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Steve Ditko

Birth name Stephen Ditko
Born November 2, 1927 (1927-11-02) (age 80)
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Nationality American
Area(s) Penciller, Inker, Writer
Notable works Spider-Man
Doctor Strange
The Question
Mister A
Hawk and Dove
Speedball

Steve Ditko (born 2 November 1927)[1] is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, miles east of Pittsburgh The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Spider-Man is a Fictional character appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Doctor Strange is a Fictional character, a Comic book sorcerer and Superhero in the. For the song by the British band The Hoosiers, see " Goodbye Mr A " Hawk and Dove are the names used by a number of DC Comics Superheroes who fight crime together as duos despite their sharply differing methods and attitudes about Robert "Robbie" Baldwin is a fictional Superhero character that appears in Marvel Comics. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative The definition of an artist is wide-ranging and covers a broad spectrum of Activities to do with creating Art, practicing the Arts and/or demonstrating A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms Spider-Man is a Fictional character appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Doctor Strange is a Fictional character, a Comic book sorcerer and Superhero in the. He was inducted into the comics industry's Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990. The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman (1924-1993 and coordinated by the publisher Fantagraphics are given for achievement in Comic books

Contents

Biography

Early life and career

Space Adventures #10 (Spring 1954), Steve Ditko's first comic-book cover art
Space Adventures #10 (Spring 1954), Steve Ditko's first comic-book cover art

Ditko was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the son of Ruthenian immigrants. Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, miles east of Pittsburgh The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term [2] Ditko grew up the son of a Depression-era mill-worker, with a sister named either Rita or Annamarie, and a younger brother, Pat. A factory (previously manufactory) or manufacturing plant is an industrial Building where workers manufacture goods (U. S. Census records of 1930 indicate that both his parents, Stephen and Anna Ditko, were born in Pennsylvania, and his grandparents were all from Czechoslovakia. He had only one sister at that time, Anna M. , who was about two years older. ) Good with his hands, Ditko in junior high school crafted wooden models of German airplanes to aid civilian World War II aircraft-spotters. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Overview Fixed-wing aircraft range from small training and recreational aircraft to Wide-body aircraft and military cargo aircraft. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including He was influenced by the work of newspaper cartoonists, particularly Will Eisner, writer-artist of The Spirit, and read Batman comic books. A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing Cartoons Traditionally much of this work was and still is humorous and is intended primarily for entertainment purposes William Erwin Eisner ( March 6, 1917 – January 3, 2005) was an acclaimed American Comics Writer, Artist and Batman (originally referred to as the Bat-Man and still referred to at times as the Batman) is a fictional Comic book Superhero co-created Ditko graduated from Johnstown High School in 1945, afterward doing military service in post-war Germany, where he produced hand-made comics as letters to his family. Military service in its simplest sense is service by an individual or group in an Army or other military organization whether as a chosen job or as a result of an involuntary

After his discharge, Ditko studied at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School (later the School of Visual Arts) in New York City, under Batman inker Jerry Robinson and others, and began professionally illustrating comic books in 1953. The School of Visual Arts ( SVA) is an Art school in Manhattan New York City and is one of the nation's leading independent Colleges of art and The School of Visual Arts ( SVA) is an Art school in Manhattan New York City and is one of the nation's leading independent Colleges of art and The City of New York Jerry Robinson (born January 1, 1922 in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American Comic book Artist best known He broke in almost simultaneously at the Crestwood Publications' imprint Prize Comics (penciling and inking "A Hole in the Head" in Black Magic Vol. Crestwood Publications, also known as Prize Comics and Feature Publications, was a Comic book publisher from the 1940s through the 1960s though most of 4, #3, Dec. 1953) and at Harvey Comics (assisting inker Mort Meskin on the Jack Kirby pencil work of Captain 3-D #1, Dec. Harvey Comics (also known as Harvey Publications) was an American Comic book Publisher, founded by Alfred Harvey in 1941 after buying Morton "Mort" Meskin (born May 30 1916, Brooklyn, New York City; died April 1995 was a prolific American Comic Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 &ndash February 6, 1994) was an American Comic book Captain 3-D was a Harvey Comics character who first appeared in December 1953 a few years before the beginning of the Silver Age of Comic Books. 1953). Much of Ditko's early work, starting with the cover of Space Adventures #10 (Spring 1954) and the five-page story "Homecoming" in that issue, was for Charlton Comics, for which he continued to work intermittently until the company's demise in 1986, producing science fiction, horror and mystery stories, as well as co-creating Captain Atom, with writer Joe Gill, in 1960. Charlton Comics was an American Comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1986 having begun under a different name in 1944 Horror fiction is broadly Fiction in any medium intended to scare unsettle or horrify the audience Captain Atom is a fictional Comic book Superhero. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in Joe Gill ( July 13 1919 - December 17 2006) was an American Magazine Writer and highly prolific Comic book

Ditko also drew for Atlas Comics, the 1950s precursor of Marvel Comics, beginning with the four-page "There'll Be Some Changes Made" in Journey into Mystery #33 (April 1956); this debut tale would be reprinted in Marvel's Curse of the Weird #4 (March 1994). Atlas Comics is the 1950s Comic book Publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc Journey into Mystery was an American Comic book series published by Atlas Comics, and later its successor Marvel Comics. Ditko would go on to contribute a large number of stories, many considered classic, to Atlas/Marvel's Strange Tales and the newly launched Amazing Adventures, Strange Worlds, Tales of Suspense and Tales to Astonish, issues of which would typically open with a Kirby-drawn monster story, followed by one or two twist-ending thrillers or sci-fi tales drawn by Don Heck, Paul Reinman, or Joe Sinnott, all capped by an often-surreal, sometimes self-reflexive short by Ditko and writer-editor Stan Lee. Strange Tales was the name of several Comic book Anthology series that have been published by Marvel Comics. Amazing Adventures is the name of several Anthology Comic book series all but one published by Marvel Comics. Tales of Suspense is the name of an American Comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. Tales to Astonish is the name of two American Comic book series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics. Don Heck ( January 2, 1929 – February 23, 1995) was an American Comic book Artist best known for co-creating Paul Reinman ( 2 September 1910, Germany — 27 September 1988) was an American Comic book Artist Joe Sinnott (born October 16, 1926, Saugerties New York, United States) is an American Comic book artist Editing Language, Images or Sound through correction condensation organization and other modifications in various media Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber; December 28, 1922) is an American Writer, editor, creator of comic book characters These bagatelles proved so popular that Amazing Adventures was reformatted to feature such stories exclusively beginning with issue #7 (Dec. 1961), when the comic was rechristened Amazing Adult Fantasy — a name intended to reflect its more "sophisticated" nature, as likewise the new tagline "The magazine that respects your intelligence".

From 1958 to either 1966 or 1968 (accounts differ), Ditko shared a Manhattan studio at 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue with noted fetish artist Eric Stanton, an art-school classmate. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Eric Stanton ( September 30 1926 – March 17 1999; born Ernest Stanzoni) was an American bondage and fetish When either artist was under deadline pressure, it was not uncommon for them to pitch in and help the other with his assignment. [3][4]

Marvel Comics

The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (1964): Cover art by Ditko.
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (1964): Cover art by Ditko.

Creation of Spider-Man

Main article: Spider-Man#Publication history

After Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Stan Lee obtained permission from publisher Martin Goodman to create a new "ordinary teen" superhero named "Spider-Man",[5] Lee originally approached his leading artist, Jack Kirby. Spider-Man is a Fictional character appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Martin Goodman (born January 18, 1908; died June 6, 1992, Palm Beach Florida) was an American Publisher of Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 &ndash February 6, 1994) was an American Comic book Kirby told Lee about his own 1950s character conception, variously called the Silver Spider and Spiderman, in which an orphaned boy finds a magic ring that gives him superpowers. Comics historian Greg Theakston says Lee and Kirby "immediately sat down for a story conference" and Lee afterward directed Kirby to flesh out the character and draw some pages. Greg Allen Theakston (born November 21, 1953) is an American Comics artist and illustrator "A day or two later", Kirby showed Lee the first six pages, and, as Lee recalled, "I hated the way he was doing it. Not that he did it badly — it just wasn't the character I wanted; it was too heroic". [6]

Lee turned to Ditko, who developed a visual motif Lee found satisfactory, although Lee would later replace Ditko's original cover with one penciled by Kirby. Ditko said,

“ "The Spider-Man pages Stan showed me were nothing like the (eventually) published character. In fact, the only drawings of Spider-Man were on the splash [i.e., page 1] and at the end [where] Kirby had the guy leaping at you with a web gun. F G H I L . . Anyway, the first five pages took place in the home, and the kid finds a ring and turns into Spider-Man. [7] ”

Ditko also recalled that,

“ One of the first things I did was to work up a costume. A vital, visual part of the character. I had to know how he looked . . . before I did any breakdowns. For example: A clinging power so he wouldn't have hard shoes or boots, a hidden wrist-shooter versus a web gun and holster, etc. . . . I wasn't sure Stan would like the idea of covering the character's face but I did it because it hid an obviously boyish face. It would also add mystery to the character. . . . [8] ”

Much earlier, in a rare contemporaneous account, Ditko described his and Lee's contributions in a mail interview with Gary Martin published in Comic Fan #2 (Summer 1965): "Stan Lee thought the name up. I did costume, web gimmick on wrist & spider signal". [9] Additionally, Ditko shared a Manhattan studio with noted fetish artist Eric Stanton, an art-school classmate[3] who, in a 1988 interview with Theakston, recalled that although his contribution to Spider-Man was "almost nil", he and Ditko had "worked on storyboards together and I added a few ideas. Manhattan Island, in New York Harbor, is much the largest part of the Borough of Manhattan, one of the Five Boroughs which form the City of New York Eric Stanton ( September 30 1926 – March 17 1999; born Ernest Stanzoni) was an American bondage and fetish But the whole thing was created by Steve on his own. . . I think I added the business about the webs coming out of his hands". [10]

Doctor Strange and other characters

Dormammu attacks Eternity in a Ditko "Dr. Strange" panel from Strange Tales #146 (July 1966).
Dormammu attacks Eternity in a Ditko "Dr. Strange" panel from Strange Tales #146 (July 1966).

After drawing the final issue of The Incredible Hulk (#6, March 1963), Ditko co-created with Lee the supernatural hero Doctor Strange, in Strange Tales #110 (July 1963). This article is about the comic book character and series For all other media appearances see Hulk in other media. The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Doctor Strange is a Fictional character, a Comic book sorcerer and Superhero in the. Strange Tales was the name of several Comic book Anthology series that have been published by Marvel Comics. Ditko and Lee shortly thereafter relaunched a Hulk series as a short feature in the anthology Tales to Astonish, beginning with issue #60 (Oct. ANThology is the first Major label album by Alien Ant Farm released on March 6, 2001 in the USA and March 19 Tales to Astonish is the name of two American Comic book series and a one-shot comic published by Marvel Comics. 1964). Ditko, inked by George Roussos, penciled the feature through #67 (May 1965). George Roussos, also known as "George Bell" (August 20 1915 Washington DC, United States – February 19 2000 Southside Hospital Ditko designed the Hulk's primary antagonist, the Leader, in #62 (Dec. The Leader (Samuel Sterns is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. 1964).

Ditko also penciled the Iron Man feature in Tales of Suspense #47-49 (Nov. Iron Man is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Tales of Suspense is the name of an American Comic book series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. 1963 - Jan. 1964), with various inkers. The first of these debuted the initial version of Iron Man's modern red-and-golden armor, though whether Ditko or cover-penciler and principal character designer Jack Kirby designed the costume is uncertain. Jack Kirby (born Jacob Kurtzberg, August 28, 1917 &ndash February 6, 1994) was an American Comic book

Though often overshadowed by his Amazing Spider-Man work, Ditko's "Doctor Strange" stories have been equally acclaimed, showcasing surrealistic mystical landscapes and increasingly head-trippy visuals that helped make the feature a favorite of college students, according to contemporaneous accounts. Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early-1920s and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members Eventually, as co-plotter and later sole plotter, in the "Marvel Method", Ditko would take Strange into ever-more-abstract realms, which yet remained well-grounded thanks to Lee's reliably humanistic, adventure/soap opera dialog. The Marvel Method is a form of Comic book writer-artist collaboration in which the artist works from a story synopsis rather than a full script creating page-by-page plot details A soap opera is an ongoing episodic work of Fiction, usually broadcast on Television or Radio. Ditko's tenure on "Dr. Strange" culminated in the introduction, in Strange Tales #146 (July 1966), of Ditko's grand and enduring conception of Eternity, the personification of the universe, depicted as a majestic silhouette whose outlines are filled with the cosmos. Eternity is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Whichever feature he drew, Ditko's idiosyncratic, cleanly detailed, instantly recognizable art style, emphasizing mood and anxiety, found great favor with readers. Anxiety is a physiological and psychological state characterized by Cognitive, Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral components The character of Spider-Man and his troubled personal life meshed well with Ditko's own interests, which Lee eventually acknowledged by giving the artist plotting credits on the latter part of their 38-issue run. But after four years on the title, Ditko left Marvel; he and Lee had not been on speaking terms for some time, though the details remain uncertain. Lee recalled that, "Little by little, he became more unfriendly. Instead of bringing his artwork in, he sent it by messenger". Ditko later claimed it was Lee who broke off contact and disputed the long-held belief[11] the disagreement was over the true identity of the Green Goblin: "Stan never knew what he was getting in my Spider-Man stories and covers until after [production manager] Sol Brodsky took the material from me . The Green Goblin is a name shared by several fictional Supervillains that appear in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Sol Brodsky (born April 22, 1923, Brooklyn, New York City New York, United States; died June 4, 1984) was an . . so there couldn't have been any disagreement or agreement, no exchanges . . . no problems between us concerning the Green Goblin or anything else from before issue #25 to my final issues". [12]

Comics historian Greg Theakston, who visited Ditko on occasion, theorized Ditko saw The Amazing Spider-Man as semi-autobiographical: "Spider-Man was the culmination of everything Ditko was up until that moment. Ditko had personal ties to the character. When people started to 'manipulate him' into bringing in more romance into the strip and changing the direction, Ditko felt slighted, crushed . . . they were telling him how to do it. He wouldn't be told". [12]

Writer and future Marvel editor Roy Thomas said in a 1998 interview that, "I'll never forget the day I walked into one Marvel office not long after Ditko quit, and here's John Romita, Sr. drawing Amazing Spider-Man and Larry [Lieber] drawing the Spider-Man Annual and Marie Severin drawing 'Dr. Roy Thomas (born November 22 1940, Missouri, United States) is a Comic book Writer and editor, and John Romita Sr (better known as simply John Romita) (born January 24, 1930) is an Italian-American Comic-book artist best known Larry D Lieber (born October 26, 1931, New York City, New York) is an American Comic book artist and writer and the younger Marie Severin (born 21 August, 1929, Oceanside New York) is an American Comic book Artist and Colorist best Strange', and I joked, 'This is the Steve Ditko Room; it takes three of you to do what Steve Ditko used to do'". [13]

Charlton and DC Comics

The Creeper in Showcase #73 (April 1968). Cover art by Ditko.
The Creeper in Showcase #73 (April 1968). Cover art by Ditko.

Back at Charlton — where the page rate was low but creators were allowed greater freedom — Ditko worked on such characters as Blue Beetle (1967-68), The Question (1967-68), Captain Atom (1965-1967, returning to the character he'd co-created in 1960), and in 1974 backup stories E-Man, writer Joe Gill's Liberty Belle and Ditko's own Killjoy. Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional, American Comic book Superheroes published by a variety of companies since 1940 The Question is the name used by a number of Comic book Superheroes in the DC Comics universe. Captain Atom is a fictional Comic book Superhero. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in E-Man is a fictional Comic book Superhero created by Writer Nicola Cuti and Artist Joe Staton for Joe Gill ( July 13 1919 - December 17 2006) was an American Magazine Writer and highly prolific Comic book For other Liberty Belle, see Liberty Belle (disambiguation. Liberty Belle is the name of three fictional Superheroines With The Question and Killjoy, Ditko freely expressed his personal ideology, based on Ayn Rand's Objectivism and the writings of Greek philosopher Aristotle. Ayn Rand (ˈaɪn ˈrænd &ndash March 6 1982 born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum (Алиса Зиновьевна Розенбаум was a Russian born American Aristotle (Greek Aristotélēs) (384 BC – 322 BC was a Greek philosopher a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. Ditko also produced much work for Charlton's science-fiction and horror titles. In addition, in 1966-1967, he drew 16 stories by writer Archie Goodwin for Warren Publishing's horror-comic magazines, most of which were done using ink-wash. Archie Goodwin ( September 8, 1937 &ndash March 1, 1998) was an American Comic book writer editor and artist Warren Publishing was an American Magazine company founded by James Warren, who published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for Horror fiction is broadly Fiction in any medium intended to scare unsettle or horrify the audience Magazines, periodicals or serials are Publications generally published on a regular schedule containing a variety of articles, generally

In 1967, Ditko gave his ideas ultimate expression in the form of Mr. A, published in Wally Wood's independent title witzend #3. For the song by the British band The Hoosiers, see " Goodbye Mr A " Wallace Allan Wood ( June 17, 1927, Menahga Minnesota – November 2, 1981, Los Angeles California) was an American witzend, edited and published by Bill Pearson on an irregular schedule spanning Ditko's hard line against criminals was controversial and alienated many fans, but he continued to produce Mr. A stories and one-pagers until the end of the 1970s. Ditko returned to Mr. A once more in 2000.

Ditko moved to DC Comics in 1968, where he created the Creeper in Showcase #73 (April 1968) with scripter Don Segall), under editor Murray Boltinoff. DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company The Creeper ( Jack Ryder) is a fictional Comic-book Superhero in the DC Comics universe Showcase has been the title of several Anthology series published by DC Comics. Ditko shortly afterward recommended Charlton editor Dick Giordano to DC,[14] where Giordano would become managing editor in 1981. Dick Giordano (born Richard Joseph Giordano on July 20, 1932) is an American Comic book Artist and editor

Ditko co-created the The Hawk and the Dove in Showcase #75 (June 1968), working with writer Steve Skeates, but left after drawing the first two issues of the duo's ongoing series (Sept. Hawk and Dove are the names used by a number of DC Comics Superheroes who fight crime together as duos despite their sharply differing methods and attitudes about Steve Skeates is an American Comic book writer for industry leaders DC Comics and Marvel Comics, among others on characters including the -Nov. 1968).

Ditko's stay at DC was short — he would work on all six issues of the Creeper's own title, Beware the Creeper (June 1968 - April 1969), though leaving midway through the final one — and again, the reasons for his departure are uncertain. From this time up through the mid-1970s, he worked exclusively for Charlton and various small press/independent publishers, including former Marvel publisher Martin Goodman's start-up Atlas/Seaboard Comics, where he co-created the superhero the Destructor with writer Archie Goodwin, and penciled all four issues of the namesake series (Feb. The term "alternative comics" is one of several labels applied to a range of Comics that have appeared since about 1980 in the wake of the Underground comix Martin Goodman (born January 18, 1908; died June 6, 1992, Palm Beach Florida) was an American Publisher of Atlas/Seaboard is the term Comic-book historians and collectors use to refer to the 1970s line of comics published as Atlas Comics by the American company Archie Goodwin may refer to Archie Goodwin (fictional detective, created by Rex Stout Archie Goodwin (comics (1937-1998 comic book -Aug. 1975), the first two of which were inked by fellow comics legend Wally Wood. Wallace Allan Wood ( June 17, 1927, Menahga Minnesota – November 2, 1981, Los Angeles California) was an American

Latter-day Ditko

Ditko returned to DC Comics in 1975, creating one short-lived title, Shade, the Changing Man (1977-78). Shade the Changing Man is a Fictional Comic book character created by Steve Ditko for DC Comics in 1977 Shade was later revived, without Ditko's involvement, in the DC's mature-audience imprint Vertigo Comics. Vertigo is an Imprint of the American Comic-book publisher DC Comics. With Paul Levitz (writer) and Wally Wood (inker), he co-created Stalker (1975-76) which ran for four issues. Paul Levitz (born 21 October 1956) is an American Comic book Writer, Editor and executive Wallace Allan Wood ( June 17, 1927, Menahga Minnesota – November 2, 1981, Los Angeles California) was an American Stalker is a Fictional Antihero and Swords and sorcery character published by DC Comics. He also revived the Creeper and did such various other jobs as a short Demon backup series in 1979, work on Legion of Superheroes in 1980-81, and stories in DC's horror and science-fiction anthologies. The Demon is a DC Comics Superhero series created by prolific Comic book writer-artist Jack Kirby. This is about the DC Comics superhero team For the animated television series based on this see Legion of Super Heroes (TV series. He also drew the Prince Gavin version of Starman in Adventure Comics #467-478 (1980). Starman is a name used by several different fictional DC Comics Superheroes most prominently Ted Knight and his son Jack. Adventure Comics is a Comic book series published by DC Comics from 1935 to 1983 He then decamped to do work for a variety of publishers, briefly contributing to DC again in 1986, with four pinups of his characters for Who's Who in the DC Universe and a pinup for Superman #400 and its companion portfolio. Who's Who in the DC Universe (usually referred to as Who's Who) is the Umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics Superman is a fictional Comic book Superhero widely considered to be one of the most recognized of such characters and an American Cultural icon

Ditko returned to Marvel in 1979, taking over Jack Kirby's Machine Man and continuing to freelance for the company into the late 1990s. Machine Man ( X-51 /also called Aaron Stack) is a Fictional character created by writer/artist Jack Kirby for Marvel Comics. In 1982, he also began freelancing for Pacific Comics, beginning with Captain Victory and the Galactic Rangers #6 (Sept. Pacific Comics (PC is best known as one of the independent Comic book publishers that flourished in the early 1980s but was also a chain of comics shops and a distributor Captain Victory was a Comic book created written and drawn by Jack Kirby. 1982), in which he introduced the superhero Missing Man, with Mark Evanier scripting for Ditko's plot and art. Mark Stephen Evanier (born March 2 1952) is an American Comic book and Television Writer, particularly known for his Subsequent Missing Man stories appeared in Pacific Presents #1-3 (Oct. 1982 - Marcy 1984), with Ditko scripting the former and collaborating with Robin Snyder on the script for the latter two. Ditko also created the Mocker for Pacific, in Silver Star #2 (April 1983). The Mocker is a fictional character by artist Steve Ditko. Plot Tyler Rayne was an assistant District Attorney with

For Eclipse Comics, he contributed a story featuring his character Static (no relation to the later Milestone Comics character) in Eclipse Monthly #1-3 (Aug. Eclipse Comics was an American Comic book Publisher, one of several influential independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s Milestone Media is a company best known for creating the Milestone Comics Imprint (that was published through DC Comics) and the Static Shock Eclipse Monthly was a full color Comics anthology title published by Eclipse Comics. -Oct. 1983), introducing supervillain the Exploder in #2. A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the Villain character type commonly found in Comic books, Action movies and With writer Jack C. Harris, Ditko drew the backup feature "The Faceless Ones" in First Comics' Warp #2-4 (April-June 1983). First Comics was an American Comic-book publisher History First Comics launched in 1983 with a line-up of creators including Frank Brunner Working with that same writer and others, Ditko drew a handful of The Fly, Fly-Girl and Jaguar stories for The Fly #2-8 (July 1983 - Aug. The Jaguar is a Superhero published by Archie Comics. He was created as part of Archie's "Archie Adventure Series" before that line was camped up 1984), for Archie Comics' short-lived 1980s superhero line; in a rare, possibly unique latter-day instance of Ditko inking another artist, he inked penciler Dick Ayers on the Jaguar story in The Fly #9 (Oct. Archie Comics is an American Comic book publisher known for its many series featuring the fictional teenage Archie Andrews, Betty Cooper The inker is one of the two line artists in a traditional Comic book, or Graphic novel. A penciller (or penciler) is one of a number of types of Artists working within the Comic book industry Richard Bache "Dick" Ayers (born April 28, 1924, Ossining New York, United States) is a Comic book artist and Cartoonist 1984)

In 1993, he did the Dark Horse Comics one-shot The Safest Place in the World. Dark Horse Comics is one of the largest independent American Comic book publishers behind dominant publishers Marvel Comics and DC Comics In the American Comic book industry the term one-shot is used to denote a pilot comic or a stand-alone story created to last as one issue For the Defiant Comics series Dark Dominion, he drew issue #0, which was released as a set of trading cards,

In 1995, he pencilled a four-issue series for Marvel based on the Phantom 2040 animated TV-series. Defiant Comics was a comic book publishing imprint of Enlightened Entertainment Partners LP Dark Dominion is a comic book series that was published monthly by DEFIANT from October of 1993 until July of 1994 A trading card (or collectible card) is a small Card, usually made out of Cardboard or thick Paper, which usually contains an image of a Phantom 2040 is an animated Science fiction television series loosely based on the Comic strip hero The Phantom, created This included a poster that was inked by John Romita Sr. John Romita Sr (better known as simply John Romita) (born January 24, 1930) is an Italian-American Comic-book artist best known

An aborted series at Fantagraphics Books, Steve Ditko's Strange Avenging Tales ran one issue, in 1997. Fantagraphics Books is an American publisher of Alternative comics, classic Comic strip anthologies Magazines Graphic novels

Ditko retired from mainstream comics in 1998, having worked in his latter years both on such established superheroes as the Sub-Mariner (in Marvel Comics Presents) to newer, licensed characters such as the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Marvel Comics Presents is a Comic book Anthology series published by Marvel Comics originally from 1988 to 1995 before it was Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (often abbreviated by fans as MMPR) is an American Live-action Television series, created The last mainstream character he created was Marvel's Squirrel Girl in Marvel Super-Heroes vol. Squirrel Girl ( Doreen Green) is a fictional Superhero in the Marvel Universe. Marvel Super-Heroes is the name of several Comic book series and specials published by Marvel Comics. 2, #8 (Jan. 1992).

Since then, Ditko's solo work has been published intermittently by independent publisher and long-time friend Robin Snyder, his former editor at Charlton, Archie Comics, and Renegade Press in the 1980s. Renegade Press was a Comic book company founded by Canadian Deni Loubert, that operated from 1984 to 1988. The Snyder-published books have included Static, The Missing Man, The Mocker and, in 2002, Avenging World, a collection of stories and essays spanning 30 years.

Ditko's final original works for mainstream comics have been: for Marvel, the self-inked, 12-page Iron Man story "A Man's Reach. Iron Man is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. . . . ", by writer Len Wein, in the black-and-white comic book Shadows & Light #1 (Feb. Len Wein (born June 12, 1948) is an American Comic book Writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics 1998); and, for DC, the 10-page Spectre story "The Depths Of Despair", by writers Bill Mumy and Peter David, inked by Kevin Nowlan in Legends of the DC Universe 80-Page Giant #1 (Sept. The Spectre is a fictional cosmic entity and Superhero who has appeared in numerous Comic books published by DC Comics. Charles William Mumy Jr (ˈmuːmi born February 1, 1954) is an American Actor, Musician, pitchman Instrumentalist, For the Grenadian politician see Peter David (politician. Peter Allen David (often abbreviated PAD) (born September 23 Kevin Nowlan (born 1958 is an American Comic-book artist Self-taught Nowlan first came to the industry's attention in the early 1980s via illustrations 1998).

Personal life

Ditko resides in New York City as of 2008. He has refused to give interviews or make public appearances since the 1960s, explaining in 1969 that, "When I do a job, it’s not my personality that I’m offering the readers but my artwork. It’s not what I'm like that counts; it’s what I did and how well it was done. . . . I produce a product, a comic art story. Steve Ditko is the brand name". [15] He has, however, contributed numerous essays to Snyder's fanzine The Comics.

Ditko is an ardent supporter and advocate of Ayn Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. Ayn Rand (ˈaɪn ˈrænd &ndash March 6 1982 born Alisa Zinov'yevna Rosenbaum (Алиса Зиновьевна Розенбаум was a Russian born American Objectivism is a Philosophy developed by Ayn Rand in the 20th century that encompasses positions on Metaphysics, Epistemology, [16] [17]

Awards

Ditko was inducted into the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1990. The Harvey Awards, named for writer-artist Harvey Kurtzman (1924-1993 and coordinated by the publisher Fantagraphics are given for achievement in Comic books

Selected bibliography

Strange Suspense Stories #75 (June 1965), reprinting Captain Atom stories from Space Adventures #33, 34 & 36. Cover art by Ditko.
Strange Suspense Stories #75 (June 1965), reprinting Captain Atom stories from Space Adventures #33, 34 & 36. Cover art by Ditko.
Amazing Adult Fantasy #8 (Jan. 1962). Cover art by Ditko.
Amazing Adult Fantasy #8 (Jan. 1962). Cover art by Ditko.

As penciler (generally but not exclusively self-inked), unless otherwise noted

Marvel

Amazing Adult Fantasy #7-14; becomes
Amazing Fantasy #15

DC

Charlton

Warren

Legacy

Quotes

Ditko

On artist Mort Meskin: "Meskin was fabulous, I couldn't believe the ease with which he drew: strong compositions, loose pencils, yet complete; detail without clutter. Morton "Mort" Meskin (born May 30 1916, Brooklyn, New York City; died April 1995 was a prolific American Comic I loved his stuff". [19]

Excerpt from Comic Fan #2, Summer 1965, Ditko interview conducted by mail with Gary Martin; punctuation verbatim:

GARY - Who originated Spider-Man?
STEVE - Stan Lee thought the name up. I did costume, web gimmick on wrist & spider signal.
GARY - Would you enjoy continuing on him?
STEVE - If nothing better comes along. [20]


Voice of Comicdom #4 (April 1965): Comment on this fanzine's reader-poll to determine which "Best Liked" fan strips would continue to be published; punctuation verbatim:

“ It seems a shame, since comics themselves have so little variety of stories and styles that you would deliberately restrict your own creative efforts to professional comics shallow range. What is 'Best Liked' by most readers is what they are most familiar in seeing and any policy based on readers likes has to end up with a lot of look-a-like strips. You have a great opportunity to show everyone a whole new range of ideas, unlimited types of stories and styles---why FLUB it!"[21] ”

Other creators on Ditko

Dick Giordano, editor at Charlton and later DC Comics: "He was suffering from a lung ailment all his life from, I think, tuberculosis when he was younger. Dick Giordano (born Richard Joseph Giordano on July 20, 1932) is an American Comic book Artist and editor He was younger then and needed to exercise, so Steve and I used to spend a lot of time playing ping-pong. They had a table in the cafeteria, and we'd work up a sweat — that's how I learned to play, with Steve — and I had to defend myself when we started. By the time we finished playing, we were fairly equal, I think, but he'd still beat me more often than not". [22]

Frank McLaughlin, Charlton art director: "Ditko lived in a local hotel in Derby for a while. Frank McLaughlin is an American Comic book Artist who co-created the character Judomaster; a Comic strip illustrator who served as Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. He was a very happy-go-lucky guy with a great sense of humor at that time, and always supplied the [female] color separators with candy and other little gifts". [22]

Characters created

The Hawk and the Dove #1 (Sept. 1968). Cover art by Ditko.
The Hawk and the Dove #1 (Sept. 1968). Cover art by Ditko.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Comics Buyers Guide #1636 (December 2007) p. The Creeper ( Jack Ryder) is a fictional Comic-book Superhero in the DC Comics universe Hawk and Dove are the names used by a number of DC Comics Superheroes who fight crime together as duos despite their sharply differing methods and attitudes about Shade the Changing Man is a Fictional Comic book character created by Steve Ditko for DC Comics in 1977 Spider-Man is a Fictional character appearing in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Green Goblin is a name shared by several fictional Supervillains that appear in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Doctor Octopus is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Doctor Strange is a Fictional character, a Comic book sorcerer and Superhero in the. Electro is the name of several Fictional characters that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics, including two from Marvel's predecessors Kraven the Hunter is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Lizard is a Fictional character, a Comic book Supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, and an enemy of Spider-Man The Mocker is a fictional character by artist Steve Ditko. Plot Tyler Rayne was an assistant District Attorney with Mysterio is the name of three Fictional characters The Question is the name used by a number of Comic book Superheroes in the DC Comics universe. Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional, American Comic book Superheroes published by a variety of companies since 1940 For the song by the British band The Hoosiers, see " Goodbye Mr A " Captain Atom is a fictional Comic book Superhero. Created by writer Joe Gill and artist/co-writer Steve Ditko, he first appeared in E-Man is a fictional Comic book Superhero created by Writer Nicola Cuti and Artist Joe Staton for Sandman ( William Baker, aka Flint Marko) is a Fictional Character who appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics Robert "Robbie" Baldwin is a fictional Superhero character that appears in Marvel Comics. Squirrel Girl ( Doreen Green) is a fictional Superhero in the Marvel Universe. Scorpion, in comics, may refer to Marvel Comics comics characters Mac Gargan, a supervillian and frequent enemy of Spider-Man Stalker is a Fictional Antihero and Swords and sorcery character published by DC Comics. The Vulture is the name of three Comic book Supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. Dormammu is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by Marvel Comics. Comics Buyer's Guide ( (CBG is the second longest-running Periodical reporting on the Comic book industry 135
  2. ^ Los Angeles Times via Chicago Tribune Web edition: "Spider-Man's Long-Lost Parent: Reclusive artist Steve Ditko, who created the superhero with Stan Lee then abruptly walked away, is listed in new film's credits", by Jordan Raphael, April 29, 2002
  3. ^ a b Ditko Looked Up: "Ditko & Stanton"
  4. ^ Theakston, Greg. The Steve Ditko Reader (Pure Imagination, Brooklyn, NY, 2002; ISBN 1-56685-011-8), pp. 13-15 (unnumbered, pp. 14-15 misordered as pp. 16 & 14)
  5. ^ Lee, Stan, and Mair, George. Excelsior!: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee (Fireside, 2002), p. 130. ISBN 0-684-87305-2
  6. ^ Theakston, Greg. Steve Ditko Reader, p. 12 (unnumbered)
  7. ^ Theakston, Steve Ditko Reader, p. 13
  8. ^ Ditko, Robin Snyder's History of Comics, Ibid.
  9. ^ "Steve Ditko - A Portrait of the Master." Comic Fan #2, Summer 1965. Published by Larry Herndon
  10. ^ Theakston, Steve Ditko Reader, p. 14 (unnumbered, misordered as page 16)
  11. ^ Jonathon Ross, In Search of Steve Ditko BBC 4
  12. ^ a b Lawrence, Christopher, "Who Is Steve Ditko?", Wizard #124 (Jan. BBC Four is a BBC Television channel available to digital television ( Freeview, IPTV, satellite and cable) viewers in the 2002)
  13. ^ "Stan the Man & Roy the Boy: A Conversation Between Stan Lee and Roy Thomas", Comic Book Artist #2 (Summer 1998)
  14. ^ Evanier, Mark. "News from Me" (column): "Ditko Doc", September 11, 2007. Retrieved 19-09-2007
  15. ^ Ditko interview in Masters of Imagination: The Comic Book Artists Hall of Fame by Mike Benton (Taylor Publishing, 1994) ISBN-10 0878338594, ISBN-13 978-0878338597), quoting from fanzine Marvel Main #4 (1969), published by Mike Howell and Richard Howell
  16. ^ "The Amazing Steve Ditko" by Douglas Wolk, Salon.com, June 3, 2005, p. A fanzine (see also Zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre for the pleasure Saloncom, part of Salon Media Group ( often just called Salon, is an online 2
  17. ^ Ditko Shrugged. A four part essay on Rand's influence on Ditko: Part 1: Ayn Rand’s Influence on Steve Ditko’s Craft, Commerce, and Creeper, Part 2: Apollonian and Dionysian Conflicts in The Hawk and the Dove and Beware the Creeper, Part 3: Did Neal Adams Work on Beware the Creeper #5? and Part 4: After Ditko, the Drought, Silver Bullet Comic Books, September 11-22, 2007
  18. ^ IMDb credits
  19. ^ Theakston, Steve Ditko Reader, p. Comics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American Comic book industry updated daily with news reviews interviews and editorial content 3 (unnumbered)
  20. ^ Comic Fan #2 (Summer 1965), published by Larry Herndon: "Steve Ditko: A Portrait of the Master"
  21. ^ Voice of Comicdom #4 (April 1965): Letter-to-the-editor
  22. ^ a b Comic Book Artist #9 (Aug. 2000): "The Charlton Empire: A Brief History of the Derby, Connecticut Publisher", by Jon B. Cooke & Christopher Irving

References

External links

Preceded by
None		 Amazing Spider-Man artist
1962–1966		 Succeeded by
John Romita, Sr.
Preceded by
None		 Doctor Strange artist
1963–1968		 Succeeded by
Bill Everett


The Grand Comic-Book Database ( GCD) is an Internet -based project to build a Database of Comic book information with the aim that this database The Amazing Spider-Man is the name of several media Presentations which feature the Marvel Comics Superhero Spider-Man, John Romita Sr (better known as simply John Romita) (born January 24, 1930) is an Italian-American Comic-book artist best known Doctor Strange is a Fictional character, a Comic book sorcerer and Superhero in the. William Blake "Bill" Everett, also known as William Blake and Everett Blake ( May 18, 1917, Cambridge Massachusetts –
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