Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jan 24, 2023 | 2 comments

A BIRTHDAY SALUTE: One of comics’ most beloved artists turns 93…

By PETER BOSCH

There are comic book women and there are John Romita comic book women. With the latter, just one look and you saw past their outer beauty and into their heart. You may like most comic book women, but you fell in love with John Romita women. Intelligent, strong and beautiful, they hurt emotionally just as easily as anyone. Whether it was a Gwen Stacy or a Femizon princess like Lyra, Romita — like a father — gave us women we loved.

For his 93rd birthday (he was born Jan. 24, 1930), here are 13 examples of Jazzy John’s wonderful women (pencils and inks by Romita unless otherwise noted):

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Marvel Age #111 (Apr. 1992, Marvel). Clockwise from John Romita at lower center: Gwen Stacy, Betty Brant, May Parker, Crystal, Lyra, Medusa, Dragon Lady (poster), Virginia Romita, Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) and Mary Jane Watson.

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The Superhero Women (1977, Simon and Schuster). Cover to the trade paperback, with (clockwise from lower center) Invisible Woman, Red Sonja, Ms. Marvel, Hela, Black Widow, the Wasp and Medusa.

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Tales of Suspense #77 (May 1966, Marvel) and Captain America #114 (June 1969, Marvel). Agents Peggy Carter (left) and Sharon Carter (right).

ToS #77: Frank Giacoia inks; Jack Kirby layouts. CA #114: Sal Buscema inks.

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Night Nurse #2 (Jan. 1973, Marvel). Linda Carter.

Frank Giacoia inks

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The Cat #2 (Jan. 1973, Marvel). Greer Nelson.

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Vampire Tales #2 (Oct. 1973, Marvel). Satana.

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Giant-Size Chillers Featuring The Curse of Dracula #1 (June 1974, Marvel). Lilith.

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MGM’s Marvelous Wizard of Oz (1975, DC/Marvel). Dorothy Gale with friends.

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Spidey Super Stories #14 (Dec. 1975, Marvel). Shanna the She-Devil.

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Spidey Super Stories #25 (July 1977, Marvel). Thundra.

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Barbie Fashion #1 (Jan. 1991, Marvel).

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Masquerade #1 (Feb. 2009, Dynamite).

Alex Ross inks

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Supergirl #80 (May 2003, DC). Even at DC!

José Marzán inks

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MORE

— The TOP 13 JOHN ROMITA SPIDER-MAN Covers — RANKED. Click here.

— JOHN ROMITA: How JACK KIRBY Taught Me the Art of Superheroes. Click here.

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PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, has just been published by TwoMorrows. He has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. Peter lives in Hollywood.