John Romita, Jr.

Infobox Comics creator


imagesize = 150px
caption = "Comic book artist John Romita Jr."
birthname = John Salvatore Romita Jr.
birthdate = Birth date and age|1956|8|17|mf=y
location = New York City, New York
deathdate =
deathplace =
nationality = American
area =
alias = "JRJR"
notable works =
awards =

John Salvatore Romita, Jr. (born August 17, 1956) is an American comic book artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the 2000s. He is often referred to as JRJR (abbreviation of John Romita, Jr.)

Career

John Romita was born in New York City, the son of John Romita, Sr., co-creator of several notable Spider-Man stories in the 1960s and 1970s. He began his career at Marvel UK, doing sketches for covers of reprints. His American debut was with a six page story entitled "Chaos at the Coffee Bean!" in "Amazing Spider-Man Annual" #11 (1977).

Romita's early popularity was based on his run on "Iron Man" with writer David Michelinie and artist Bob Layton which began in 1978. In the early 1980s, he had his first regular run on the "Amazing Spider-Man" series and also was the artist for the launch of the "Dazzler" series. Working with writer Roger Stern on "Amazing Spider-Man", he co created the character Hobgoblin and he drew an issue in which Spider-Man would encounter the Juggernaut where the villain would end up trapped in cement foundations. From 1983 to 1986 he had a run on "Uncanny X-Men" with Dan Green and author Chris Claremont which brought him large popularity, as the X-Men had become a huge industry phenomenon by that time. He would return for a second very successful run on "Uncanny X-Men "in 1993.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Romita enjoyed an acclaimed stint on "Daredevil" with writer Ann Nocenti and Eisner Award-winning inker Al Williamson, noted for its creation of long-running Daredevil nemesis Typhoid Mary. Working on Daredevil, Romita defined his style and left behind all uncertainties which were still present in the X-Men pages.

Romita later collaborated with Frank Miller on a Daredevil origin story entitled "Daredevil: The Man Without Fear", considered to be a companion of sorts to Miller's "" tale. Romita worked on a host of Marvel titles during the 1990s, including "The Punisher War Zone", the "Cable" mini-series, "The Mighty Thor", a return to "Iron Man" for the second Armor War written by John Byrne, and the "Punisher"/"Batman" cross-over.

In the 2000s, Romita again came to prominence for his second run illustrating "The Amazing Spider-Man" for writer J. Michael Straczynski. He drew Marvel's "Wolverine" with author Mark Millar as part of the character's thirtieth-anniversary celebration. In 2004, Romita's creator-owned project "The Grey Area" was published by Image Comics. Romita's art has since appeared in "Black Panther", "The Sentry" and "Ultimate Vision", a back up story featured in the Ultimate line, written by author Mark Millar.

In 2006, Romita collaborated with writer Neil Gaiman on the reinterpretation of Jack Kirby's The Eternals in the form of a seven issue miniseries. Romita worked with Greg Pak on the five issue main comic of Marvel's 2007 crossover event, "World War Hulk".

In 2008, Romita is returned to "Amazing Spider-Man". He is also collaborating once more with Mark Millar, for a creator-owned series, "Kick-Ass", published by Marvel's Icon imprint. The Filming of the Movie: Kick-Ass, will being September of 2008. Romita will get his directorial debut by directing an animated flashback sequence in the film.

elected works

Comic books

*"The Invincible Iron Man" #115-117, 119-121, 123-128, 141-153 (1978–1981), #256, 258-266 (1990–1991)
*"Contest of Champions" #1-3 (1982). The first Marvel mini-series, featuring most of the Marvel superheroes of the time.
*"Amazing Spider-Man" #208, 210-218, 223-227, 229-236, 238-250 (1980–1984), #290-291 (1987), #400, 432 (1995, 1998), Vol.2 #22-28, 30-58 & Vol.1 #500-508,(2000–2004) #568-present (2008). Please note: After issue Vol.2 #58, the series was renumbered, and the next issue was published as "Amazing Spider-man" Vol.1 #500.
*"Dazzler" #1-3 (1981)
*"Uncanny X-Men" #175-197, 199-200, 202-203, 206-211 (1983–1986), #287 (1992), #300-302, 304, 306-311 (1993–1994)
*"Star Brand" #1-7 (1986-87)
*"Daredevil" #250-257, 259-263, 265-276, 278-282 (1988–1990)
*"Cable: Blood and Metal" #1-2 (1992). 2-issue mini-series.
*"The Punisher War Zone" #1-8 (1992)
*"" #1-5 (1993-94). 5-issue mini-series with writer Frank Miller.
*"Punisher/Batman" (Marvel/DC, 1994)
*"Spider-Man: The Lost Years" #1-3 & 0 (1995). 3-issue miniseries, plus a #0 issue.
*"" Vol.1 #57, 70-76, 78-84, 86-92, 94-95, 97-98 & Vol.2 #1-3, 6-12, 14-17, 19 (1996–2000). Please note: After Vol.1 #98 (end of "The Final chapter" storyline) the series was renumbered and relaunched, and the next issue published as Peter Parker Spider-man Vol.2 #1.
*"Thor" Vol.2 #1-8, 10-13, 16-18, 22-25 (1998–2000)
*"Hulk" Vol.2 #24-25, 27-28, 34-39 (2001–2002). With writers Paul Jenkins (#24-25, 27-28) and Bruce Jones (#34-39).
*"The Gray Area" #1-3 (Image Comics, 2004). Creator-owned 3-issue miniseries with writer Glen Brunswick.
*"Wolverine" Vol.2 #20-31 (2004–2005). With writer Mark Millar.
*"Ultimate Vision" (2006) 6-part story with writer Mark Millar, running as a 4-page backup flip-book feature in the three Ultimate titles of November and December.
*"Black Panther" Vol.3 #1-6 (2005). 6-issue story arc "Who is the Black Panther" with writer Reginald Hudlin.
*"Sentry" Vol.2 #1-8 (2005–2006). 8-issue miniseries with writer Paul Jenkins.
*"Eternals" #1-7 (2006). With writer Neil Gaiman.
*"World War Hulk" (2007). With writer Greg Pak.
*"The Last Fantastic Four Story" (2007). With writer Stan Lee. (Drawn before World War Hulk).
*"Kick-Ass" #1-present (2008-present). With writer Mark Millar.Note: All the comic-books are published by Marvel Comics, except "The Gray Area" (by Image Comics), "Thorion of the new Asgods" (by the Amalgam Comics imprint, co-published by Marvel and DC) and "Batman / Punisher" (co-published by Marvel and DC).

Trade Paperbacks

Marvel Comics

*"The Eternals: Neil Gaiman & John Romita Jr." (Softcover, Reprint's The Eternals #1-7 Miniseries)
*"Marvel Visionaries: John Romita Jr." (Hardcover)
*"Wolverine: Enemy of the State (Volume 1)" (Hardcover)
*"Wolverine: Enemy of the State (Volume 2)" (Hardcover)
*"Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?" (Hardcover)
*"Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle" (Reprints Iron Man #120-128)
*"Iron Man and Doctor Doom"
*"Daredevil: The Man Without Fear"
*"Punisher vs. Daredevil"
*"Hulk: Return of the Monster"
*"Thor: The Dark Gods" (Reprints Thor #9-13)
*"Spider-Man: The Origin of the Hobgoblin"
*"Spider-Man: The Lost Years"
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 1: Coming Home" (Reprints #30-35)
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 2: Revelations" (Reprints #36-39)
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 3: Until the Stars Turn Cold" (Reprints #40-45)
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 4: The Life and Death of Spiders" (Reprints #46-50)
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 5: Unintended Consequences" (Reprints #51-56)
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 6: Happy Birthday" (Reprints #57-58,500-502)
*"Amazing Spider-Man Volume 7: The Book of Ezekiel" (Reprints #503-508)
*"Sentry: Reborn"
*"The Essential Dazzler Volume 1"

Image Comics

*"Gray Area: All Of This Can Be Yours"

External links

* [http://home.wanadoo.nl/pafrankn/jrj_intro.htm The incomplete John Romita Jr. checklist] . A detailed checklist of the published works of JRJR.
* [http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=84040 September 2006 short interview] with Romita Jr. about his future work.
* [http://www.theouthousers.com/articles/?p=448 October 2006 short interview] Outhouse with Romita Jr. about his current work and future plans.
* [http://marvel.com/catalog/?artist=John%20Romita%20Jr. John Romita Jr. on marvel.com]