Doug: Isn't the cover of Avengers #23 awesome? It's penciled by Jack Kirby, but the inks are by Jazzy Johnny Romita. So this got me to researching -- what are those awesome covers throughout the Marvel Universe that were penciled by Romita, and excluding a certain Web-slinger? Of course I'm just giving you a sampling... suggesting others is your job! Enjoy! NOTE: This post was updated on April 24 2020. There were originally 30 samples of John Romita's cover work; that has been pared down to 9. Additionally, there is reference below to a link; that went to a site that is no longer active. So if you want to play along, you'll need to search on your own.
Doug: Well, if that doesn't whet your appetite to a) go read some Marvel Comics, or b) get into that link above and check out all the other Jazziness in our comics-loving history, then I don't know what will!
21 comments:
Well, Doug, you included three iconic covers that I would have picked: Hero for Hire #1, Amazing Adventures #18 (Killraven rockin' the hip boots!) and Strange Tales #169 (Brother Voodoo). Also, good call on the Superhero Women - that's a simple yet nicely designed cover. So I'll just add my favorite cover from the Fireside reprints: Bring On The Bad Guys.
The first thing I thought of:Romita penciled the vast majority of Spidey Super Stories covers. They still look great today:
http://www.comics.org/series/2188/covers/
Wow. That is quite a selection. I didn't even know that Evel Knievel existed. I would suggest Submariner #12 and FF #102. You show 103, and I am sure I am in the minority but I like Romita's Subby.
Night Nurse ?? I thought I knew everything about Marvel by now but there are still things to learn.
Yes, the Jazzy One was truly awesome at creating dynamic covers that compelled you to pick up the book and take a look inside.
"The Savage Sub-Mariner" #69 is one such example. I love the cover of that book so much that I bought a copy on eBay. Unfortunately the interior story and art don't live up to the awesomeness of that cover. (I don't recall who did the interior art, but it wasn't JR).
You know, I'm always disappointed when the art isn't as good on the inside of a comic as it is on the outside. With very few exceptions the cover artist is usually better.
Sometimes the opposite is true though. For example, John Byrne didn't do a lot of covers in his early days on titles like Iron Fist, and Marvel Team-Up, so when I'd look inside the book the art was actually better than the cover. That was always pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly LOVED the brief Shanna series, thanks for posting her cover here. Awesome interior art with Tuska and Colletta, with a promising storyline by Gerber (resurrected a year or so later in the pages of DD).
Subby ish 69 was a MUST-HAVE for the cover, but totally agreed on the internal art, and it was one of my 'Iconic Bronze Cover' purchases a few months back. I couldn't quite handle Jazzy John on FF ~ Somehow after The King's departure, it was a tough pill to swallow. Luckily Big John Buscema came in after a few issues. I may have to pick up that Brother Voodoo issue, I liked his team-up with Spidey in MTU 24.
That Dead of Night cover is great. Really striking.
Otherwise.... Romita was never one of my favourites; not bad or anything (obviously!) but not quite in the same league as contemporaries like John Buscema or Gene Colan.
Taken singly, most of those covers just seem efficient to me; its when you put them together like this that Romita's virtues - his consistency and range - really come across. Nice one, Doug
-sean
Giant Size Avengers 2; it looked like a classic at first sight. Featuring the towering figures of Kang and Rama-Tut, set off sgainst a background of black space: Romita at his dramatic best.
Another favored cover was "Son of Origins of Marvel Comics". Iron Man and the Surfer positively shone. Of course, all those Fireside trade covers were pretty nice...
I reviewed Subby #67 a while back, also with an awesome Romita cover. There's a panel on the interior -- the first reveal of the life-support suit -- that I remarked appeared to be touched up by Romita. See for yourself:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ruLu2MfijkI/TaJpEGgov8I/AAAAAAAADWY/N7oDD7BZ_B4/s400/Sub67-5.jpg
Doug
Thank you Sean! Johnny Romita is always worth honoring on the BAB.
I'm liking the other suggestions so far, too. Hey, I was surprised at the vast number of covers, too, that Romita inked. And often his lines embellished some of the all-time cover greats, such as Gil Kane. If you've not checked the link I provided in the post, it will certainly keep you from work today if you get into it! ;)
Doug
Also, Doug, don't forget that besides general inking duties, as Marvel art director John Romita also did a lot of uncredited fixing.
I'm thinking of covers like Captain Marvel 29 and (not quite sure of this one) Captain America 193 - maybe theres enough to do a whole post on Romita faces in other artists work:)
-sean
Oh, no, Sean -- I wouldn't forget that. In fact, I have a story about it.
Years ago I had an original art page from Captain America by Sal Buscema and John Verpoorten. It featured Cap, Falc, Fury, and Sharon Carter. John Romita had signed it at the bottom. I put it on eBay, and mistakenly credited the inks to Romita (seemed logical -- and this was pre-Internet days so looking it up wasn't so easy). I was told by a prospective bidder of my mistake, and I quickly adjusted the description of the page in my listing. I ended up corresponding with that bidder, who suggested I contact Roy Thomas about this mystery. I sent a scan to Roy who actually did look it over. He said that while he couldn't be certain, he did think he could tell in one instance where Romita had corrected a foot on the page. A foot! And Roy could pick that out!
So yes, Romita's hands are all over the Marvel Universe in the 60s and 70s. Marie Severin's, too.
Doug
Speaking of 'Night Nurse', did anyone else see that reprint issue of the title on sale last week?:
http://boards.collectors-society.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=8396235&fpart=1
Nice to see these all together. Some of my favorites: Brother Voodoo, My Love, Ghost Rider, Invaders, Son of Satan, Captain America.
How about Silver Surfer #14? I know you said no Spidey, but Spidey's just a guest star in that one, so I think it's OK to count it. That Jungle Action #21 cover looks good...Romita did a nice job on Jungle Action #5 as well.
Mike Wilson
No worries, Mike! I just thought it would be cool to look at Romita's handiwork on all of Marvel's characters other than Spidey. But when I wrote that, I was mainly thinking of the ASM mag. J.A. bringing up Spidey Super Stories was inspired, as lots and lots of MU characters made cover appearances there.
Several of Romita's cover images ended up as Slurpee cups, too.
Doug
Hey, Doug, liked the foot story.
Marie Severin - now theres an under appreciated (and credited!) Marvel artist.
-sean
I echo the Marie Severin comments Doug and Sean. She was great.
Regarding Romita, I also liked his Warlock cover for Issue #6. I've had that issue for a while with the other Earth Reed Richards/ Brute. I just like that.
Sorry to hear Christopher Lee passed away. All of the impact he had on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, James Bond, Dracula, etc. Hard to believe he was in his 90s. He seemed like he was ever present.
Yes, RIP Sir Christopher Lee. 93 years, and well lived too! Forget angels, there's a new wizard/vampire lord up there in Heaven now, regaling everyone with tales of his adventures!
Wow I almost forgot the Jazzy One did a tonload of covers (and apparently touchups too!) but I guess that's what you do when you're the artistic director, or whatever fancy title he had at the time.
Hmm not gonna strain my foggy memory too much but I remember buying a Giant Size Hulk annual a few years back, #5 I believe, the one where the Hulk is busting through a concrete wall. When I bought it, I kept looking at the cover, and thinking 'this is definitely the work of the Master Jazzy John Romita Sr!'.
- Mike 'Romita Rules!' from Trinidad & Tobago.
Is it just me, or does that My Love cover bear a shocking resemblance to Gwen Stacy?
And here's one with MJ http://marvel.wikia.com/My_Love_Vol_2_6
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