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Favourite 5 #4: Spider-Man Artists of the Modern Age

Feb 15, 2009 Comics, Favourite 5

Spider-Man is arguably one of Marvel’s most popular and marketable characters and many artists have sharpened their pencils over the years for their chance to draw the wise-cracking, web-slinging hero.  During this time, we as comic book fans have been treated to some truly spectacular interiors and covers in the various Spidey books.  It was pretty easy for me to come up with my list of 5 favourite Spider-Man artists of the modern age so let’s get right into it.

Continue on to see if you agree with my favourites.

#5 Chris Bachalo

Amazing Spider-Man - Covers and Interiors

This Canadian penciler was one of 4 artists picked to tackle the weekly Amazing Spider-Man title when its weekly schedule was announced after the Brand New Day storyline.  Bachalo may not be as high profile as the rest of the names on this list, but he most certainly has the artistic chops required to deliver dynamic Spider-Man art on a consistent basis.  The word “unique” is often thrown around when describing an artists’ style (I’m guilty of this myself…) but it truly does apply in this case.  Flip through any recent issue of Amazing Spider-Man with Bachalo’s name in the credits and you will see a version of the web-crawler that is truly one-of-a-kind.   Many times you can “feel” Peter Parker under the weight of the Spider-Man costume (and persona) thanks to the body language and posture Bachalo has depicted.  No other artist’s Spider-Man looks like Bachalo’s and Bachalo’s Spider-Man looks like no other.

#4 Joe Quesada

Spider-Man: One More Day - Covers and Interiors

Count me among the many fans who did not agree with the One More Day story line that ran through the Spider-Man books in 2007.  But, story aside, the art turned in by Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada was absolutely beautiful.  Quesada’s run was far too brief at only 4 issues, but that was enough to proof his complete understanding of the character.  The EIC showed that he could easily draw Spidey swinging through the city with the best of them, but it was the more emotional moments (of which there were MANY) during the series that really made people take notice.  It’s a pretty tough task to force emotion through a mask that covers someone’s entire face, but Joe Q accomplished this with his skills as a penciler.  Spider-Man displayed a wide spectrum of emotions (fear, love, hate, etc.) during the bizarre series and we as an audience were able to experience them right along side him.  While I am more than pleased with what Quesada is doing during his current tenure as “The Big Cheese” at Marvel, it would be awesome to hear he was getting behind the drawing table again for a new Spider Tale soon.  Come back, Joe!

#3 Todd McFarlane

Amazing Spider-Man - Covers and Interiors

If you were a comic book fan in the 1990’s, then you probably have a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #1 in a comic box somewhere.  You might even have a few copies…  And if you have this comic, odds are its because you were a fan of Todd McFarlane.  It’s not hard to see why either.  McFarlane had complete control over Spidey’s body.  Two page spreads constantly displayed the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man in positions that no normal human could ever possibly achieve.  Heck, most normal humans couldn’t even conceive of DRAWING someone in these positions… Especially while swinging from roof top to roof top.  Enter Todd McFarlane with his imagination to dream this stuff up and his seemingly limitless natural ability to make it happen.

#2 J. Scott Campbell

Amazing Spider-Man - Covers

J.Scott Campbell has never done a run of interior artwork for a Spider-Man comic, but his “Amazing” covers cannot be ignored.  Campbell was simply born to draw Spider-Man.  The flexible hero and Campbell’s cartoon style are a perfect paring as he captures the fun and humour that should always be associated with Spidey.  The way that Campbell uses exaggerated anatomy seems like it was developed years ago in some lab for the sole purpose of applying it to Spider-Man one day when the world was ready for it.  Well, we’re ready!  Unleash it on us already!  A collaboration between Campbell and Jeph Loeb on an unnamed Spider-Man project has long been rumoured and sounds like it may actually happen some day.  But until then, we will just have to be patient and enjoy the currently available limited amount of Campbell produced Spidey goodness.

#1 John Romita Jr.

Amazing Spider-Man Covers and Interiors

Easily my favourite Spider-Man artist of all time.  John Romita Jr. is the reason I began reading Amazing Spider-Man comics again after years of indifference towards the character.  His extended runs on the series should be required reading for all comic and art fans.  JRJR’s minimalistic art approach to Spidey and his supporting cast somehow manages to convey the same emotional and action oriented punches to the stomach as the other artists on this list, but he does so with an extremely limited number of pencil strokes.  No line is ever wasted when Romita Jr. puts pencil to page and no detail is over looked.  This artist is a master of his craft.  If I had to choose only one of the artists from this list to draw the monthly adventures of the Amazing Spider-Man, my answer would be be John Romita Jr. without hesitation.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments section. Tell me if you have a favourite Amazing Spider-Man artist that you believe should be included in the Favourite 5.

Tags: artist, Chris Bachalo, Favourite 5, j. scott campbell, joe quesada, john romtia jr, spider-man, spiderman, todd mcfarlane