Marvel Comics icon John Romita Sr, who helped create Wolverine, dies aged 93

John Romita Sr., the man behind the creation of the beloved Marvel comic characters Wolverine and Mary Jane Watson, has passed away at the age of 93.

Romita died “peacefully in his sleep,” his son confirmed in a Twitter post on Wednesday, describing his father as “the greatest man I’ve ever met.”

Romita Jr., who is a comics artist herself, also wrote, “I say this with a heavy heart, my father John Romita passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday morning. He is a legend in the art world and I would be honored to follow in his footsteps.”

Born in 1930 in Brooklyn, New York, Romita graduated from Manhattan’s School of Industrial Art before breaking into the comics industry.

The artist was influential in creating Marvel characters, including Spiderman’s girlfriend Mary Jane Watson, and launched the Spider-Man newspaper comic in 1977 with Stan Lee, who served as the executive vice president and publisher of Marvel Comics before his death in 2018 .

Comic legend John Romita Sr. attends the 2010 New York Comic Con at the Jacob Javitz Center on October 8, 2010 in New York City

British talk show host Jonathan Ross, a self-professed comics fanatic, was one of the celebrities to pay tribute to Romita, whom he remembered as a “kind, generous, compassionate and thoughtful man.”

“A sad, sad day for those of us who grew up worshiping and obsessing over Marvel comics,” Ross wrote.

“The great John Romita Sr has passed away. A wonderful artist and a truly beautiful, kind, generous, compassionate and thoughtful man.

“He was the rock that gave Marvel a glorious foundation in those years when it grew and prospered and became the powerhouse of ideas it is today.

“Thanks John for sharing your amazing genius.”

Writer and director of films including the latest Guardians Of The Galaxy, James Gunn, who has also taken over the helm of superhero franchise DC Studios as a co-chief executive, shared an anecdote about how he wrote Romita when he was a young boy.

He said: “We are sorry to hear that the great cartoonist John Romita Sr has passed away at the age of 93.

“My brother and I wrote to Mr. Romita when we were young children and sent him drawings of superheroes that we worked on.

“He wrote us back and told us what he liked about the drawings! An unforgettable experience in my life, which made me feel that the magic of comic books, which seemed so otherworldly, was actually not that far away.

“My thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones.”

Comic magnates (LR) Bob Kane, Stan Lee, Jack Davis and John Romita Sr. attend ‘Comic Book Greats’ on January 31, 1992 at Stabur Productions in Van Nuys, California

Similarly, Jim Lee, DC Comics chief creative officer, shared a lengthy message on Romita’s son’s Instagram post, writing, “It goes without saying that your dad was an amazing, wonderfully talented artist and artist who brought so many generations of fans and creators inspired and entertained. .

But to me he was more than that. Your father was simply an incredible role model whose insightful words of advice have stuck with me throughout my career spanning more than three decades.”

Mr. Lee said Romita gave him his “first ever art critique” after he was hired to work at Marvel in 1987.

He added, “I remember walking into his hallowed office to this day (he was Marvel’s art director at the time) with my first pages of Alpha Flight 51 and being so intimidated yet honored to be in his presence. to be. A legend talking to me!

“Everything he shared with me that day was right… And while I didn’t always follow his lead (I was young, stupid and stubborn), he was absolutely 100% right.

Plus, he presented his critique with such total kindness and infinite patience that what could have been a traumatic, disappointing end-of-career encounter turned into a conversation between colleagues that left me feeling uplifted, seen, valued, and most of all excited and eager to learn. left behind. more and improve as an artist.

“That drive continues to this day and your dad was a big part of me getting into the right mindset.

“I tried to emulate the way he interacted with both professionals and novices when I started to give art critiques and take on new talent.”

He finished his mail writing; “We have lost an absolute legend who was as humble and kind as he was talented.”