where he was pivotal in creating the look of Mary Jane Watson. He was promoted to art director at Marvel in July 1973, going on to make definitive contributions to characters such as Wolverine and The Punisher, but also Luke Cage, Bullseye, and Tigra.

In his personal life, he married his childhood sweetheart Virginia Bruno in November 1952. Virginia also worked at Marvel joining in 1975 till 1996. They had two sons, Victor and John Jr. with the latter going on to follow his father into the world of comics, adding his first contribution to Marvel, the character of the Prowler aged only 13 years old. He then worked for Marvel form the 1970s to 2010s. In 2012 he become the penciler for DC’s Superman.

John Jr. shared the news of his father’s passing on Instagram, posting a picture of his father along with a heartfelt message.

It wasn’t just his son he inspired, with many who work and love the world of comics and superheroes sharing their sadness at the legend’s passing. James Gunn was one such individual, having sent Romita Sr. his own pictures when he was just a child along with his brother. Romita’s replies and encouragement made Gunn feel “like the magic of comic books, which seemed so otherworldly, wasn’t actually that far away.” Gunn brought Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy for the big screen and is now the co-CEO of DC studios, so perhaps we also have Romita to thank for that.

Tributes for the titan of comics poured in on social media, with many fans sharing his artwork and how much he inspired them. For many, it was his designs that they will always remember as defining Marvel, particularly his work on Spider-Man.

It is always painful to lose someone who had such an impact in the world we love to dive into. Comics and their film adaptations have been a huge part of popular culture and Romita’s work will be remembered for a long time to come.

Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of John Romita Sr. We will treasure what he gave us.