A Close-Up Look at Spider-Man

About this drawing

Spider-Man close-up views show off one of the most recognizable costumes in comics. Steve Ditko designed the original suit in 1962 and made a bold choice: he covered the hero's entire face with a webbed mask and two large white eyes.

That mask turned out to be a big deal. With no skin or mouth showing, any reader could picture themselves underneath it. Stan Lee often pointed to that idea as one reason kids everywhere connected with the character.

The suit mixes red and blue with a black web pattern running over the head, arms and chest. The spider emblem in the center has changed over the decades, from a small rounded bug in the early comics to longer, sharper designs in many modern versions.

Movie suits have added raised webbing, textured panels and high-tech details, but they all keep the same core elements. Show anyone those wide eyes and that web pattern, and they know exactly who it is. Few costume designs in pop culture have lasted so long with so few changes. That simple look is also easy to recognize from far away, which helps the hero stand out against busy city backgrounds.

• spider-man
• marvel
• mask
• costume
• superheroes