Ron Frenz
Ronald Wade "Ron" Frenz (born February 1, 1960) is an American comics artist known for his work for Marvel Comics. He is well known for his 1980s work on The Amazing Spider-Man, particularly introducing the hero's black costume, and later for his work on Spider-Girl and Thor, for which he respectively co-created the characters of Mayday Parker as well as Thunderstrike and the New Warriors with writer Tom DeFalco.
Also recorded as Ronald Wade Frenz
Ron Frenz
- Birth Name
- Ronald Wade Frenz
- Born
- 1 February 1960
- Birthplace
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- writer, artist, illustrator and draftsperson.
- Fields
- comic.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Ronald Wade "Ron" Frenz (born February 1, 1960) is an American comics artist known for his work for Marvel Comics. He is well known for his 1980s work on The Amazing Spider-Man, particularly introducing the hero's black costume, and later for his work on Spider-Girl and Thor, for which he respectively co-created the characters of Mayday Parker as well as Thunderstrike and the New Warriors with writer Tom DeFalco.
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Note VALÉORINE
Ron Frenz (born 1960) is an artist, draftsperson and illustrator, among other activities, of American nationality. The artist was born in Pittsburgh. Activity centred on comic. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q355775 · wikipedia · Ron Frenz
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Ronald Wade Frenz • Born — 1 February 1960 • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Write — y • Pencil — y • Notable Works — * The Amazing Spider-Man • Spider-Girl • Superman • Thor • Thunderstrike • Website — catskillcomics.com/frenz.htm
Career
Career
Frenz began working for Marvel Comics in the early 1980s. Frenz's early work includes such titles as Ka-Zar the Savage, Star Wars, The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones, and Marvel Saga. His first credited story for Marvel was published in Ka-Zar the Savage #16 (July 1982). Frenz has a history of working on comic book series in which the characters were not in their original costumes/identities. Spider-Man wore his black costume, Thor took on a new secret identity and look, and Superman changed costumes and powers while Frenz was the regular artist on their titles. Frenz became the regular artist on The Amazing Spider-Man in 1984 and the stories he pencilled included "The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man" in issue #248 (Jan. 1984) and the first appearance of Spider-Man's black costume in issue #252 (May 1984). Among the new characters introduced during his run were the Puma in issue #256 (Sept. 1984) and Silver Sable in #265 (June 1985). Frenz and Tom DeFalco revealed that the "black suit" was an alien creature in issue #258 (Nov. 1984). Frenz drew The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #18 (1984), a story written by Stan Lee, which featured the wedding of Spider-Man supporting characters J. Jonah Jameson and Marla Madison. Frenz had originally been brought onto the series as a short-term substitute for John Romita Jr., but was retained when it became apparent that he meshed well with series writer DeFalco. Frenz recounted: Jim Owsley, editor of the Spider-Man titles at the time, has noted that "Frenz was passionate about Spider-Man, verging on fanatical." In 1986, Frenz and DeFalco were removed from The Amazing Spider-Man by Owsley. Frenz and DeFalco became the creative team on Thor in 1987 and introduced the Eric Masterson character in Thor #391 (May 1988). Eric Masterson later became the superhero known as Thunderstrike and received his own series by DeFalco and Frenz in 1993. In 1995, Frenz moved to DC Comics and became the artist on Superman. The following year, he was one of the many creators who contributed to the Superman: The Wedding Album one-shot wherein the title character married Lois Lane. Superman received a new costume, designed by Frenz himself, and new superpowers in Superman vol. 2 #123 (May 1997). Frenz drew part of the Superman Red/Superman Blue one-shot which launched the storyline of the same name which ran through the various Superman titles. Frenz returned to Marvel with the Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives limited series, written by Roger Stern, in 1997. DeFalco and Frenz reunited and introduced Spider-Girl in What If...? vol. 2 #105 (Feb. 1998). Spider-Girl became an ongoing series in October 1998 and ran until issue #100 (Sept. 2006). A new series, The Amazing Spider-Girl, was launched the following December, Frenz drew all 30 issues until the series' cancellation in 2009. On June 4, 2009, Ron Frenz was the recipient of the 2009 Nemo Award for Excellence in the Cartoon Arts. In 2017, Ron Frenz and long-time inking collaborator Sal Buscema began working on The Blue Baron, written by Darin Henry and published by Sitcomics. In 2021, Frenz also started to pencil another Sitcomics title: The Heroes Union which was written by Roger Stern. He rejoined Tom DeFalco to co-create and pencil The R.I.G.H.T. Project for Apex Comic Group, again inked by Sal Buscema. The one-shot comic book was crowdfunded via Indiegogo and sent to its backers in February 2022.
Apex Comics Group
Apex Comics Group
• The R.I.G.H.T. Project #1 (2022)
Archie Comics
Archie Comics
• Archie & Friends #153 (2011) • Jughead's Double Digest #175–177 (2012) • The Mighty Crusaders: The Lost Crusade oneshot (2015)
Big Bang
Big Bang
• The National Guardians #1, 3 (2012, 2023)
Capstone Publishers
Capstone Publishers
• John Sutter and the California Gold Rush (2006) • Winter at Valley Forge (2006)
DC Comics
DC Comics
• Action Comics #759 (1999) • The Adventures of Superman #556, 572 (1998–1999) • Booster Gold: Futures End #1 (2014) • The Flash Annual #3 (2014) • Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #13 (2011) • Legion Lost #9–12, #0 (2011–2012) • The Ravagers #8 (2013) • Superboy vol. 5 #15–16 (2013) • Superman vol. 2 #106–113, 115–120, 122–128, 131–135, 149, Annual #1–2 (1987–1988, 1995–1999) • Superman Beyond #0 (2011) • Superman Red/Superman Blue #1 (1998) • Superman: Secret Files #1 (1998) • Superman: The Man of Steel #94 (1999) • Superman: The Wedding Album #1 (1996) • Team 7 #1–2 (2012–2013) • Who's Who in Star Trek #1–2 (1987) • Who's Who in the Legion of Super-Heroes #2, 5–6 (1988) • Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #20, 24 (1986–1987) • Who's Who: Update '87 #5 (1987)
Future Comics
Future Comics
• Freemind #6 (2003)
Hamster Press
Hamster Press
• The Eye Collection (2002)
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #177, 182, Annual 2012 (2012)
Image Comics
Image Comics
• Randy O'Donnell is the M@n #1 (flipside comic Mr. Right #0) (2001) • Savage Dragon #200 (2014)
Kingstone
Kingstone
• The Christ #7 (2016)
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
• A-Next #1–12 (1998–1999) • Amazing Spider-Girl #1–30 (2006–2009) • The Amazing Spider-Man #248, 251–252, 255–261, 263, 265, 268–271, 273, 275–277, 280, 283, Annual #18, Annual '96 (1984–1986, 1996) • The Amazing Spider-Man Family #1–2, 5–8 (2008–2009) • The Avengers Annual #16 (1987) • Black Knight oneshot (2010) • Buzz #1–3 (2000) • Captain America #290, 383, Annual #9 (1984–1991) • Captain America vol. 3 #24 (1999) • Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty #6–7 (1999) • The Clone Conspiracy #1 (2016) • D.P. 7 #21 (1988) • Darkdevil #1–3 (2000) • Defenders vol. 2 #4, 8–9 (2001) • Fantastic Four #296 (1986) • Fantastic Four Fanfare #3 (2025) • Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #4–5 (1983) • Hercules and the Heart of Chaos #1–3 (1997) • Hulk #10 (2000) • Hulk Smash Avengers #1 (2012) • Iron Age #2 (2011) • Iron Man #257 (1990) • Ka-Zar the Savage #16–17, 20–22, 25–26, 29 (1982–1983) • Kickers, Inc. #1–3 (1986–1987) • King Conan #12 (1982) • Magik #3 (1984) • Many Loves of the Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2010) • Marvel Comics #1000 (2019) • Marvels Comics: Captain America #1 (2000) • Marvel Knights 4 #21 (2005) • Marvel Saga #1, 3 (1985–1986) • Marvel Team-Up #134–136, 140, Annual #6 (1983–1984) • The Saga of Crystar #3 (1983) • The Sensational Spider-Man: Self-Improvement #1 (2019) • She-Hulk #9 (2006) • Silver Surfer #32 (1989) • The Spectacular Spider-Man #80 (1983) • The Spectacular Spider-Girl #1–4 (2010) • Spider-Girl #½, 18, 32, 42, 47, 52, 57–70, 72–73, 75–79, 81–100 (1999–2006) • Spider-Girl: The End #1 (2010) • Spider-Island #1–5 (MC2 feature) (2015) • Spider-Man #26 (1992) • Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives #1–3 (1997) • Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #1–3 (2000) • Spider-Verse Team-Up #3 (2015) • Superior Spider-Man Team-Up #11–12 (2014) • Star Wars #67, 71–77, 79–82, 99 (1983–1985) • Thor vol. 1 #383–384, 386–400, 402–414, 416–430, 432–444, 447–450, 453–454, 456–459, 490, Annual #16 (1987–1995) • Thor vol. 6 #25 (2022) • Thor: The Worthy #1 (Thunderstrike) (2020) • Thunderstrike #1–10, 12–24 (1993–1995) • Thunderstrike vol. 2 #1–5 (2011) • Untold Tales of Spider-Man #9, 25 (1996–1997) • Venom #252 (2026) • Web of Spider-Man vol. 2 #1–7 (Spider-Girl feature) (2009–2010) • Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #17–18 (2000) • What If...? #42, 46 (1983–1984) • What If vol. 2 #105, 107 (1998) • Wild Thing #0 (1999)
MW Communications
MW Communications
• Questar Science Fiction/Fantasy Adventure vol. 4 #1 (1981)
Thrilling Nostalgia
Thrilling Nostalgia
• The Liberty Brigade #1 (2021) • Lost Tales of the Golden Age #2 (2023)
Weldon Owen
Weldon Owen
• This Happened to Me! (anthology) (2013)
Career and working life
Career and working life
Frenz worked as comics artist, writer, visual artist and illustrator, and the authority record catalogues a further 1 occupations under the same name, among them draftsperson. Frenz worked in English.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1960
Ron Frenz was born 1 February 1960.
Catalogued output
Works documented in more than one form
8 titles are catalogued under more than one form, which is to say the registers hold them both as a work and as a distinct object, score, recording or edition. Where a title is documented in several forms the evidence behind it is correspondingly wider, and the article treats those forms as separate records of the same work rather than as separate works. Silver Sable — catalogued as comics character, video game character, fictional human and animated character. Spider-Girl — catalogued as comics character and mutate. Puma — catalogued as comics character and mutate. Slyde — catalogued as comics character and fictional human. Strange Visitor — catalogued as comics character and animated character. Exitar the Executioner — catalogued as comics character and Celestial. Blue Celestial — catalogued as comics character and Celestial. Anansi — catalogued as comics character and fictional deity.
Binge Books (Sitcomics)
Binge Books (Sitcomics)
• Blue Baron #1–3 (2017–2020) • Heroes Union #1 (2021) • Heroes Union: The Witch and the Warriors #1 (2025)
Moonstone Books
Moonstone Books
• Kolchak: Tales of the Night Stalker #3 (2003) • Kolchak Tales: Ghost Stories #1 (2006)
Writings and published texts
Catalogued output
Writings and published texts
These are catalogued publications carrying the name — editions and printings, distinct from the works they contain and from writing about the subject. The 2020s are the densest part of the run, with 16 titles, and that concentration is a fact about what the registers have catalogued rather than a judgement on the work itself. A selection is set out below and the complete run may be opened beneath it.
44 editions carry dates between 1983 and 2025
The run opens with Spider-Man and Kitty Pryde and closes with Marvel Archive Edition: Amazing Spider-Man - the Black Costume
The entries follow Open Library
Spider-Man and Kitty Pryde
1983
John Sutter and the California Gold Rush
2000
Winter at Valley Forge
2000
Lords of the Sea
2000
Spiderman
2002
Eye Collection
2002
Too Many Spiders!
2006
Spider-girl presents A next
2006
Official Handbook of the Invincible Universe
2007
The complete catalogue · 47
44 editions carry dates between 1983 and 2025
The run opens with Spider-Man and Kitty Pryde and closes with Marvel Archive Edition: Amazing Spider-Man - the Black Costume
The entries follow Open Library
Spider-Man and Kitty Pryde
1983
John Sutter and the California Gold Rush
2000
Winter at Valley Forge
2000
Lords of the Sea
2000
Spiderman
2002
Eye Collection
2002
Too Many Spiders!
2006
Spider-girl presents A next
2006
Official Handbook of the Invincible Universe
2007
Buzz and Darkdevil
2007
The amazing Spider-Girl
2007
Clásicos Star Wars nº 05/07
2008
INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS 1
2008
Magik - Storm and Illyana
2008
Rise of the Hobgoblin
2009
Tales of the Night Stalker - the Rise and Fall of Carl Kolchak
2009
Games Villains Play
2010
Acts Of Vengeance Omnibus
2011
Jake Burton Carpenter and the Snowboard
2012
Cloak and Dagger
2012
X-Men: Magik
2013
ASOMBROSO SPIDERMAN DE ROGER STERN Y JOHN ROMITA JR
2013
Conan Rey nº 03/11
2014
Star Wars
2015
09
2016
Thor Corps
2016
Real American Hero!
2017
Fantastic Four Epic Collection
2019
100% marvel coediciones leyendas de marvel. Spiderman
2020
Black Widow
2020
Venom Epic Collection
2020
Heroes Union #2
2021
Spider-Man Team-up
2021
New Warriors Classic Omnibus Vol
Marvel Masterworks
2022
Thor Epic Collection
2022
Blue Baron Enter
2022
Venom Omnibus
2023
Amazing Spider-Man Epic Collection
2023
Spider-Girl Modern Era Epic Collection
2024
Marvel Venom
2025
Hawkeye Epic Collection
2025
Heroes Union
2025
Amazing Spider-Man - the Black Costume
2025
Catalogued output
Paintings, drawings and prints
These are objects catalogued as visual works, each held or recorded by the institution named against it. 13 further works are catalogued under Frenz's name without a date the collections agree on, which is why they are set apart from the dated run rather than placed in it.
Who Killed Gwen Reilly?
Exitar the Executioner
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q355775: Ron Frenz
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Ron Frenz”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Authority records
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Miller, John Jackson. Comics Industry Birthdays. Comics Buyer's Guide. June 10, 2005.
- 2.Jedinews.co.uk. Ron Frenz Interview. June 5, 2011.
- 3.Lambiek Comiclopedia. Ron Frenz. December 28, 2007.
- 4.credit. Ron+Frenz. Ron Frenz.
- 5.Regina, Steven. Drawing From Past to Present, Frenz Reads Comics' Future. Theswervemagazine.com. 2011.
- 6.Cronin, Brian. The Greatest Roger Stern Stories Ever Told!. Comic Book Resources. May 10, 2010.
- 7.Manning, Matthew K. Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. 138. 2012. 978-0-7566-9236-0.
- 8.Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 139: "This particular tale was produced by plotter [Roger] Stern, scripter Tom DeFalco, breakdown artist Frenz, and finisher Brett Breeding."
- 9.Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 141: "Another new character to spin out of the imagination of writer DeFalco and artist Frenz would debut in this issue when the Puma went on the prowl after Spider-Man."
- 10.Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 148: "In a story written by Tom DeFalco and penciled by Ron Frenz, readers met Silver Sable for the first time."
- 11.Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 142
- 12.Manning "1980s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 143: "[Stan] Lee's script was unmistakable and meshed well with drawings by Frenz and finishes by artists Bob Layton and Jackson Guice. The occasion for Stan's return was the wedding of J. Jonah Jameson to Doctor Marla Madison."
- 13.Greenberg, Glenn. When Hobby Met Spidey. Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing. 35. 10–23. August 2009.
- 14.Priest, Christopher J. Oswald: Why I Never Discuss Spider-Man. DigitalPriest.com. May 2002.
- 15.DeFalco, Tom. Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. Dorling Kindersley. 237. 2008. 978-0-7566-4123-8.
- 16.Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 264: "Distancing himself from his former identity as Thor, Eric Masterson earned his own ongoing series by Tom Defalco and Ron Frenz in Thunderstrike #1"
- 17.Manning, Matthew K. DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. 275. 2010. 978-0-7566-6742-9.
- 18.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 279: "In Superman #123 ... Superman debuted his new blue-and-white costume with a little help from scripter Dan Jurgens and penciller Ron Frenz."
- 19.Manning "1990s" in Dolan, p. 283: "The special written by Dan Jurgens, Stuart Immonen, Karl Kesel, and Louise Simonson, with pencils by Stuart Immonen, Ron Frenz, Tom Grummett, Paul Ryan, and Jon Bogdanove."
- 20.Cowsill, Alan "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 234: "The mystery of the Hobgoblin's true identity was finally solved in this three issue miniseries by writer Roger Stern and artist Ron Frenz."
- 21.Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 240: "Written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Ron Frenz, the story focused on May Parker, Peter {Parker] and [Mary Jane Watson's] teenage daughter."
- 22.Cowsill "1990s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 243
- 23.Cowsill "2000s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 300
- 24.Cowsill "2000s" in Gilbert (2012), p. 301: "Writer Tom DeFalco and artist Ron Frenz reunited for a new series of adventures featuring May Parker."
- 25.Khouri, Andy. DeFalco Confirms Amazing Spider-Girl Cancelation. Comic Book Resources. October 13, 2008.
- 26.Uricchio, Marylynn. ToonSeum cartoon museum holds annual Ka-Blam! fundraiser. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 9, 2009.
- 27.Bleeding Cool. Darin Henry's Sitcomics Wants to Disrupt Comics Industry With Sell-Through Distribution, Binge Books. December 28, 2017.
- 28.Arrant, Chris. Roger Stern, Ron Frenz, and Sal Buscema reunite for The Heroes Union - the first Comics Code Authority book in a decade. gamesradar.com. May 17, 2021.
- 29.Johnston, Rich. Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz & Sal Buscema Fund The R.I.G.H.T. Project. Bleeding Cool. October 17, 2021.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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