Remembering Steve Ditko - The Artist Who Helped Create A Spider-Man

Artist Steve Ditko has passed away at age 90. It is being reported that he was found dead in his apartment on June 29th. It is believed that he may have died two days prior to being found. No more information has been given at this time but this loss will be felt in the geek community for years to come.

WHO IS STEVE DITKO?

Some of you may be asking who Steve Ditko is and why he is important in the world of comics. He was the co-creator of Marvel’s most beloved character, Spider-man. He and Stan Lee created the character in 1961. Everything you know about Spider-man is thanks to the vivid imagination of Ditko. He was responsible for the costume, the colors, the web shooters, Aunt May and Uncle Ben, Mary Jane, Gwen Stacy, and several of the famous villains that Spider-man has fought over the years. Ditko’s run on Spider-man started with issue number 15 of Amazing Fantasy and ran through issues 38 of Amazing Spider-man.

Ditko should not be only remember for Spider-man, he also created Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange and established the mystical side of the Marvel universe. Characters like Dormammu, The Ancient One and Wong would not be household names today if it was not for Ditko. Other characters that were created by him are Kraven the Hunter, Leader, Electro, Squirrel Girl, Doctor Octopus, J. Jonah Jameson, and The Vulture.

AFTER MARVEL

He did not just create characters for Marvel either. After he left Marvel for what many assume to be a dispute over not receiving a shared credit for his creations, he went to work at DC and other small publishers and continued to create new characters like Hawk and Dove and the Creeper. During his time at Charlton comics, he created the Blue Beetle, Captain Atom, and the Question. These characters are now owned by DC, but it was Ditko’s creativity that brought that gave those characters life.

Steve Ditko never truly retired from comics. He was still creating and producing work with his friend Robin Snyder. Ditko was a man ahead of his time. He was an artist that designed several of the heroes and villains that we love today and has created characters that are rocking the charts with their popularity like Squirrel Girl. RIP Steve, you will be missed.

WHAT IS BEING SAID

Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Squirrel Girl, Mr. A, Speedball, and so many others. RIP Steve Ditko, creator of heroes and infinite wonders. pic.twitter.com/Lj4DEzn4yd

— Paul_Dini (@Paul_Dini) July 7, 2018

Without Steve Ditko there would have been no Spider-Man, no Doctor Strange, no Creeper, no Hawk and Dove, none of the black and white reprint comics I read in seaside resorts as a boy. No The Question (which means no Rorschach). No Mister A. No mystery.

— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) July 6, 2018

Goodbye Steve Ditko pic.twitter.com/DXAkw8BQIk

— Scott Derrickson (@scottderrickson) July 6, 2018

I spoke to Steve ditko on the phone once. I’ve talked about it often. I got to thank him for creating Spider-man and putting food on my table. I hope he really heard me

— BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS (@BRIANMBENDIS) July 6, 2018

Steve Ditko passed away today at age 90. Without him there’s no Spider-Man, no Doctor Strange, no Green Goblin… and no Squirrel Girl. https://t.co/LAdan7LUiC pic.twitter.com/ajs3E6BsUU

— Ryan North (@ryanqnorth) July 7, 2018

RIP to comic book legend Steve Ditko, beyond influential on countless planes of existence. He never truly profited from his comic creations that have lasted for decades, but his work will never be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/UBZQWpF79i

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) July 7, 2018