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Monday, November 2, 2009

Books / Nerd Happy Birthday, Steve Ditko

Posted by on Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 1:52 PM

spidermanditko.jpg
Steve Ditko turns 82 today. I don't mean to understate Jack Kirby's addition to the world of comics, but Ditko did more create the modern comic book than just about everybody. His Spider-Man was an insecure teenager who overcame his own failings to become a hero. His Doctor Strange was the kind of weird strip that seemed to be less about good fighting evil and more about the sheer glorious weirdness of comic books unleashed on the page.

Charles Schulz is responsible in large part for expressing the neuroses of the modern age in popular culture, but Ditko aged Schulz's neurotic children into teenagers and then full-grown men and women. You look at his artwork and you see the doubts in your own head spread out on a page in spidery lines. He's really something wonderful.

 

Comments (8) RSS

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Max Solomon 1
happy birthday ditko, from a huge dr. strange fan. the only comics i held on to.
Posted by Max Solomon on November 2, 2009 at 2:19 PM
2
Steve Ditko, you are awesome.
Posted by Yeek on November 2, 2009 at 2:50 PM
elenchos 3
...for a comic book guy.
Posted by elenchos on November 2, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Sachi 4
Ditko was an amazing artist. Nice to remember him!
Posted by Sachi http://web.me.com/thorw/Claire_and_Sachi on November 2, 2009 at 4:02 PM
5
Thanks for the post. I collected and read Ditko Marvels in the early 70s. My older brother had the monopoly on the Romita and later Spidermans, so I was forced back to the source - Ditko! I became very attached and I like them better than any other Spiderman artist. And my whole life still goes forward under the tragic cloud of Parker's never going right personal life.
Posted by cracked on November 3, 2009 at 12:15 AM
eric (the other one) 6
"Ditko did more create the modern comic book than just about everybody."

Don't blame this mess on Steve's crazy old ass.
Posted by eric (the other one) on November 3, 2009 at 6:16 AM
7
Hot of the press!

STRANGE SUSPENSE by Steve Ditko!

http://www.fantagraphics.com/index.php?p…
Posted by jtm on November 3, 2009 at 10:34 AM
8
Well before he lost his mind and fell into that Objectivism nonsense.
Posted by Der Rabbi on November 12, 2009 at 2:21 PM

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