With there being so many comic book reboots into feature action films, people are beginning to reminisce about their youth when reading comic books was a fetish of almost every kid in America. When you start talking about static comic book art, it would be remiss not to mention the name of John Romita Sr., one of the most prolific comic book artist of all time. Lee has drawn for of some of the greats in the industry including a stint for Stan Lee’s Atlas Group and Western Publishing. While you might not have heard or seen his name before, you have definitely seen his work.
We decided to introduce you to John Romita Sr. by providing you with five facts that you didn’t previously know.
1. He Only Spent One Year Studying Commercial Art
There are some people who simply have a gift that allows them to immerse themselves in the thing they love most, and it is apparent that John was gifted. He loved to draw, and he did it with such flair and accuracy. What most people don’t know is that he didn’t have a great deal of formal training when he landed his first gig with Stan Lee. In fact, he had only spent one year in commercial art school. Well, it seems that the lack of formal training did not interfere with his ability to deliver great artwork.
2. He Was Discovered by Stan Lee
After spending just one year in commercial art school, the word of John Romita’s leaked out and caught the attention of Stan Lee, who initially brought Romita into work for him at the Atlas Group. Although the Atlas Group would fold and Romita would move on to work with other entities, it would not be the last time that he and Lee would come together to produce some of the greatest masterpieces and comic book stories in history.
3. His Work on The Amazing Spiderman Launched Him Into the Stratosphere
Once Romita returned to work with Stan Lee at Marvel Comics, he would take on a number of challenges, including doing exceptional work drawing out stories associated with Daredevil and the linking of the individual heroes that would eventually become the Avengers. However, his greatest and most notable work would be hammering out the story of Peter Parker and the Amazing Spiderman – something that would launch him into the stratosphere of comic book greats.
4. John Romita Jr is Also a Talented Artist
It seems as if John’s son, John Romita Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps in more than just name. John Jr. is a very talented artist who also works at Marvel. It is obviously that growing up around a father who literally inspired and drew stories of some of the most famous comic book heroes of all time has the ability to inspire a kid to follow suit. To be able to draw comic book characters for a living is a dream that many children would love to live out. John Jr. had is dream gift wrapped and handed to him by his father.
5. He Was Inducted Into the Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame
It appears that almost every entertainment industry has a hall of fame of some sorts that acknowledges those who not only performed well in their profession, but also garnered the attention of the public for the work they did. With sketch artists, the Will Eisner Awards Hall of Fame is one of the zeniths in comic book drawing and John Romita Sr. was inducted into this institution in 2002, one of his most satisfying and crowning moments.
