Spider-Man Artist John Romita Jr. Breaks Silence on Anniversary Cover Controversy

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Published Jun 25, 2026, 6:13 PM EDT

Annie Banks is a Rotten Tomatoes–approved critic, and CBR editor and writer specializing in anime, comics, and superheroes. Her work has also appeared in Collider and The Mary Sue, where she covered pop culture, fandoms, and entertainment trends. A lifelong fan whose love for storytelling began with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Annie blends critical insight with genuine passion for geek culture, from sci-fi to K-pop.

As Marvel Comics nears the 1000th issue of Amazing Spider-Man, one misunderstanding about John Romita Jr.'s cover has been resolved.

In an official notice, Marvel Comics addressed fan concerns head-on about comic book cover confusion. “Our announcement of the added Pepe Larraz cover seems to have been misunderstood. In addition to John Romita Jr. and Paolo Rivera’s jam cover, we also wanted to highlight the ‘#1000’ more concretely, hence Pepe’s cover with color artist Marte Gracia,” Editor Nick Lowe explained. “Our goal is to bring as many legendary Spider-Man artists together for this monumental celebration.”

Romita Jr. also spoke up about the misinterpretation, directly clarifying that his contributions to such a significant Spider-Man comic will still be able to be enjoyed by fans. “What a pleasure it’s been to see readers celebrate my work on Amazing Spider-Man over the years and show support for the cover I did with Paolo Rivera for the upcoming issue #1000!” Romita Jr. shared. “I’m honored to work on yet another milestone issue for Spidey, and this one is especially big—so big that it has not one but two primary covers, one by me and one by my fellow Amazing Spider-Man artist, Pepe Larraz! I hope everyone enjoys the issue; it’s going to be unforgettable!”

Larraz, too, shared his thoughts about working alongside Romita Jr. when piecing such a massive comic book milestone together. “If a time traveler suddenly showed up, back when I was a kid reading Spider-Man in my room, and told me that I was going to be drawing the 1000th issue of the comic book I had in my hands, and that I was going to be doing so alongside a living legend like John Romita Jr., the easiest to believe would be the time traveling part!” Larraz reflected. “Thank you, Marvel, for the honor and privilege of making me a part of Peter Parker’s history with this milestone issue. “

What To Expect From Amazing Spider-Man #1000

Marvel Comics is making sure that Spider-Man's biggest issue yet won't be celebrated quietly. After assembling an all-star team of Spider-Man comic book creatives, the superhero publishing titan heightens the excitement around such a massive release with a thrilling solicit. "The countdown to one of the biggest milestones in comic book history officially begins! This September, Marvel Comics proudly presents the 1000th issue of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, and is pulling out all the stops to make it one of the grandest comics it’s ever published!

It was revealed that variant covers from Skottie Young, J. Scott Campbell, Ed McGuinness, Ryan Stegman, and Lee Bermejo will also be revealed. Pre-orders are now available.

Amazing Spider-Man #1000 releases on Sept. 26 wherever comics are sold.

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Marvel is a multimedia powerhouse encompassing comic books, movies, TV shows, and more, captivating audiences with its iconic characters, thrilling narratives, and diverse worlds. From the legendary Avengers to the street-level heroes like Daredevil, Marvel's universe is vast and ever-expanding.
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Since his first appearance in 1962, Spider-Man has almost always been Marvel Comics' most popular character. Known for his sense of humor and bad luck as well as his selflessness and super-strength, Spider-Man has helmed countless titles over the years, Spider-Man's most prominent comics include The Amazing Spider-Man, Web of Spider-Man, and Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man.
Peter Parker was the original Spider-Man but the Spider-Verse has become an important part of the character's lore in recent years. Multiversal and future Spider-Men include Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, Miguel O'Hara and Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham. This provided the premise for the popular Spider-Verse film trilogy, which makes Miles its primary hero.
Spider-Man is also the basis of several live-action film franchises and numerous animated television series. He is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. While he's changed a lot over the decades, Steve Ditko and Stan Lee gave the world an unforgettable hero when they created Spider-Man.