IDW Publishing has finally given us a time frame for the release of the oversized hardcover collecting John Romita, Sr.‘s Amazing Spider-Man art in their Artist’s Edition line. And that time is in December.

There are very few artists out there whose work on a single run of a comic book title defines both the character and the artist. John Romita is one of the few, and his work on Spider-Man is simply one of the very few on that character that was able to bring life to the comics from his art. He and Steve Ditko are arguably the two best artists to grace the pages of the book.

If you thought IDW was done announcing new books in their Artist’s Edition line, you’d be wrong. IDW announced the next book in the line and it is going to be John Romita’s The Amazing Spider-Man. This will mark the second time that IDW has reprinted material originally from Marvel, following up on the recently released Walt Simonson’s Thor. The volume will feature 144 pages reproduced directly from Romita’s original art, in stunning oversized quality.

This news comes hot on the heels of last week’s announcement of the Wally Wood’s EC Stories Artist’s Edition, and according to IDW, there is still one more Artist’s Edition yet to be announced. The Wally Wood volume will be released in October, with the John Romita Volume following in 2012.