10 Best Spider-Man Creative Teams And How They Influenced the Marvel Hero

Before Spider-Man, the idea of an everyman superhero was a foreign concept. Marvel Comics publisher Martin Goodman was famously hesitant to print Stan Lee’s proposed new feature: after all, would readers buy a teenage superhero that wasn’t a sidekick? Sixty-two years and a billion-dollar franchise later, it’s safe to say that readers bought it.

The enduring appeal of Spider-Man lies in his universal relatability: readers see themselves in Peter Parker’s everyday struggles, cheering when he perseveres and mourning with him when he fails. Over the years, the Web-Slinger has had many noteworthy creators contribute to his mythos. From new settings to new adversaries, these creators were instrumental in making Spider-Man one of the most iconic superheroes in popular culture.

10 Dan Slott’s Spider-Man Was One of the Longest Runs Ever

From 2008-2018, Slott took Spider-Man to exciting new highs and devastatingly crushing lows

Dan Slott will go down as one of the most prolific Spider-Man writers in history. In his 10-year stint on Amazing Spider-Man, the writer teamed with several artists like Humberto Ramos, Marcos Martin, and Ryan Stegman to tell many stories that readers had never seen. Though many of Slott’s creative decisions at this time were polarizing, his creativity was always driven by a genuine love for the character.

While many fans consider stories like Spider-Island and Superior Spider-Man his creative high points, Slott’s most ambitious work came in 2014’s “Spider-Verse” crossover. This story involved every published version of Spider-Man to date teaming up to battle the deadly Inheritors. The concept immediately struck a chord with fans and went on to directly influence the smash-hit Spider-Verse films, further highlighting the author’s influence.

9 Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz Gave Spidey A New Suit

The fan-favorite duo helmed Marvel’s top title from 1984-1986

Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz are two of Marvel Comics’s all-time unsung creative teams. Having first worked together as editors/artists on Marvel Team-Up, the two found that they enjoyed working together and went on to work on several of Marvel’s top heroes. Their run on Amazing Spider-Man remains iconic, even though many things were working against it.

At the height of the grim and gritty era of 1980s comics, DeFalco and Frenz delivered a run that harkened back to Spider-Man’s earliest era. Their most notable assignment at the time, however, was the introduction of Spider-Man’s black costume. Knowing that fans would revolt against this new direction, the team had the foresight to reveal that the suit was an alien symbiote, which necessitated Spider-Man’s return to the original suit. Ironically, their work caused fans to warm to the suit, and it remains one of Spider-Man’s most iconic looks.

8 J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck Pulled Spider-Man Out From the Darkness

1987 was a watershed year for both Kraven and Spider-Man

While several of Spider-Man’s villains had beaten the hero before, an unlikely foe taught him the meaning of defeat. Spanning six issues across all three Spider-Man titles, writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Zeck told Spidey’s darkest story yet in “Kraven’s Last Hunt,” putting the hero through a metaphorical death and rebirth that is still being talked about by fans.

Though the discussion around “Kraven’s Last Hunt” often centers around the titular villain, the story remains as one of the defining moments in Spider-Man’s history. Being buried alive for two whole weeks, the hero had virtually nothing left in the tank. And yet, he dug himself out all the same, being driven only by the thoughts of what mattered to him most. “Kraven’s Last Hunt” stands as an all-time great Spider-Man story, not as a deconstruction, but as an affirmation of Spider-Man’s defining trait: Always persevering against all odds.

The team’s work from 1987-1990 set the tone for 90s Spider-Man

With an impressive seven-year stint writing Amazing Spider-Man, David Michelinie contributed several significant stories across several of the hero’s key eras. The first half of his run paired him with the sensational Todd McFarlane, a rising star following his successful stint on The Incredible Hulk. McFarlane’s eye-popping art style quickly became the highlight of the title, with his unique contortions and signature “spaghetti-webbing” (innovated by Michael Golden) leaving a permanent mark on Spider-Man’s design.

Of course, the pair’s defining contribution was the addition of Venom to Spider-Man’s world. The duo quickly established the character as Spider-Man’s most dangerous foe yet: Venom was relentless in his pursuit of killing Spider-Man, who couldn’t even rely on his spider-sense to alert him. Venom became a breakout star of Marvel Comics, and Spider-Man has been plagued with symbiote problems ever since.

6 Roger Stern and John Romita Jr’s Spider-Man is a Subtle Masterpiece

From 1980-1984, Stern and Romita highlighted the man in Spider-Man

Roger Stern’s run on Amazing Spider-Man is defined not just by what he did, but also by what he didn’t do. Having already had a successful run on sister-title Spectacular Spider-Man, it would have been all too easy for the writer to phone it in by re-hashing Spider-Man’s classic rogues’ gallery. Fortunately, he went in a different direction. Alongside artist John Romita Jr., Stern put the Wall-Crawler against villains from other corners of the Marvel Universe, proving that Spider-Man can adapt to and overcome anything.

The duo introduced an iconic new villain in the form of Hobgoblin, whose unrevealed secret identity remained a point of intrigue for years. Their most notable story, however, was “The Kid Who Collects Spider-Man,” a poignant tale in which the hero visits a young boy with leukemia. Stern and Romita’s defining work set the stage for future creators like Paul Jenkins and Chip Zdarsky to tell deep, dramatic tales featuring Spider-Man by largely foregoing action in favor of human interest.

5 J. Michael Straczynski Brought Mysticism to Amazing Spider-Man

From 2001-2007, Straczynski explored the hidden corners of Spider-Man’s past

Was the spider always going to bite Peter Parker? This question drove the bulk of J. Michael Straczynski’s run on Amazing Spider-Man. Alongside veteran artist John Romita Jr., Straczynski introduced the idea of the “spirit-totem,” which is the idea that the spider intended to imbue Peter with a mystical force. This major revelation created several new story avenues for the character, with prominent characters like Ezekiel and Morlun introduced in this run.

Of course, this was not all that Straczynski did. His work on Spider-Man was just as much of a return to form for the character, returning the character to Midtown High and re-defining his relationships with Aunt May and Mary Jane. Though editorial mandates made the latter years of his run quite polarizing, J. Michael Straczynski’s time on Amazing Spider-Man remains one of the definitive Spider-Man runs of its time.

4 Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley Gave Readers the Ultimate Spider-Man

The duo’s work carried the Ultimate Universe from 2000-2011

At the start of the new millennium, Marvel Comics made history with the “Ultimate” comics line. Hoping to bring in more new readers than ever, the initiative produced several new titles set in a brand-new continuity. Ultimate Spider-Man was the first title produced, with the unlikely pairing of indie sensation Brian Michael Bendis and veteran Spidey artist Mark Bagley chosen to create the series. The series instantly captivated audiences with its fresh, 21st-century take on Spider-Man

Bendis demonstrated an unrivaled knack for writing dialogue for young people, and his take on Peter Parker has been a core influence on most media adaptations since. Meanwhile, Bagley added more angular features to his existing Spider-Man design, giving the series a unique look. The pair worked on a staggering 111 issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, re-imagining many of the character’s defining moments and cementing their time with the character as the definitive Spider-Man run of the 21st Century.

3 Gerry Conway, Gil Kane, and John Romita Sr. Gave Spider-Man His Greatest Loss

The ramifications of Conway’s 1972-1975 run continue to ripple into Spider-Man’s present

It’s hard to think of a more unenviable task than having to follow Stan Lee on Amazing Spider-Man. However, Gerry Conway proved more than up for the job. Alongside legendary artists like Gil Kane and John Romita Sr., the 19-year-old prodigy would deliver some of the boldest stories of the era, setting the stage for Spider-Man’s entry into the Bronze Age of Comics.

Conway wasted little time: ten issues into his run, he wrote “The Death of Gwen Stacy”, arguably the definitive Spider-Man story, second only to his origin. Readers had never seen a hero fail to this degree, and it was equally unheard of to kill off a primary love interest. By forever changing how Peter Parker dealt with his friends, enemies, and loved ones, Conway’s run stands as Spider-Man’s definitive line of demarcation.

2 Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. Made Spider-Man Grow Up

Lee and Romita’s 1966-1973 run carried Spider-Man past his first centennial issue

When it was announced that Steve Ditko would be leaving Amazing Spider-Man, many readers wondered who could possibly adapt the legendary artist’s style. Stan Lee’s choice to replace him couldn’t have been any different. Though he initially drew in Ditko’s style, John Romita Sr. would eventually come into his own as one of the definitive artists in Spider-Man’s history.

This change in art style perfectly complimented Lee’s change in direction for Spider-Man. The two finally pushed Peter Parker past his adolescent awkwardness, giving the hero lasting friendships and his first major romance. However, as Peter’s social circle grew, so did the toll that being Spider-Man took on his personal life. Though not as immediately impactful as the run that preceded it, Stan Lee and John Romita’s time on Amazing Spider-Man perfected the formula that made the character work.

The team’s 1962-1966 run set a new standard in superhero storytelling

Most Spider-Man fans are familiar with Stan Lee’s account of how he conceived the character: needing a good hook for his new idea, the writer serendipitously saw a tiny spider spindling down a web in the corner of the room. As he often did, Lee took the concept to Jack Kirby but was dissatisfied with Kirby’s design. The missing piece of the Spider-Man puzzle would prove to be artist Steve Ditko, and on June 5th, 1962, readers were finally introduced to the Wall-Crawling hero.

What’s truly amazing is how much Stan and Steve managed to build in their four years on the title. Across thirty-eight issues and two annuals of Amazing Spider-Man, the pair created the vast majority of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery and supporting cast and introduced BOTH women that would become his defining love interests. As is often the case, there remains some controversy around which man truly created the character. But the fact remains that Spider-Man would be nothing without Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (the spider in the corner could not be reached for comment).