I think when most people (including guys like Romita Sr and Ditko) drew Spidey-Widey, it was a Red and Blue costume.

Usually, whenever I saw Byrne drawing him in non-Spidey books, it looked Red and Black.

What does the audience at home think?

(mostly I think red n' blue, by the way)

Red and blue. I think it's silly to say that his costume is just like Supermans hair, black with blue highlights. Only looked that way in the first handful of issues, if I remember right.

Oh, and in Larsens run I think.

Well, though I'm a traditionalist in most things, I loved the black costume. I always thought he should have stuck with it (he did have homemade versions, in the early issues of Web of Spidey, that weren't actually the symbiote). This cover did it for me - I just loved the black suit on sight.

I, too, am a big lover of the black costume. I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's probably the only time I've ever seen a legendary, recognizable, near iconic costume changed so dramatically ... and arguably (arguably!) be better than the original. I love the original, make no mistake, but I would not have pulled out my hair had the black costume stayed.

That said, to answer Ian's question, Spider-Man's costume is clearly red and blue. I don't know why someone would want to argue about that.

It's certainly red and blue now. The original intent might have been different, though. Personally, red and black makes more sense to me, because those are spider colors. Black widows are red and black. I know of no spiders that are red and blue (except in the movie, I guess, but that was a genetically enhanced spider!).

Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing. As I said, Spider-Man's is certainly red and blue now and has been for forty years. If you want to know which I prefer, though, well - sorry, blue people, but you can count me with the red and black camp!

The Scarlet Spider's costume rules.

I answered the poll, but I don't really understand the question. I.e., does it have to do with preference, or what was in fact intended or depicted, or in that case why the black and white choice?

Red and Purple as in the first few issues of "Amazing" back in the stone age.
I refuse to believe it was a printing error, it looked so original.

That's IT, I'm leaving!

Red and blue.

If it ever was intended red and black, it was for an issue or two.

It's ridiculous. Even Stan has referred to it as red and blue IIRC, and Marvel certinly has many times.

Now, the black and white costume is the finest second costume ever. and if the original wasn't a classic, and so iconic,it might even be superior.

Red and Gold.

blue and tan

Totally agreed on both points. I wouldn't mind if he used the black and white costume off and on while going out at night or something. Guess it would remind him and MJ too much of Venom though (as they said in-story a while ago, even though he kept using it).

Red and blue. Even if it was supposed to be red and black it's red and blue. I liked the black costume and remember in the previews of it in Marvel Age the white bits were coloured red - looked even better!

Nothing wrong with black and tan either:

Red & Blue, but it's cool to see it red & black from time to time, like in the Larsen or some Byrne issues.
I like it for Daredevil too: Its Red, but sometime its cool to see it black with red boots, hands, symbol, and Mask.

The real question is: "What color is the spider on his back?"


BTW, Red & Blue for the poll question, with no literalization of why it appeared black in the first few issues.

The question is ill formed. It was supposed to be originally red and black and that's how I voted, but much like Batman, the whole concept of it changed to red and blue, but unlike Batman never returned to red and black.

Right, not everything needs an explanation. It was cool with the grey Hulk, opened more story points and fit his constant changing status quo,but when we get to coloring changes, mistakes, and evolutions on costumes, it is a bit much.

and at that point, too much archeology.

Wait, Rob, do you mean to say you don't want every last panel of every last comic "explained" in great detail so that new, clarifying bits of continuity are "established?"