One of the most iconic names in comics is Steve Ditko. Die-hard comic fans know him as the artist and co-creator behind Spider-Man and Doctor Strange in their early days but some of those who just follow the films may not be familiar with his work.
Ditko was the one who helped spawn the infamous Spider-Man costume which has since been iterated upon in all sorts of different mediums but the films have now circled back to the original costume with Spider-Man: Homecoming. Ditko has remained a guy that stayed behind the scenes while Stan Lee soaked up all the glamour but Ditko’s work has been influential and iconic for the superhero genre.
Steve Ditko helped not only spawn the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man but also some of his most notorious villains with Doctor Octopus, Green Goblin, Sandman, and The Lizard. Ditko later went on to create the psychedelic sorcerer supreme, Doctor Strange. After dabbling in surrealism with that character for a while, Ditko and Stan Lee got into a feud that many speculate surrounded Lee’s ego which resulted with Ditko leaving Marvel.
Ditko went on to share his talents with various other publishers including DC Comics and stayed in the shadows as he continued to create. The visionary denied endless interview requests and rarely spoke on the record, even avoiding press and publicity surrounding films based on his own creations.
“We didn’t approach him. He’s like J.D. Salinger. He is private and has intentionally stayed out of the spotlight like J.D. Salinger,” said Doctor Strange director when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. “I hope he goes to see the movie, wherever he is, because I think we paid homage to his work.”
Steve Ditko lived out the remainder of his life in a Manhatten studio where he drew and continued to write, all while maintaining a persona of mystery and minor social interaction. Comic-book creator Graig Weich was one of the few lucky people who Ditko invited into his life and got to visit him in his studio during his final days.
Weich described him to THR as a man straight out of the 40s, well-dressed and wearing a beret. Weich learned of Ditko’s passing on Friday when he went to visit him and the security guard told him what happened. The guard also told Weich that he was one of only a few people that Ditko allowed to see him in the last four years.
Steve Ditko’s believed to have never married and has no surviving family, Weich also told THR that Stan Lee and Ditko seemed to have eventually settled their feud.
Despite his lack of interest in being a public figure, Steve Ditko’s touch on culture is profound and he’ll be greatly missed. One of the best scenes in Spider-Man: Homecoming is a homage to Steve Ditko which features Spider-Man pinned under rubble, as it crushes him and it looks like all hope is lost, he musters the strength and courage to push it all off.
Rest in peace Steve Ditko, 1927 – 2018.
