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Romita Legacy
While Steve Ditko and Stan Lee may have created Spider-Man, it was John Romita Sr. who defined him...
Romita came to the book as a replacement for Steve Ditko, bringing his clean, romantic style of illustration to the book. Romita once expected Ditko to return to the book within a few months and when he didn't, history was truly made.
A history that is now fully explored by writer Tom Spurgeon and this presentation of the definitive book - lavishly illustrated with classic and unseen art -- starring Jazzy John Romita! From his days before Marvel, through the Sliver Age, and his days designing and creating the characters we know and love still today (including Wolverine, the Punisher and many, many more), Generations covers it all. Spurgeon's exhaustive interview includes not only Romita Sr., but the second beloved artist in the family, John Romita Jr.!
About Tom Spurgeon
Tom Spurgeon is one of North America's best-known experts on the comic strip and comic book art forms and the industries that service them. The son of a newspaperman in East Central Indiana, Tom and his brothers helped their father select new strips for the paper's comic-book page, making the Muncie Star-Press one of the first publications to carry "Calvin and Hobbes" and "The Far Side," as well as sone of the few to carry "Rudy."
After receiving a broad education at Washington and Lee University and a focused one at Garrett seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, Tom worked briefly for QVC, Inc. Drawing on experience in his nepotism-fueled career as a beat writer, editor and entertainment reporter, Tom in 1994 took the position of managing editor at The Comics Journal in Seattle, Washington.
Tom edited the Journal for five years, first as managing editor and then as executive editor. During that time, the magazine won multiple industry awards, increased its focus on world comics and encouraged the comics community to see small press and mini-comics as legitimate artistic outlets rather than a training ground for traditionally published works. In forcing the magazine to build on the breadth and depth of its coverage, Tom helped improve the magazine's general mainstream profile as one of American Arts' most unique and valuable publications. When literary comics began to make a major impact in the late 1990s, the Journal was the gateway publication for many editors and writers to understand the phenomenon. Tom also edited the magazine's infamous "Stan Lee issue" (October 1995) and helped launch its popular companion Web site.
In 1999, Tom left the magazine to become a freelancer. He remains a columnist, reviewer and occasional newsman for the publication he previously edited. He has written about comics and a variety of arts-related subjects for Suck.com, Feed, The Stranger, and more than a dozen newspapers and regional magazines. From 1999 to 2002, he wrote the critically lauded newspaper comic strip "Wildwood," which enjoyed a daily presence in more than 18 million homes. He currently lives in Silver City, New Mexico.
Romita came to the book as a replacement for Steve Ditko, bringing his clean, romantic style of illustration to the book. Romita once expected Ditko to return to the book within a few months and when he didn't, history was truly made.
A history that is now fully explored by writer Tom Spurgeon and this presentation of the definitive book - lavishly illustrated with classic and unseen art -- starring Jazzy John Romita! From his days before Marvel, through the Sliver Age, and his days designing and creating the characters we know and love still today (including Wolverine, the Punisher and many, many more), Generations covers it all. Spurgeon's exhaustive interview includes not only Romita Sr., but the second beloved artist in the family, John Romita Jr.!
About Tom Spurgeon
Tom Spurgeon is one of North America's best-known experts on the comic strip and comic book art forms and the industries that service them. The son of a newspaperman in East Central Indiana, Tom and his brothers helped their father select new strips for the paper's comic-book page, making the Muncie Star-Press one of the first publications to carry "Calvin and Hobbes" and "The Far Side," as well as sone of the few to carry "Rudy."
After receiving a broad education at Washington and Lee University and a focused one at Garrett seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, Tom worked briefly for QVC, Inc. Drawing on experience in his nepotism-fueled career as a beat writer, editor and entertainment reporter, Tom in 1994 took the position of managing editor at The Comics Journal in Seattle, Washington.
Tom edited the Journal for five years, first as managing editor and then as executive editor. During that time, the magazine won multiple industry awards, increased its focus on world comics and encouraged the comics community to see small press and mini-comics as legitimate artistic outlets rather than a training ground for traditionally published works. In forcing the magazine to build on the breadth and depth of its coverage, Tom helped improve the magazine's general mainstream profile as one of American Arts' most unique and valuable publications. When literary comics began to make a major impact in the late 1990s, the Journal was the gateway publication for many editors and writers to understand the phenomenon. Tom also edited the magazine's infamous "Stan Lee issue" (October 1995) and helped launch its popular companion Web site.
In 1999, Tom left the magazine to become a freelancer. He remains a columnist, reviewer and occasional newsman for the publication he previously edited. He has written about comics and a variety of arts-related subjects for Suck.com, Feed, The Stranger, and more than a dozen newspapers and regional magazines. From 1999 to 2002, he wrote the critically lauded newspaper comic strip "Wildwood," which enjoyed a daily presence in more than 18 million homes. He currently lives in Silver City, New Mexico.
Hardcover
First published May 11, 2010
About the author
Alex Ross
1,369 books492 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 20, 2021
3.5 stars
"Why do you want to be a small fish in a big pond when you can be a big fish in a small pond?" -- Stan Lee's sly job offer - jumping from being an illustrator a large advertising firm to the burgeoning Marvel Comics scene in 1965 - to John Romita Sr., as recounted on page 105
Nice coffee table-styled hardcover edition that details the body of work from illustrator John Romita and his namesake son at Marvel Comics. Romita Sr. is known for work on Daredevil early in the run of the then-new series, but is best remembered for successfully replacing co-creator Steve Ditko on the original Spider-Man title after Ditko's infamous mid-60's falling out with Stan Lee. (Romita Sr. was also influential in the design appearance of characters like Wolverine and The Punisher during their 70's debuts.) Romita Jr. also 'made his bones' working on Spider-Man, as well as Thor and the X-Men titles in the 80's and 90's. The first-half of this book is a combined biography / illustration showcase, and the latter half is two extensive but separate Q&A segments with the father and son.
"Why do you want to be a small fish in a big pond when you can be a big fish in a small pond?" -- Stan Lee's sly job offer - jumping from being an illustrator a large advertising firm to the burgeoning Marvel Comics scene in 1965 - to John Romita Sr., as recounted on page 105
Nice coffee table-styled hardcover edition that details the body of work from illustrator John Romita and his namesake son at Marvel Comics. Romita Sr. is known for work on Daredevil early in the run of the then-new series, but is best remembered for successfully replacing co-creator Steve Ditko on the original Spider-Man title after Ditko's infamous mid-60's falling out with Stan Lee. (Romita Sr. was also influential in the design appearance of characters like Wolverine and The Punisher during their 70's debuts.) Romita Jr. also 'made his bones' working on Spider-Man, as well as Thor and the X-Men titles in the 80's and 90's. The first-half of this book is a combined biography / illustration showcase, and the latter half is two extensive but separate Q&A segments with the father and son.
June 9, 2023
Excellent display of the careers and works of one of the most renown family in the industry.
After a summary of their respective careers by the author both Romitas get into long and very interesting distinct interviews.
Romita Sr gets the lion’s share, from his childhood in the 30’s to his retirement. This part is the most interesting imo, from the kid who drew on butcher paper to Marvel’s art director. It shows at length Romita Sr’s geniality, his humility and dedication to his job.
Most of the same goes for his son. A humble artist with perfect knowledge of his assets and liabilities always trying to learn and get better, going with the flow and trying to make his name not as "the son of"...
I’m a great admirer of both Romitas so no question about the quality of this book here. A must-read.
Still, I rated it only 4* for lack of never-seen-before artwork inside. It’s mainly covers or illustrations easily available and I wished for something different.
After a summary of their respective careers by the author both Romitas get into long and very interesting distinct interviews.
Romita Sr gets the lion’s share, from his childhood in the 30’s to his retirement. This part is the most interesting imo, from the kid who drew on butcher paper to Marvel’s art director. It shows at length Romita Sr’s geniality, his humility and dedication to his job.
Most of the same goes for his son. A humble artist with perfect knowledge of his assets and liabilities always trying to learn and get better, going with the flow and trying to make his name not as "the son of"...
I’m a great admirer of both Romitas so no question about the quality of this book here. A must-read.
Still, I rated it only 4* for lack of never-seen-before artwork inside. It’s mainly covers or illustrations easily available and I wished for something different.
September 23, 2014
An interesting and fun read with some great illustrations! The editing is poor in places, with missing sentences and words!
August 11, 2022
El libro se compone de una introducción y dos extensas entrevistas con padre e hijo sobre su carrera. Como fan de John Romita Sr, lo que más me han gustado son las ilustraciones que acompañan al texto, algunas de ellas sublimes.
Tal vez por eso, echo de menos un libro sobre Romita que se centre más en sus dibujos y menos en las palabras. Al fin y al cabo, el aspecto técnico y las referencias que menciona no me aportan nada útil. Mi proyecto de ensueño sería un libro (o colección de libros) recopilando todas las portadas que John Romita Sr hizo para Marvel. Tampoco estaría mal que reeditasen sus historias románticas para DC.
En resumen, si eres dibujante, probablemente sacarás mucho más de este libro; si eres solo un admirador de su trabajo, también es una lectura recomendable.
Tal vez por eso, echo de menos un libro sobre Romita que se centre más en sus dibujos y menos en las palabras. Al fin y al cabo, el aspecto técnico y las referencias que menciona no me aportan nada útil. Mi proyecto de ensueño sería un libro (o colección de libros) recopilando todas las portadas que John Romita Sr hizo para Marvel. Tampoco estaría mal que reeditasen sus historias románticas para DC.
En resumen, si eres dibujante, probablemente sacarás mucho más de este libro; si eres solo un admirador de su trabajo, también es una lectura recomendable.
February 22, 2023
Great in-depth interviews with both John Romita & Jr and retrospectives of both their long careers in comics. This is a master class in comics art and commentary on the business at the same time
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews