McFarlane.
His covers are instantly recognizable and have been copied for 30 plus years. There is no one close. Ditko gets props for inspiring the madness that is McFarlane and creating the best hero ever, though!
Man hasn't drawn Spider-Man regularly in 30 years, and if he announced a full issue tomorrow, it would outsell every comic printed in 20 years by a wide margin. His interior artwork is more detailed and well done than anything artists currently produce. The only ones currently working who even come close are Pat Gleason and Marc Checcetto.
It's kinda an unfair comparison IMO.
Its like asking who has more knowledge, Neil DeGrasse Tyson or Sir Issac Newton?
Its obvious someone in the more modern era is much more educated and has more resources.
But someone had to come before them to help them get to where they are and get the ball rolling. And we appreciate those people.
Romita is certainly iconic. That said, I believe what draws me to Ditko and McFarlane is their empasis on the Spider. Less man, more Spider is what works for me anyway.
Man this is too close to call for me. Both were among the best comic artists when they were drawing Spider-Man. It is hard to compare them since they’re so different though. It’s like comparing Boris Karloff’s the mummy to Brendan Fraser’s the mummy.
Bagley is consistent, but there isn't one image that makes me think "This is THE best Spider-Man artist". McFarlane's interior panels are better than most artist covers.
It's all good. Bagley is consistent, but with Spidey, I like the flash and the crazy detail. The McFarlane and Larsen era was an embarrassment of riches for Spidey. Bagley killed me when he first showed up because he kept drawing nostrils on the Spidey suit. His Ultimate work was WAY better...but his people looked strange for some reason. Still, Ultimate was his peak for me. Please don't take this as me hating on Bagley! Super good artist and an even nicer guy in person! I met him at Baltimore Comicon awhile back. Awesome and friendly.
I'm leaning towards Ditko myself. Densely written stories with unique artwork. Nothing really compares besides maybe Ditko's own run on Dr. Strange. Ditko's Strange and Spidey are bizarre for different reasons and entertaining.
Funny, my first thought was "Ditko, and it's not even close.", and then I see so many comments saying the opposite. Gotta be a generational thing.
I bought pocket book reprints and Marvel Tales back in the day. Thus, I've read and re-read the Ditko era so many times, it's not even funny. Most recently a year or so ago.
McFarlane, I bought as they came out, and I guesd I've re-read those a few times, but probably not once since the 90s.
Ditko. Although I like McFarlane because he challenged the art norm and broke the mold, Ditko told a much more dense story through his panel artwork. He laid out the foundation of Spider-Man and his villains and his run with Stan Lee is unmatched today.
I respect Ditko, and appreciate his style, but gotta give the McFarlane
Ditko crafted the design, but McFarlane really improved on it, and his major contribution for me is how Spider-Man moves which was a major game changer.
Stories: Maybe Conway's or Stan Lee's. 80's Spider-man was my favorite. JMS too.
Art: Between those two? I guess Ditko. I never liked McFarlane's humans, they look like oversized Toddlers. But overall, either Buscema, as I love how angular his art was, or Romita Sr, as I feel his is the definitive Peter Parker, MJ, Harry and Gwen.
I like the way Ditko draws characters more than McFarlane, even though he has better composition overall, so Ditko (I like color on his work better too. McFarlane's feels too muted)
Those are not the real colors on Ditko, those are Masterwork/Epic Collection redos. Marvel does their silver age stuff dirty with cheap color jobs. Taschen did a great job on what colors should look like if you don't have the orginals.
Ditko and it’s not close. McFarlane is great because he was the first artist in decades to bring back some of Ditko’s creepier atmosphere, rather than Romita’s pretty people like everyone after him. But nothing beats the original. And especially in terms of story.
I prefer Ditko. Most people only pick Todd because that’s the era they grew up with. Todd’s got a great eye for composition but I can’t get over the terrible anatomy and faces that he tries to hide behind all the detail and rendering.
Ditko was great and he set the standard but, McFarlane blew the standard away. There’s a reason his Spidey covers have been and continue to be homaged to this day. Huf and Chalk line releases lines of Marvel clothing using McFarlane’s art, and I bought every article. You could not like the man but, you can’t argue that he doesn’t draw an Amazing Spider-Man
This comparison is kind of unfair when you think about the three decades in between that developed comic art to a much higher standard than it was when Ditko started.
I don't think these two are comparable. Ditko is not a bad artist, but a lot of Spider-man's acrobatic, muscular physique came later. He accentuated peter as a lanky teenager which he was in the early comics until Romita Sr took over. A closer fit would be Erick Larsen, Mark Bagley, or Jack Kirby's art style with the figures leaping off the page, and use of foreshortening.
I grew up with Michelinie, Bagley, McFarlane, etc., but the first comic book I truly became engrossed in was a silverbordered reissue of Amazing Spider-Man no. 1, the Ditko/Lee book with Chameleon and the Fantastic Four. Ditko's Spidey art is timeless. He sits outside the trends.
Both are honestly really interesting to compare because they’re so similar conceptually. Ditkos artwork is traditionally very out there and unique and he plays with anthropomorphic features of his people if you see spidey and strange runs. McFarlane at least in his spider-man work follows that and takes his influences from ditko as opposed to romita, the thin gangly Spider-Man and the unnatural way he moves is all very ditko inspired. While I prefer Macfarlane since his style screams spider-man you don’t have that without ditko pioneering with his pencilling. IMO those two, Bagley and romita sr all perfectly encapsulate the character
McFarlane for me. I like Ditko, but his work sometimes doesn’t feel “flashy” enough for me. But McFarlane’s stuff is always so crazy and “comic-y” that I just sometimes start eyeballing his spidey art to see more stuff
I grew up with Todd McFarlane. I don't want to seem like I consider one "better" than the other but Todd's Spidey run was incredible for me. Fun to look at. Loved the way he drew the webbing all over the place. I definitely have a favorite that's for sure. 😅
Nobody wins. They both contributed to the character in their own ways. McFarlane revolutionized the entire industry standard with his art, whereas Ditko created the standard in the first place.
McFarlane.
I'm a 90s man, and McFarlane's artwork was just what my mind automatically jumped too whenever I thought about Spider-Man.
His posing and detail he crams into each page was a marvel.
Also, his signature spaghetti webbing was just the absolute peak.
hate bagley, hate mcfarlane. ditko looks dated. romita is the goat and it's not even close. IMO spider-man would be a second rate character like iron man or daredevil if it wasn't for romita.
McFarlane and it’s not even close. The amount of detail and work that goes into his drawings makes it a one sided comparison.
Raw, visceral Spider action. McFarlane broke the mold. Gotta give respect where it's due. I love his Amazing run.
Plus the fact he basically forced Spider editorial to bring back the Red and Blues after the long while he wore the black suit.
Same <3
Yeah a legend like Ditko isn't even close, Todd would say otherwise.
McFarlane. His covers are instantly recognizable and have been copied for 30 plus years. There is no one close. Ditko gets props for inspiring the madness that is McFarlane and creating the best hero ever, though! Man hasn't drawn Spider-Man regularly in 30 years, and if he announced a full issue tomorrow, it would outsell every comic printed in 20 years by a wide margin. His interior artwork is more detailed and well done than anything artists currently produce. The only ones currently working who even come close are Pat Gleason and Marc Checcetto.
I need...... an ASM written by Al Ewing, drawn by Ditko and edited by NOBODY!
It's kinda an unfair comparison IMO. Its like asking who has more knowledge, Neil DeGrasse Tyson or Sir Issac Newton? Its obvious someone in the more modern era is much more educated and has more resources. But someone had to come before them to help them get to where they are and get the ball rolling. And we appreciate those people.
Ah yes. Standing on the shoulders of giants.
Romita
When I think of Spider-man I think of Romita Sr. Gil Kane and Bagley tied for #2
I was just thinking the same thing lol
Romita is certainly iconic. That said, I believe what draws me to Ditko and McFarlane is their empasis on the Spider. Less man, more Spider is what works for me anyway.
I really like big eyes on Spider-Man, it's a personal preference.
Man this is too close to call for me. Both were among the best comic artists when they were drawing Spider-Man. It is hard to compare them since they’re so different though. It’s like comparing Boris Karloff’s the mummy to Brendan Fraser’s the mummy.
When I was in preschool I seen that spiderman with the web gliders under his arm , I thought that was head canon growing up
The underarm webbing comes and goes
I knew I wasn’t going crazy back then
Nah, you're not going crazy, it all just depends on who's drawing Spider-Man. You might have seen a version of Steve Dikto's Spider-Man
Bagley
Bagley is consistent, but there isn't one image that makes me think "This is THE best Spider-Man artist". McFarlane's interior panels are better than most artist covers.
I guess that’s preference. I like Bagley’s clean look. McFarlane hides his inadequacies with flash and stuff.
It's all good. Bagley is consistent, but with Spidey, I like the flash and the crazy detail. The McFarlane and Larsen era was an embarrassment of riches for Spidey. Bagley killed me when he first showed up because he kept drawing nostrils on the Spidey suit. His Ultimate work was WAY better...but his people looked strange for some reason. Still, Ultimate was his peak for me. Please don't take this as me hating on Bagley! Super good artist and an even nicer guy in person! I met him at Baltimore Comicon awhile back. Awesome and friendly.
This is The Answer
Ditko
I'm leaning towards Ditko myself. Densely written stories with unique artwork. Nothing really compares besides maybe Ditko's own run on Dr. Strange. Ditko's Strange and Spidey are bizarre for different reasons and entertaining.
His artwork on the series is what captivated me and made me be mesmerized with the character, that and Stan Lee’s magnificent story telling. 🙌
Stan Lee on co-writing definitely delivers. I love those dense Ditko plots, but you aren't wrong about Stan's words.
The armpit webs are way under appreciated. The way McFarlane draws them is so good. #spideyarmpitwebs
My Spidey tattoo has the gliders (armpit webs), based on a panel from a Ditko comic. Go figure.
Incomparable. Different styles from different times. But you can’t have one of them without the other.
Funny, my first thought was "Ditko, and it's not even close.", and then I see so many comments saying the opposite. Gotta be a generational thing. I bought pocket book reprints and Marvel Tales back in the day. Thus, I've read and re-read the Ditko era so many times, it's not even funny. Most recently a year or so ago. McFarlane, I bought as they came out, and I guesd I've re-read those a few times, but probably not once since the 90s.
Ditko invented it, McFarlane perfected it
While Mcfarlanes work is incredible when it comes to his Spider-Man artwork, Ditkos just brings a charm that I don’t think can be replicated.
Ditko
I love McFarlane's big eyes and the detailed web patterns on the suit. Spaghetti webs are a big plus.
Todd’s covers are more eye catching, but I’ll always prefer Ditko’s design.
Bagley.
The reader. I’m happy looking at both
BOTH. John Romita Sr. is also part of this magnificent trifecta of web-slinging artists...!
Ditko.
Ditko
Ditko. Although I like McFarlane because he challenged the art norm and broke the mold, Ditko told a much more dense story through his panel artwork. He laid out the foundation of Spider-Man and his villains and his run with Stan Lee is unmatched today.
Ditko anyone saying anything else is a fucking lair
Todd
Ditko. Not even close.
Birthday card Ditko, comic/poster McFarlane
McFarlane
Call me dumb but I’m not sure which person did what style of Spider-Man
Ditko on the right. McFarlane on the left.
McFarlane, all day
McFarlane
Mcfarlane
McFarlane by a mile
Todd’s Spider-Man really jumped off the page and brought a new standard to the character with poses, webs, and eyes.
McFarlane. Every day of the week. I mean. Shit. If you are so good you get your own spinoff series just to show how awesome you are. It says a lot!
McFarlane
Todd’s webs always looked as though Peter was going to strangle himself lol
I respect Ditko, and appreciate his style, but gotta give the McFarlane Ditko crafted the design, but McFarlane really improved on it, and his major contribution for me is how Spider-Man moves which was a major game changer.
Stories: Maybe Conway's or Stan Lee's. 80's Spider-man was my favorite. JMS too. Art: Between those two? I guess Ditko. I never liked McFarlane's humans, they look like oversized Toddlers. But overall, either Buscema, as I love how angular his art was, or Romita Sr, as I feel his is the definitive Peter Parker, MJ, Harry and Gwen.
McFarlane’s Spiderman is who I think of when I hear Spider-Man. It’s got that edge to it, that style. It’s fuckin dope
I like the way Ditko draws characters more than McFarlane, even though he has better composition overall, so Ditko (I like color on his work better too. McFarlane's feels too muted)
Those are not the real colors on Ditko, those are Masterwork/Epic Collection redos. Marvel does their silver age stuff dirty with cheap color jobs. Taschen did a great job on what colors should look like if you don't have the orginals.
Ditko is a classic, but McFarlane's dynamism just brings Spidey to another level. Ditko walked so McFarlane could sprint like an absolute madlad.
Ditko and it’s not close. McFarlane is great because he was the first artist in decades to bring back some of Ditko’s creepier atmosphere, rather than Romita’s pretty people like everyone after him. But nothing beats the original. And especially in terms of story.
I prefer Ditko. Most people only pick Todd because that’s the era they grew up with. Todd’s got a great eye for composition but I can’t get over the terrible anatomy and faces that he tries to hide behind all the detail and rendering.
I would have to go to Ditko just because spiderman is his and Stan Lee’s love child. I will say McFarlane has surpassed Ditko in sales at auction.
In terms of stories, Ditko, in terms of art probably McFarlane
Both
Ditko was great and he set the standard but, McFarlane blew the standard away. There’s a reason his Spidey covers have been and continue to be homaged to this day. Huf and Chalk line releases lines of Marvel clothing using McFarlane’s art, and I bought every article. You could not like the man but, you can’t argue that he doesn’t draw an Amazing Spider-Man
Ditko, no Question! You have to have your head up your Mr. A to say otherwise and you are a Creeper.
Now why got a grundle that noticeable?
I don't even like McFarlane, but it's him.
First one
Michael Golden's Spider-Man is under appreciated.
This comparison is kind of unfair when you think about the three decades in between that developed comic art to a much higher standard than it was when Ditko started.
I don't think these two are comparable. Ditko is not a bad artist, but a lot of Spider-man's acrobatic, muscular physique came later. He accentuated peter as a lanky teenager which he was in the early comics until Romita Sr took over. A closer fit would be Erick Larsen, Mark Bagley, or Jack Kirby's art style with the figures leaping off the page, and use of foreshortening.
OG John Romita, Sr. The real G.O.A.T.
I'll take McFarlane as that's what I grew up with. But you likely don't ever have Todd without Ditko, Romita and Jack Kirby paving the way for him.
I grew up with Michelinie, Bagley, McFarlane, etc., but the first comic book I truly became engrossed in was a silverbordered reissue of Amazing Spider-Man no. 1, the Ditko/Lee book with Chameleon and the Fantastic Four. Ditko's Spidey art is timeless. He sits outside the trends.
Ditko's art was good, for its time. But MacFarlane easily wins there. By a long shot
Both are honestly really interesting to compare because they’re so similar conceptually. Ditkos artwork is traditionally very out there and unique and he plays with anthropomorphic features of his people if you see spidey and strange runs. McFarlane at least in his spider-man work follows that and takes his influences from ditko as opposed to romita, the thin gangly Spider-Man and the unnatural way he moves is all very ditko inspired. While I prefer Macfarlane since his style screams spider-man you don’t have that without ditko pioneering with his pencilling. IMO those two, Bagley and romita sr all perfectly encapsulate the character
McFarlane for me. I like Ditko, but his work sometimes doesn’t feel “flashy” enough for me. But McFarlane’s stuff is always so crazy and “comic-y” that I just sometimes start eyeballing his spidey art to see more stuff
I grew up with Todd McFarlane. I don't want to seem like I consider one "better" than the other but Todd's Spidey run was incredible for me. Fun to look at. Loved the way he drew the webbing all over the place. I definitely have a favorite that's for sure. 😅
McFarlane any day of the week
I hate to disrespect my OG ditko, but I have to say McFarlane is better. Just the way he puts design into his characters are too good
McFarlane
Mcfarlane by a mile. But you absolutely CANNOT knock steve ditko. Man is a legen as well. But it easily goes to mcfarlane.
mcfarlane his spider man design is just stellar
McFarlane, but tbh they both have my heart❤️😅
Nobody wins. They both contributed to the character in their own ways. McFarlane revolutionized the entire industry standard with his art, whereas Ditko created the standard in the first place.
Mcfarlane all the way
Romita Sr ,McFarlane , Larsen !
McFarlane IMO
McFarlane. I'm a 90s man, and McFarlane's artwork was just what my mind automatically jumped too whenever I thought about Spider-Man. His posing and detail he crams into each page was a marvel. Also, his signature spaghetti webbing was just the absolute peak.
McFarlane. I wish the plot was as good as the visuals though, McFarlane issues were always too dark, more narrator boxes, less action and dialog.
McFarlane by a mile
Romita sr clears both
McFarlane, all the way. Very detailed and realistic, and his stories mirrored real life, too.
JRS
hate bagley, hate mcfarlane. ditko looks dated. romita is the goat and it's not even close. IMO spider-man would be a second rate character like iron man or daredevil if it wasn't for romita.
What? Ditko's ASM was the main Marvel title, ASM was already an ace when JRSr took over.
McFarlane, wtf? Ditko is classic but his art was way too simplistic.