Greg Goldstein's Comic Art Gallery

Tag: Spider-Man

Will Conrad — Drowned in Thunder

Original Art and The Artists

Cover, Spider-Man Novel, Brazilian Edition (Novo Seculo), 2014

Ah, superheroes on a rooftop. Perched on a gargoyle… or other ornamental edifice. At night. In the rain. Or snow. I promise an entire post on the subject in the future.

In the meantime, we have this great cover by Will Conrad, who most definitely has a penchant for rain-soaked superheroes. Terrific mood and detail, some of which is obscured by the coloring of the published cover. (See below.)

Someone get that man a towel.

Steve McNiven — Brand New Day

Original Art and The Artists

Amazing Spider-Man #547, March 2008

Spidey takes a cue from his pal Captain America and shatters some (a lot, actually) glass in this dynamic splash from Steve McNiven.

It’s from the second issue of the Brand New Day storyline, the controversial reboot in which the world has forgotten Spidey’s secret identity, and he himself has forgotten his marriage to MJ. Following the Mephisto-led events of “One More Day.”

Of course, some version of this storyline is now destined for the MCU — and, as noted previously, I still think Mephisto (or Nightmare) is secretly behind much of the events of Spidey 3, Doctor Strange 2 and the Vision and Scarlett Witch TV series.

Apparently, I’m determined to stick with that crazy idea until at least phase 7.

Ron Garney — Hero Worship

Original Art and The Artists

Amazing Spider-Man #537, February 2007

Here’s a key splash page from Marvel’s Civil War. Captain America has convinced Peter that the resistance is on the “right” side of this epic crossover conflict.

When the conversation is over in this tie-in , Garney treats us to an epic splash of Spidey swinging into action.

Birds, and all.

Cynthia Martin — Flashback To Ditko

Original Art and The Artists

Web of Spider-Man Annual #4, August 1988

Cynthia Martin flashes back to the first appearance of the Vulture form Amazing Spider-Man #2 with with this great opening splash page from 1988.

This August of course is a big milestone for everyone’s favor web slinger. He turns 60 this month with the anniversary of his first appearance in Amazing Fantasy #15.

We previously celebrated this anniversary with some great Spider-Man pages, and coming up are a few more to add into the mix to round out the month of August.

Mike McKone — Spider-Man: The Hunt Becomes Grim

Original Art and The Artists

Wizard Magazine #223, April 2010

Today we wrap up our month-long celebration of Spider-Man’s upcoming 60th anniversary.

Mike McKone brings his own take to Spidey rising from the grave — with Kraven’s daughter seeking revenge for what happened to dear departed dad. (It’s a bit more complicated than that, but you get the idea.) This Wizard story previews “The Gauntlet” and “Grim Hunt” which are also essentially sequels to Kraven’s Last Hunt.

Mike Zeck spoke about the original cover image in Back Issue #35, from 2009:

“If an issue has a scene with the title hero rising from his own grave, it’s like receiving the number-one gift on your Christmas list! Anyone spending even one second mulling over a cover idea for that issue would have been in the wrong business.” 

McKone’s cover is a clever callback to Zeck’s original and iconic “crawl from the grave” scene 20 years earlier.

Sal Buscema — Spider-Man: Vermin’s Return

Original Art and The Artists

Spectacular Spider-Man #178, July 1991

Continuing our month-long celebration of Spider-Man’s upcoming 60th anniversary.

Here’s a beautiful splash of Spider-Man in full swinging action by Sal Buscema.

It’s another sequel of sorts of Kraven’s Last Hunt, as it features Vermin, who last appeared — and featured prominently — in that storyline.

And spoiler alert, he’s not happy.

Sal Buscema. Spider-Man. Splashy. 

Nuff said.

Mike Zeck — Spider-Man: Dead, Again?

Original Art and The Artists

The Amazing Spider-Man: Soul Of The Hunter, August 1992

With and without the overlay that adds snow to the art.

Ah, the lure of the sequel/prequel/spin-off.

Kraven’s Last Hunt (1987), considered one of the greatest Spidey sagas of all time, saw a follow-up story appear as “Soul of the Hunter” five years later, reuniting the original creative team: JM DeMatteis, Mike Zeck and Bob McLeod.

This page is one of my favorites from the story and one of my favorite Spidey pieces that I own, period, because, thanks to some hallucinogenic help, you have Spider-Man in both traditional and black costume on one page.

Of course, if someone wants to offer me a reasonable fraction of what the very first page featuring a Zeck Spider-man in black costume recently sold for, well under that condition, I would probably part with it:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/01/14/spider-man-comic-book-page-sells-record-3-36-million/6524278001/

The original TPB and the more recent collection which includes the sequel story.

Mike Mayhew — Spider-Man: Hero Or Menace?

Original Art and The Artists

Alternate Cover, The Pulse #1, April 2004

Mike Mayhew was this close to wrapping up the final touches on this classic Spider-Man image.

And then he changed his mind.

Mike and I have spoken about this a few times. He doesn’t specifically remember why he started over but, as you can see, it’s very close to the final cover. (He did recall some possible miscommunication over which aspects were going to be handled digitally vs. his actual original art. That was speculation more than fact, since those changes could have been fixed in this version.)

A potential not so fun fact for me:

When I purchased the art from a third party, it was presented to me as the actual published original, with alterations, finishes, colors and effects added digitally.

Er, no.

Fortunately, it’s still cool artwork, and, with the current insane pricing in the original art market, I’m likely about even.

The published piece along with the actual final original.

Gil Kane / Rich Buckler — Spider-Problems, Big & Small

Original Art and The Artists

Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #10 and Web of Spider-Man Annual #6, 1990

Described (tongue in cheek, hopefully) as a “micro-crossover,” Spidey’s Totally Tiny Adventure is a three-part story from 1990, running in the summer annuals. (Amazing Spider-Man Annual #24, The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #10, The Web of Spider-Man Annual #6).

The story, as you might guess, features Spider-Man shrinking down to Ant-Man size and beyond. It’s definitely a bit light-hearted without devolving into straight camp. (Our friends at Pulp and Dagger have a full review here.)

Gil Kane drew chapters one and three, and Rich Buckler tackled chapter two. And a trivia note: Stan Lee scripted both chapters two and three, marking a rare return to the keyboard for the Spidey’s co-creator.