Another new character that appeared in 1973 was Thongor, Warrior of Lost Lemuria. With the success of Conan, Marvel tried to ride the wave, but author Lin Carter’s barbarian just didn’t hold the same appeal. After eight spotlight issues of Creatures on the Loose—of which Romita drew half—Thongor fell by the wayside. Here’s my favorite of Romita’s efforts.
Okay, it's time we left 1973, but we can't go without getting in a Spidey cover. 1973 was the year of the classic Death of Gwen Stacy storyline, but I'm going to go with the issue that followed, Amazing Spider-Man #123 (Aug. 1973), featuring a certain Hero for Hire.
That was one of my favorite issues from that era, as was the whole Gwen Stacy incident and the issues that immediately followed; I loved the Gil Kane interior art for these stories. And, though I was never the biggest Romita Sr fan, I was digging those covers. That was one of his best, IMO.
Okay, it's time we left 1973, but we can't go without getting in a Spidey cover. 1973 was the year of the classic Death of Gwen Stacy storyline, but I'm going to go with the issue that followed, Amazing Spider-Man #123 (Aug. 1973), featuring a certain Hero for Hire.
I actually own this issue. The interactions between JJJ and Luke Cage are incredible.
I'm going to kick off 1974 with this one because Evel Kenievel. As you can tell from the cover blurbs, this was a giveaway distributed to toy stores to help promote the toy line (and, yes, I had an Evel Kenievel wind-up motorcycle). Pencils by Romita, inks by Joe Sinnott.
Romita never did a lot of horror work, mainly just a few covers here and there, but here’s Giant-Size Chillers #1 (June 1974), penciled and inked by Romita.
Toward the end of 1974, Romita started a long stint as the cover artist for a brand-new series for younger readers—Easy Readers, if you will. Of course I'm talking about Spidey Super Stories, the crossover with PBS’ Electric Company. The title started out as a monthly, but before long went to a bi-monthly schedule, with Romita drew covers for the first 24 issues.
Toward the end of 1974, Romita started a long stint as the cover artist for a brand-new series for younger readers—Easy Readers, if you will. Of course I'm talking about Spidey Super Stories, the crossover with PBS’ Electric Company. The title started out as a monthly, but before long went to a bi-monthly schedule, with Romita drew covers for the first 24 issues.
A.) We live in a world where John Romita drew Morgan Freeman, and not because it was cool.
B.) Spider-Man is about to find a dismembered body down that alley, and I think I know who did it.
c.) Also what's with all the black people trying to grab Spidey? Don't they know he's too high?
One of my favorites from a pile given to me in the mid-70's Superman #236: April 1971 "Planet of the Angels" Cover: art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano
Comments
Mike Esposito and Mike Sekowsky from 1967
Mike Kaluta from 1972
B.) Spider-Man is about to find a dismembered body down that alley, and I think I know who did it.
c.) Also what's with all the black people trying to grab Spidey? Don't they know he's too high?
Superman #236: April 1971
"Planet of the Angels"
Cover: art by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano
John Romita 1969
1970 Romita and Marie Severin
This is absolutely my favorite FF cover