John Romita Jr's Art: What do you think?

[Jordanstine]

Certain artworks work for certain fans. I'm kind of in-between.

I think his artwork works best on certain titles like definitely Kick-Ass, while others... hmm. Maybe it's the inker?

I remember my first exposure to Romita's work was back in the early 90's during his tenure with Uncanny X-Men and I remember being taken aback and not very fond of it, being used to Whilce Portacio and the Kubert Brothers and all. Something about his use of jaw line and the cheek bones...

Looking at the books with his artwork, although I'm not fond of it to begin with, I think I just end up getting used to it after a while.

It's like when I first open the pages of a Romita book, I'm usually taken aback at first by the art, but after reading a couple of pages I slowly get used to it. And then after I put it down and pick up a different book (let's just say Mike Deodato or Brian Hitch), and then later pick up another Romita book again, I get taken a back once more, and have to slowly get used to it all over again. That's how the cycle for me goes.

[Hulk_Is]

Not at all. I've only liked maybe 3% of anything I've seen him draw. He's definitely the most aggravating artist ever for me.

[Lord Bravery]

He's a great story teller. His art flows from panel to panel well, and his page structures are usually great.

But his style is a bit cartoony... and his work depends a lot on his inkers/colourists.

It all depends on what you want from your comic book art.

[Tekkaman Blade]

Romita Jr's style is definitely unique and easily recognizable as his alone. It's not my favorite but I have enjoyed a good portion of the stories he has been involved with over the years (Daredevil, Iron Man, X-Men).

I prefer his art from his first run on Uncanny X-Men the most. His costume design for Rachel Summers costume is something that still stands out to me most, espcially the cover of Uncanny X-Men #199.

[Ayo]

He's one of the best superhero guys working.

One of the best superhero guys EVER.

[normanosborn21]

i love his art, especially the covers he did for his last run on amazing, i usually buy whatever he pencils. but i have been having a hard time with his avengers art, i don't know why it just does not resonate.

[Make Mine Mar-Vell]

Not sure how to answer this.

I am also the worst possible person to ask because I'm not a robot lol and I will go on to explain myself.
LOL

Yes, I like and have always supported and had a tremendous amount of respect forJohn Romita Jr. through his ups and downs (more ups...like Daredevil etc.) but like any artist there are some things that certain artists are just more natural for...I don't know that there is one be all end all artist to encompass the Marvel style. If you mean envoking the Kirby with an edgy shadowing etc, I see what you're saying but who's to say Lee Weeks isn't just as good? You said it's iconic Marvel can u explain?

Are you saying one guy across the board who draws everybody good but no one great ala George Perez? (Sorry, I respect George that in itself is an art)

My point is that certain characters come more natural for certain artists even if they aren't great at others, I always envisioned a time and place where someone sets a script that involves multi characters (even if just a trial piece) where you could enlarge the panels and have signature artists or artists of varying styles do that particular character for the issue.

So you get Romita Jr.'s DD, Ditko's Spidey and Dr. Strange, Lee Week's C. Marvel, Garney's Captain America, Yu's Luke Cage, etc, (fill in your own) so on and so forth...hey it would be fun if things were orgainzed. Watching them interract, while following the same size and perspective

ANYWAYS...Romita is a great artist no doubt about it, but be all end all Marvel artist? Nah, I dont think there is such a thing.

I mean it's all tastes, who's to say Gil Kane isn't on the same level as Jack 'King' Kirby? BTW, Kane is every bit as great IMHO...and when you talk 'iconic' marvel his name should be there to IMHO. (Love both of those artists all respect, I am a fan of artists I appreciate it probably because I stink myself lol) You know it's all opinion.

Romita Jr. does a good amalgam of classic Marvel cover art and makes it current he has proven that he is great in his own right, on his own merit.

I'm not crowning the guy though.

Marvel overall artist? Meaning one guy I think could do them all respectfully given the chance (not just one great and this one eh...etc) meaning everyone from Dr. Strange to Speedball regardless of hero, is Lee Weeks.

There's something inherently heroic about his ( Weeks) art and far more consistent than given credit for.

Anyway thanks for listening sure I'll vote for Romita Jr...who wouldn't? I'm just not leading a marching band for him. At times he gets there but just leaves me I dunno, hard to explain, I thought his best work was on DD. Typhoid Mary etc, some of the Spidey stuff. So like anything there's ups and downs.

So my only problem, if any, with Romita Jr. (as a loyal and honest reader who has supported him so yes my opinion matters) is consistency in his work, at times good- other times pedestrian, but more good than "eh"...with occassional flashes of great. When he is at his best it's when it's shadowed and envokes the classic Marvel covers in a current way (not that the classic Marvel covers are dated.)

He has established himself as a noteworthy artist.

I just think the voting categories are like you either make this guy the be all end all or you hate him, I dunno, how bout "Do you appreciate John Romita Jr.'s art?"

[dupersuper]

I'm between meh and love; I like it fine.

[kalorama]

He's a gifted illustrator who's peak years were probably a while ago, but he's still in the upper echelon. However, I think the move towards a looser, simpler more "cartoony" style in the latter part of his career has somewhat reduced the broad appeal of his work. I think there are certain types of stories and books that his current style may not fit as well, and I don't know that I would have said that back in the 90s, which I think was the height of his work, encompassing his DD run with Ann Nocenti, his second (or was it third) Iron Man stint (with Byrne) and his Clone Saga era Spider-Man stuff.

[Mr.Natchios]

Does anybody else hate John Romita Jr's artwork? i feel like so many people love it and im the only one that can't stand it

[FanboyStranger]

Does anybody else hate John Romita Jr's artwork? i feel like so many people love it and im the only one that can't stand it

I mostly like it, but I can see why people might not. I find his work has a lot of life and energy to it. I think his finest work was when the legendary Al Williamson was inking it, especially on The Man Without Fear, and everything he's done since has seemed a bit rougher.

[Regino]

I like it. It's unique. I don't want him to be a regular artist on a book, but I like him for an arc here and there.

[Rasputin9977]

I love JRJR's work. I did not like his work on his 2nd run of Uncanny X-Men but everything else he has done was great.

[Aziz Abbasi]

I saw a picture he did recently, his art is not so good without color

[Ben D]

He's one of the best superhero guys working.

One of the best superhero guys EVER.

quoted for truth. defining spider-man artist, at least for the last decade imo