The Comics Industry Mourns John Romita Sr.

“John Romita Sr. was an incomparable artist who brought so many iconic Marvel characters to life on the page and set the tone and look of Marvel’s comics for decades,” Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios’ president, wrote in a series of tributes on the company’s website. “His version of Spider-Man has inspired so many of us at Marvel Studios. Our thoughts are with his family, and the generations of artists and fans who fell in love with the characters he drew.”

“DC extends its deepest condolences to the family, colleagues, friends, and fans of iconic artist John Romita Sr.,” began a statement from DC Comics released on social media today. “We were so honored when he came out of retirement to draw the cover for Superman #34, which featured interiors from his son John Romita, Jr. He will be sorely missed.”

James Gunn, current architect of Warner Bros.’ adaptations of the DC universe, also paid tribute. “My brother & I wrote Mr. Romita when we were young kids & sent him drawings of superheroes we were working on. He wrote us back, telling us what he liked about the drawings,” Gunn reflected on social media. “A truly memorable experience in my life, making me feel like the magic of comic books, which seemed so otherworldly, wasn’t actually that far away.”

See more reflections and memories from across the world of comics below, as the industry celebrates and commiserates in the loss of one of the finest superhero artists of the western comics world—one who forever shaped the identity and world of one of its most iconic and beloved characters.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

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