There were many geniuses who created the everlasting Mighty World of Marvel (comics, cartoons, movies and all) - the original "pantheon" of Stan Lee (still alive) and Jack Kirby, of course, being the most lauded. But there was another - certainly one of the most innovative graphic artists ever - who made the Marvel legend a reality, Mr Steve Ditko!
The man who created the nerdy-teenager-turned-superhero Spiderman (and most of the friends and foes who persisted with him over the years, including J Jonah Jameson, Gwen Stacy, Doctor Octopus, the Vulture, Green Goblin, Flash Thompson, Electro, Sandman, Kraven the Hunter, Aunt May and the rest) and the amazingly unearthly worlds and incantations that made the "Sorcerer Supreme" Doctor Strange such a cult hit, Mr Ditko's sheer imagination made a huge impression on the comic-buying world (myself included) in those heady days of the 1960s - before he fell out with Mr Lee, packed his bags and departed back to freelancing (for DC and other lesser imprints).
In latter years the born loner became ever more reclusive [he died alone earlier this year and was not discovered for days], and, despite contributing many new artworks and characters for numerous comic titles (Marvel's included) almost up to the turn of the century, he never regained the heady success of his early days - but his legacy is certainly immense, and his name will never be forgotten...
...the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth forbid it!
RIP Stephen John Ditko (2nd November 1927 - c29 June 2018)
I love his work. His art will be his immaculate legacy!
ReplyDeleteImmaculate is the word for it! Jx
DeleteLove those Dr Strange dreamscapes.
ReplyDeleteNo-one else could come up with anything resembling them, at the time, nor since... Jx
DeleteI was always a bit more of a Beno boy myself but as I got older appreciated the great art work he did.
ReplyDeleteArtwork from The Beano is equally collectible these days. Jx
DeleteWhoops Beano - silly me
DeleteI knew what you meant... Jx
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