One of the costumes on my "bucket list" has always been "Spider-Man done right!" I finally committed to tackling this project in late 2018, keeping the classic 60s and 70s Spidey comics (are there any other kind?) foremost in my mind! Click below to take a look into what went into making this snazzy, jazzy set of swingin' threads, frantic one!
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| Spidey, as drawn by "Jazzy" John Romita, Sr. has always been the definitive version of the Web-Slinger to me, and I always wanted to try assembling a cosplay that depicted this classic Silver/Bronze Age icon, so... |
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| Above: After months of studying so many Spidey costume designs, I set into creating one that would best represent the 70s version of the Wall-Crawler...A big learning curve (that took a few attempts), but I was able to build the above design, and get it off to the suit printers in plenty of time to get to work creating the other elements needed... |
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| Above two images: Let's start with a hard plastic faceshell that lies beneath the mask. I carefully cut away the entire lower half of mine to better facilitate breathing.... |
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| Above: Here is the finished printed costume, complete with commercially-made SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING lenses in place. Not quite right...Too wide, not enough "black area," etc...And, the costume has too much material at the neck... |
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| Above five images: I just had to create my own custom lenses, and it took tons of time (and felt eye-pieces) to nail the exact look I was after for the lenses and outlines....But, at last.... |
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| Above: The right shape and form! Now to add the white buckram material, and magnets carefully attached on the rear sides... |
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| Above two images: The half-shell, with the custom eye pieces magnetized in place! |
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| Above two images: Suiting up! Sure looks weird without the lenses in place! |
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| Above: Almost there! |
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| Above: My very helpful seamstress, Kalliste Cosplay! She was able to nip and tuck the costume here and there, add the much-needed eye-slits, and make and attach the "web-cape!" |
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| Above: Yep! Unless Spidey wanted to howl with pain every time he stepped on a rock or twig, soles had to be created and added to the feet of the costume! |
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| Above: After months of planning and work, Spidey debuts at last! A fun day at the Heroes Con comics convention, in Charlotte, North Carolina! |
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| Even tho I aimed for a definite Romita feel, the costume still has a bit of a Steve Ditko vibe... |
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| My "Mary Jane" makes the scene! Perfectly portrayed by Kalliste Cosplay (center image), here she is as first seen (drawn by John Romita, Sr.) in 1966, and (right) by Adam Hughes in a special painting whipped up for the fine folks at Heroes Aren't Hard To Find! |
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| Above two images: Spidey and MJ are joined by "Jolly" Jonah Jameson, in the peeved person of Victor Goldberg! |
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| Above: Cut and painted wooden dowel rods stood in for the exposed portions of the famed web-shooters! |
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| Above: My "Spider-Mobile" tricked out for a charity "trunk-or-treat" event! |
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| Pic by Jamie Earls. |
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| Pic by Jamie Earls. |
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| Who else recalls the old Ben Cooper Spidey mask and costume? Not exactly accurate, but... |
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| Above two images: Using this very cosplay, I created my own custom action figure and card! See more here! |
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| "But it's Aunt May who has a heart attack every two days....!" |
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| Above four images: Playing with the look of "mirrored lenses...." |
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| "Wait. There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man?!?" |
BONUS! See (below) a sensational video that details
the many comic and media influences that went into
the making of this crazy comic-centric costume!
BONUS BONUS! Click below to see (and hear) Spidey read
a wonderful children's book, as part of the Corona
storytime project!
I tried to make a Spider-man costume in high school and Geezus! It's tough. Other than I don't imagine the eyes being separate pieces like this this is probably the best Peter Parker could have come up with in his bedroom without catching Aunt May's attention. It's a mistake they keep making with Spider-man. His costume should always look like a kid built it in his bedroom. Nice job.
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