Spider-Man's 10 Best Costumes Of All Time
4. Iron Spider
For years, Marvel had dabbled with putting Spider-Man in an armored suit, often with disastrous results (see Web of Spider-Man #100, which features an armored Spider-Man that resembles a disco ball). But the Iron Spider suit, which was first illustrated by artist Ron Garney and made its debut during the build-up to Marvel's Civil War event in 2006, was bombastic and excessive in all the right ways.
Abilties-wise, the Iron Spider attire offers Spider-Man an array of new powers, including retractable mechanical arms, a glider function, a mask filter and enhanced optical lenses. Spider-Mans tenure in the Iron Spider outfit also represents a unique time for the character. The costume is designed and gifted to him by Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, who Spider-Man develops a close friendship with after he "dies" during "The Other" arc.
The color-scheme intentionally echoes the famous red and yellow Iron Man suit, as Tony sets Peter up in the attire not only to enhance his abilities, but to let the rest of the superhero world know which side Spider-Man is on for the divisive Superhero Registration Act battle that drives "Civil War." Spidey wears the suit through the first half of the Civil War until he switches sides about halfway through and joins the forces of the anti-superhero registration faction led by Captain America.
Elements of the suit resurfaced about seven years later during the Superior Spider-Man era, most notably the retractable arms an editorial decision that makes sense considering how the aptly named Doctor Octopus is actually the one currently controlling Peter Parkers body and brain.