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Marvel Comics relaunching 'Amazing Spider-Man' with legendary artist John Romita Jr. in April
One of the all-time great Spider-Man artists is back on the webslinger's flagship title.
Last year, John Romita Jr. returned to Marvel Comics after several years of work at DC, and contributed issues of Fantastic Four and covers for books like Elektra: Black White & Blood. Romita's return was an auspicious one, but one thing we hadn't yet seen from him in his months back at the House of Ideas were any plans for new work on an ongoing series. Now, that's changed. Romita's back at Marvel in a big way, and he's not just launching any series: He's launching a new volume of Amazing Spider-Man.
Marvel announced Thursday that Romita Jr. and veteran Spider-Man writer Zeb Wells (Amazing Spider-Man, New Warriors) will team up for a brand-new Amazing Spider-Man #1 this spring, marking the beginning of a new era for Peter Parker's adventures on the heels of the ambitious Beyond era of Spider-Man storytelling. As one of the team of writers who delivered the Beyond project to readers, Wells was a key driving force for Spidey in 2021. Now, in 2022, he'll be at the helm of the flagship title with one of the greatest artists to ever draw the webslinger.
“I've waited my entire career to work with John Romita Jr.,” Wells said in a press release. “To team up with him on Amazing Spider-Man for the character's 60th anniversary is so exciting words can't describe it. We're gonna have a blast!”
The new first issue is, as Wells alluded to, part of Marvel's celebration of 60 years since Spider-Man's 1962 debut, but it's also something more. The new volume of the series will pick up on Peter Parker's life in the wake of an incident that has alienated him from just about every ally that he has, and ask the question: What did Peter do? Here's how Marvel teased the event:
"Peter’s on the outs with the FF. He’s on the outs with the Avengers. He’s even on the outs with Aunt May! After a terrible and mysterious incident, no one wants to see Spider-Man – except for Doctor Octopus. Ock’s on Spider-Man’s tail and the Master Planner has something truly terrible planned for when he gets his tentacles on Spidey. All that, and Tombstone makes a move that will remind readers why he’s one of Spider-Man’s most terrifying villains…"
Romita Jr. made a name for himself as a key Marvel artist thanks in large part to his work on Spider-Man. He first drew the character in 1977, as the rising star son of the legendary John Romita Sr., and went on to become one of the definitive pencillers to ever work on the character. Romita's influence at Marvel was so great, in fact, that he made headlines in 2014 when he announced plans to move over to DC Comics and work on titles like Superman and Silencer. Now, he's back in full force at his original superhero home, and he's teaming up with one of the 21st century great Spider-Man writers for a whole new era on the character.
Amazing Spider-Man #1 launches April 6.
