Comics Kirby's Spider-Man

[Kevin Roegele]

Given that the one major Silver Age Marvel hero Kirby was not involved with turned out to be the most famous, I always find it intriguing seeing Kirby's version of Spidey.

In Kirby's hands, Spidey almost seems like a different character. Ultimately, ironically, Kirby's style simply wasn't right for Spider-Man.....or Superman.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Spider-Man wouldn't have been the Spider-Man we know... perhaps he wouldn't even have succeeded period if Kirby drew him.

I know it's a cardinal sin in fanboy-circles to diss Kirby, but I gotta admit he wasn't to my liking. I always thought Ditko and even Romita had more raw talent.

 

[Venomfan]

at least he didnt draw freaking web armpits

 

[3dman27]

Given that the one major Silver Age Marvel hero Kirby was not involved with turned out to be the most famous, I always find it intriguing seeing Kirby's version of Spidey.

i think mr kirbys take on spidey was interesting apearantly bolivar trask programed his sentinels to hunt spidey by using spencer smythe's spider slayer tech

 

[SuperFerret]

If I'm not mistaken the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15 was Kirby's art. Which means that the world saw Jack's Spidey before they saw Ditko's.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

If I'm not mistaken the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15 was Kirby's art. Which means that the world saw Jack's Spidey before they saw Ditko's.

Ye, it was probably Kirby with Ditko inks.

 

[mre]

If I'm not mistaken the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15 was Kirby's art. Which means that the world saw Jack's Spidey before they saw Ditko's.

I dont think that is true. Stan Lee went to Kirby first, but he was busy, so he got Ditko. Ditko then turned in a cover, and Stan Lee thought it made Spider-Man look too heroic, or somehting like that, so he turned in the cover we all know and love.

 

[mre]

If I'm not mistaken the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15 was Kirby's art. Which means that the world saw Jack's Spidey before they saw Ditko's.

I dont think that is true. Stan Lee went to Kirby first, but he was busy, so he got Ditko. Ditko then turned in a cover, and Stan Lee thought it made Spider-Man look too heroic, or somehting like that, so he turned in the cover we all know and love.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

If I'm not mistaken the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15 was Kirby's art. Which means that the world saw Jack's Spidey before they saw Ditko's.

Yes, Kirby definetly drew the cover of Amazing Fantasy #15.

 

[The Lizard]

If I'm not mistaken the cover to Amazing Fantasy #15 was Kirby's art. Which means that the world saw Jack's Spidey before they saw Ditko's.

Yup. Here's the unused Ditko cover:

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Yup. Here's the unused Ditko cover:

I actually like this one better, myself.

 

[Dragon]

I dont think that is true. Stan Lee went to Kirby first, but he was busy, so he got Ditko. Ditko then turned in a cover, and Stan Lee thought it made Spider-Man look too heroic, or somehting like that, so he turned in the cover we all know and love.

What happened was Kirby did the first pages of Spidey -but his version
was too heroic. Apparently Jack's design was basically the same one he'd later use for Antman, but more spidery with a web gun. Stan wanted a more un-superheroic character, so gave Spidey to Steve Ditko, who redesigned him from scratch.

 

[The Shredder]

What happened was Kirby did the first pages of Spidey -but his version
was too heroic. Apparently Jack's design was basically the same one he'd later use for Antman, but more spidery with a web gun. Stan wanted a more un-superheroic character, so gave Spidey to Steve Ditko, who redesigned him from scratch.

This is what I heard as well. That Stan wasnt really looking for a Superhero along the lines of Captain America, which is what Kirby delivered. So Stan gave it to Ditko, and the rest is history. I loved Steve Ditko's art with Spider-Man. He really added alot to the title.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

What happened was Kirby did the first pages of Spidey -but his version
was too heroic. Apparently Jack's design was basically the same one he'd later use for Antman, but more spidery with a web gun. Stan wanted a more un-superheroic character, so gave Spidey to Steve Ditko, who redesigned him from scratch.

And Kirby would go on to claim he came up with the idea of Spider-Man and took it to Stan, not the other way round.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Kirby's version isn't BAD in any sense of the word. It's just a different style than Ditko had done and even Romita Sr.

 

[Dragon]

And Kirby would go on to claim he came up with the idea of Spider-Man and took it to Stan, not the other way round.

I love Jack. no question Marvel wouldn't exist without him. But after he left he started taking credit for everything. For example saying that he conceived of the Hulk after hearing the story about the woman lifting a car off of her son. But we all know that the rage based Hulk was years away from the Jekyll-Hyde transformation they statred with.

 

[Dragon]

Kirby's version isn't BAD in any sense of the word. It's just a different style than Ditko had done and even Romita Sr.

Kirby's version of Spidey is beautiful. I love every issue that Jack did featuring Spidey. I don't think anyone has a problem with the art. It's just a thing of his design,which was likely extremely cool. That's apparently what Stan didn't want.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Kirby's version of Spidey is beautiful. I love every issue that Jack did featuring Spidey. I don't think anyone has a problem with the art. It's just a thing of his design,which was likely extremely cool. That's apparently what Stan didn't want.

Indeed. Stan wanted something creepy, and spider-like. Jack Kirby drew a dynamic powerhouse. Stan has said that, try as he might, Kirby just couldn't draw Spidey as anything but a statuesque, bold, heroic figure, as was his manner. Which works great for the likes of Thor or Captain America, but not Spidey.

Spidey is a hard character to draw. As John Romita Sr says, if you draw Spider-Man standing on the ground, with his arms by his side, doing nothing, you've wasted the character.

 

[AmaznSpider-Fan]

I agree that both Spider-man and Superman looks a bit...off in those examples. I really liked his cover of Spidey in AF #15 though.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Where did I see that Ditko cover before?

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Where did I see that Ditko cover before?

Oh, it gets posted around here, every so often...

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

No, I think it was in a comic.

 

[Dragon]

No, I think it was in a comic.

I recall there was an issue of Marvel Tales that reprinted the cover back in the 80's. That's the first time I saw it. Another possibility is the Spidey Index.

 

[The Shredder]

I recall there was an issue of Marvel Tales that reprinted the cover back in the 80's. That's the first time I saw it. Another possibility is the Spidey Index.

Or maybe a Marvel Masterworks. That was the first time I saw that Ditko cover.

 

[Dragon]

Or maybe a Marvel Masterworks. That was the first time I saw that Ditko cover.

Probably so, although I myself have nver bought any of the Masterworks books.