Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jun 17, 2025 | 5 comments

DESPOP TUESDAYS!

In the great debate, I always pick Mary Jane over Gwen. I think it has everything to do with the fact that I “met” MJ first and was completely smitten by how she looked in this opening splash page from 1974’s classic The Amazing Spider-Man #136, by Ross Andru, Frank Giacoia and Dave Hunt:

I was only 7 years old, but I thought, “Boy, when I’m older, how cool would it be just to walk down the street with a girl like that.”

Gwen Stacy, on the other hand, was “the other girl.” She was already gone by the time I really was getting into Spidey comics in the mid-’70s. She was always smashing, thanks to Gil Kane and, especially John Romita, I later found, but you never forget your first and MJ was it — especially when you add in her sassy attitude.

Not many artists have made me rethink this, but here comes our pal Des Taylor, with a Gwen gallery that’ll knock your Spider-socks off.

Dig this:

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Want more DESPOP TUESDAYS? Come back next week!

Want a commission? Buy prints? Buy Des’ comics? Check out his Despop Art website!

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MORE

— HEY KIDS! COMICS: 13 Spinner Rack Toppers We’d Love to See. Click here.

— ABRACADABRA! An Evening of Pure Magic With ZATANNA — and PAUL DINI. Click here.

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DES TAYLOR is the man behind creator-owned comic properties Scarlett Couture, The Vesha Valentine Story, The Trouble With Katie Rogers and a new property in the works The Blue Lotus Strikes. His client list includes DC Comics, La Perla, FHM, Cosmopolitan, Universal Music, ITV Studios America and many more. When he’s not working on his own properties or churning out commissions, Des spends his spare time… working some more, hating Arsenal and raising his two baby daughters, Scarlett and Leia-May.