Spider-Man’s Balloon Is Back For Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, And I Love That It’s Paying Homage To An Iconic Comic Book Artist

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As a gamer and comic book enthusiast who grew up reading Marvel Comics, I am absolutely thrilled about this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The return of Spider-Man after a six-year absence is exciting enough, but the tribute to the legendary John Romita Sr. makes it even more special.

Each year, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a traditional spectacle that families watch before sharing a meal with their dear ones. This time around, viewers with Peacock subscriptions can stream the event, and Marvel enthusiasts will also get to see a 44-foot Spider-Man balloon during the celebrations. It’s exciting news! After a ten-year absence, Spider-Man is returning to the parade, and I find it particularly heartwarming that it honors an influential comic book artist.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Will Pay Tribute To John Romita Sr.

On Thanksgiving Day, Spider-Man, typically a star in Marvel’s top films, will join characters such as Bluey, Minnie Mouse, Goku, Pikachu, Smokey Bear, and many others for a special parade. In an exclusive conversation with Polygon, the event’s organizer, Will Coss, has revealed that the new balloon design is heavily influenced by the artwork of John Romita Sr. As Coss explained:

From the very start, it was clear that John would be our choice. We sensed it was the right path and style. As soon as we learned that Spider-Man would gracefully rejoin the procession, we locked onto this opportunity from the beginning.

For the first time since 2014, the iconic Spider-Man character graced the Macy’s parade. His comic book hero debuted on this program way back in 1987, but the balloon was retired in 1998. Spidey reappeared in 2009 with a fresh design, and this is the version you saw in the last decade. Here’s a peek at the new balloon (via AP).

Instead of the previous design where Spider-Man was clinging to walls, this balloon features him in mid-web-swinging action. The initial version from the ’80s depicted Spider-Man with both hands flat on the ground, palm to palm.

Why The Thanksgiving Parade Tribute To John Romita Sr. Is So Amazing

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but admire this fresh Spider-Man balloon that echoes John Romita Sr.’s distinct drawing style of the web-slinger. This particular depiction is quite iconic within the comic book realm. While Steve Ditko was indeed the first artist to bring Spidey to life, it’s Romita Sr. who gained notoriety as a significant contributor after Ditko’s departure from Marvel in 1966. Stan Lee handed over the illustrator role to Romita following Ditko’s abrupt exit, and his interpretation of Spider-Man eventually became the emblematic logo on every Marvel Comics cover!

Romita Sr. played a significant role in creating the initial design of Mary Jane Watson and introduced notable characters such as Rhino, Kingpin, Punisher, Luke Cage, and Wolverine in his iconic yellow suit (as seen by Hugh Jackman in Deadpool and Wolverine). Don’t forget to tune into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on live TV or Peacock at 8:30 a.m. across all time zones this year. Stay tuned for upcoming Spider-Man movies, series, and updates including the release date of Spider-Man 4 here on TopMob.

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2024-11-28 02:08