And I loved Ben’s Spidey costume. True, it doesn’t work as a redesign for Spidey, but that was kind of the point — it was a different guy under the mask. And it’s important for the costume to reflect that.

And thanks for the comments, I’ll do my best.

1. Practicality:

A: Concealing identity: Frankly, it is rather astonishing how many costumed vigilantes wear outfits that would conceal their real IDs for maybe two seconds. Compared to the vast numbers of heroes wearing half-masks/cowls (DD, Batman, Captain America, etc) and domino masks (Robin, Bucky, Green Arrow, etc), Spidey’s full face mask actually looks as though it would really protect his civilian identity.

B. Freedom of movement: Too many heroes fall under the “cool but impractical” rule of design.E.g., look at Batman’s outfit. The cape is all kinds of cool, but it would never work in a fight (there’s a reason why dueling swordsmen in the Renaissance would discard their cloaks before fighting).Spidey’s sleek, streamlined look allows him complete freedom of movement. The one possible flaw is the underarm webbing, an aspect of the costume that most post-Ditko artists have chosen to either minimize or to eliminate entirely.

Aesthetics: As both you and Tim Gunn have pointed out, Spidey’s outfit might just be the best designed superhero costume of all time. Indeed, as a tribute to Ditko’s design skills,most subsequent artists have merely tweaked the design here and there, enlarging the eyes and reducing the underarm webbing.

Color: Frankly,although I think that both black and blue work equally well, I am partial to the original black and red combination, as it is both more spider-like (as others have mentioned, there are no blue spiders in nature)and was Ditko’s original intent.

Let me just finish up saying how much I have enjoyed this column. Indeed, it is my favorite feature on NEWSARAMA. Keep up the good work.

A: No, I didn’t. If you actually read the entire piece, you’ll see that I specifically mention that Cosmic Spidey will be featured in a column focusing on actual “Transformations” Peter went through.

Best uniform Spidermen ever used!!!

And best of all, its educational. I learn new things with every edition. And I’m a jaded, snarky fan boy who usually only writes in to call out navel-gazing hacks.

So really, thank you. I love this column. Its so hard to find new thoughtful material on the comic book medium that isn’t so specialized or stilted that its completely off putting. You sir have found the perfect tone and a killer subject matter. Please keep them coming!

On a more positive note, love the articles. Informative and funny. I’ve read all of them and will keep doing it so. Forget the negative people. There are those who value your effort.
Thanks.

And to be honest, as much as that story may or may not have been a spoof, Larsen was every bit as responsible as perpetuating those 90s tropes as Liefeld and Lee were.

No, he’s not. I’ve been racking my brain, but I can’t really think of any examples of Larsen perpetuating those tropes, and even if did use them once or twice he surely didn’t use them anywhere near as much as Liefeld and Lee. The only example I could think of is his Superpatriot character over in Savage Dragon, and even then that was still more spoofing the trope and playing it straight.

Dare you tackle Wasp? Or Kyle-GL? And, oddly, Black Canary. Heck, I want these great articles on everybody!

In fact, I always thought the organic webs were logical. I mean, if I can accept the wallcrawling, spider-strength and spider-sense, organic webs belongs there too!

That’s a great link. Thanks for posting it.

I tend to think of Spidey’s costume as red and black but blue highlights or a dark shade of blue ( like the movies) is an acceptable compromise.

Also would’nt it just be easier to just do an article about the Awful costume designs of Rob Leifield? That would be a fun read!!!

JAMIE: While I find the 90s outfits a bit silly or ho-hum, I don’t hate them in the way that I’ve hated designs worn by others during that time. If you like the ripped hoodie, you like the ripped hoodie, no shame there. And thanks for the comment, it’s appreciated. I figure, if you can’t have fun writing something as silly as a superhero fashion column, you need to rethink your life.

TONY S: Both valid points that I indeed should have mentioned, sorry to seem like I was misleading. It’ll be clarified.

REID: Well my editors here, and the guys at MTV.com, and the folks at ComicsAlliance.com, and the other folks at ComicMix.com, and the guys at Warner Bros. Films all feel differently. So as long as they’re happy and continue to ask me to write things while tossing me compensation for my trouble, I see no reason to turn them down. But thanks for the suggestion and thanks for taking the time to read so much of my work.

JASON E: HA! It’s amazing what will get past me, spellcheck, a proofreader and an editor. WHOOPS.

FRITZ: Valid opinion! And thanks!

OMAR: Thanks for pointing the typo out, it got past all of us (though you can assume I do know what “died” means).

M. WEBBER: Hey, no one’s saying you should join the popular opinion. If that look rocks your style, you own it.

KALORAMA: Fair enough, what was it that worked for you about that look?

THE MIRRORBALL MAN: Nitpick away, you are absolutely right, that deserves some rephrasing.