Speciality Piece, 2001
Steve Rude takes on a classic John Romita Spider-Man cover here, and gives it just enough of his own “spin” to make it interesting.
I really like it.
But… I still prefer Romita’s original. His Spidey is more prominent — and, hey, it is Spidey’s book. Torch also gets a little more room to breathe on the published cover.
Plus — nostalgia.
That said, I think Rude’s Torch pose feels more in the moment, especially reacting to Spidey’s webbing — which is fireproof now?
Handy.
Rude also has some fun with the dock setting. The crates, pylons, broken boards, and extra bits make the action feel more like an actual waterfront brawl.
But Romita still wins.
Still, I could afford the Rude reinterpretation. If the Romita ever comes up for sale, I don’t exactly have an extra $250K–$500K lying around.
Which, naturally, is a pity — although I’d probably use that kind of cash for something else.
Unless, of course, I win one of those mega-jackpots with eight figures or more.
In that case, all bets are off.
