Hatrack River Forum: In Search of Steve Ditko

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Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

Who was Steve Ditko? Well, he was the co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange. He had a very distinctive, unusual art style that was a different flavor in super-hero comics. Many credit him as being someone who (like Jack Kirby) helped save the super-hero comic by breaking all the rules.

He was also a writer with some very passionate beliefs about right, wrong, politics, and the world.

He's also a total recluse. He's still alive, still working...but refuses to grant interviews or appear in public.

Recently Jonathan Ross (an avowed Ditko fan) did an in-depth documentary on all things Ditko, complete with interviews with Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Stan Lee...and a valiant attempt to see Ditko himself.

It's been posted on YouTube: Worth watching, if one has any interest in Ditko or the history of comics.

Edit: Missing word added.

[ September 23, 2007, 10:10 PM: Message edited by: Puffy Treat ]

Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :

I was incredibly amused watching Gaiman and Ross deciding to go up and knock on Steve Ditko's door. They looked like giddy school boys about to go pull a fire alarm.

Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :

Is he an actual recluse, or just a private person? I read somewhere (on Mark Evanier's website I think) that he won't do published interviews, but that he's otherwise into talking with folks about comics...

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

I really enjoyed that. I watched all 7 parts. plaid, he isn't a recluse, he just won't go on camera.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

I suppose a better word would be "elusive". But the documentary uses "recluse", so that's the word I used. [Smile]

Though I would note that Mark Evanier himself should be taken with a grain of salt. Often info that's easy for him to get isn't quite so much for those outside his circle.

Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :

quote:
Originally posted by porcelain girl:
I was incredibly amused watching Gaiman and Ross deciding to go up and knock on Steve Ditko's door. They looked like giddy school boys about to go pull a fire alarm.

Didn't they though? I could swear Gaiman was flushed and about to titter. [Big Grin]

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

It doesn't take much to make Neil Gaiman titter.

Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :

I've been meaning to read his Sandman series forever (Gaiman's, not Ditko's).

Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :

Do Neil and Jonathan kiss? [Smile]

Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :

Thanks for this. I'd read the "Essential Spider Man" books from the library earlier this year, which included all of Ditko's run. Wish I'd have seen this back then.

Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :

I really enjoyed that too!