Today in Comics History, August 17: Happy birthday, John Romita, Jr.!

Born on this day: comics artist John Romita, Jr., son of John Romita Sr. (natch) and artist on...oh, everything. Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men... (inhale)


from Mighty Marvel Calendar 1979 and 1980 (Marvel, 1978-1979)
...(exhale) Superman, DKIII, Hulk, Avengers, Batman, Black Panther, Eternals, Wolverine...


from Marvel Age #32, 56, 92 and 104 (Marvel, November 1985, November 1987, September 1990, and September 1991); text by Jim Salicrup (#32), Mike Carlin (#56) and Chris Eliopoulis and Barry Dutter (#92 and 104); pencils and inks by Ron Zalme; colors by Andy Yanchus (#32), Paul Becton (#56) and Renee Witterstaetter (#104)



...Contest of Champions, Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl (co-creator), Dazzler (ditto), Silencer (ditto again!), Star Brand (yes, we can blame this one on him and Shooter) and lots more!


from Marvel Age #17 (Marvel, August 1984), illustration by Jack Abel
I always think of John Romita Jr. as the "young new artist" (well, compared to his dad), but remember, he's been in comics forty-five years!


from "Bullpen Bulletins" in Marvel Comics cover-dated October 1978
More characters JRJR has co-created: Forge, Hobgoblin, Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau), Hydro-Man, Madame Web (give him some of that sweet movie money, Fox!), The Marauders, Typhoid Mary, Valerie Cooper, Nimrod, Anti-Venom, Shamrock (and the other international heroes who debuted in Contest of Champions, Skaar, Morlun, Shard, and (if you wanna get technical about it) Cable!


from Marvel Comics cover-dated August 2011
How much do you know about JRJR and his work? Test yourself with Marvel's Official John Romita Jr. Quiz!


from Marvel Age #108 (Marvel, January 1992)
How'd you do? I got 'em all right except for the question about who his dad was.


But here's the most important thing you should always remember about JRJR: he was the very first MARVEL HUNK OF THE MONTH!


from "Bullpen Bulletins" in Marvel Comics cover-dated January 1985, text by Jim Shooter
JRJR also had quite a popular stretch workingat DC until he recently returned back to Marvel to pencil the new series of Amazing Spider-Man!


from DC Comics cover-dated August 2014
Luckily he achieved this before he and all the other Spider-Man artists were tragically killed by Hobgoblin. (shaking my hoof angrily at Hobby)


from Amazing Spider-Man #308 (Marvel, November 1988), script by David Michelinie, pencils and inks by Todd McFarlane, colors by Bob Sharen, letters by Rick Parker
Naw, I'm jus' kidding! He's still alive. I'm going over to his house tonight for cake. Mind you, he doesn't know that yet. Happy birthday, John!