Comic book artist John Romita Sr, who helped to design classic characters such as Wolverine and Spider-Man, has died at the age of 93.
Confirming the news on Twitter, his son John Romita Jr wrote: "I say this with a heavy heart, my father passed away peacefully in his sleep.
"He is a legend in the art world and it would be my honor to follow in his footsteps. Please keep your thoughts and condolences here out of respect for my family. He was the greatest man I ever met."
Fans took to social media to offer their condolences and pay tribute to the iconic artist.
"To call your father a "legend" is the understatement of the century. But his legacy lives on through you. I'm sorry for your entire family," one person tweeted.
Another person wrote: "Your father drew a decent chunk of my childhood. I'm grateful for the art he's shared with all of us. This applies to you as well. Much love to you, and your family."
"He's remembered forever. His talent gives us great joy every time we see it. Condolences to you and your family," a third fan added.
"So sorry for your loss. His work gave comic fans so much joy. The medium wouldn’t be the same without him," one heartbroken fan said.
John served in the US Army before moving on to his career in comics.
His early work was published in Eastern Color's Famous Funnies.
The artist worked on The Amazing Spider-Man for five years with Stan Lee, Marvel's editor-in-chief. John took over from artist Steve Ditko who co-created the character back in 1961.
John's work on Spider-Man saw the introduction of several iconic characters, including love interest Mary Jane Watson.
For a decade, John divided his time between Timely Comics and National Comics, which went on to become Marvel and DC respectively.
In 1972, he became the unofficial art director of Marvel and was formally given the title a year later. He served in the role for two decades.
During his time in the role, he contributed to the design of characters such as Wolverine and the Punisher.
John is survived by his wife Virginia and sons John and Victor.
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