May 14, 2011

New Ditko - DITKOMANIA #84

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DITKOMANIA #84 is now available.  This issue concentrates on Ditko's work at Marvel, to mark the upcoming publication of a Ditko Hulk/Torch team-up from the early 1980s.  Included are three pages of copies of the pencils to that story, so you can compare that to the inked version which will be out soon.  Also includes articles on the Mort Todd edited reprints in the 1990s (with nice copies of the new Ditko covers and illustrations done for Todd), Iron Man and the Peter Parker / Aunt May relationship.

Single issue and subscription information are over here, and the Ditkomania mailing list is down this way.

May 7, 2011

New Ditko - Letter re: Crandall

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The recently released April 2011 (Vol. 22 No. 4) issue of Robin Snyder's newsletter THE COMICS has a short letter by Steve Ditko, commenting on Reed Crandall and his work in TREASURE CHEST Vol. 16 No. 7 [1960] (available here) after Snyder ran the cover in the November 2010 issue (Vol. 21 No. 11) of the newsletter.

Information on ordering Snyder's newsletter over here.

May 4, 2011

Unusual Tales - Stranger In The House

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"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

"Stranger In The House" is a 3-page story first published in Charlton's MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #5 [1957]. Amusing little story about a soldier who suddenly appears in the middle of a suburban family's home. Nothing too notable in the artwork, just a typically solid Ditko job from the era.


But before the story, some links:
160-page reprint of classic 1970s Charlton short stories still available
New issue out soon
New Pure Imagination reprint of 1960s Charlton work announced
Scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click to embiggen


May 3, 2011

Upcoming Ditko - New PI collection

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Pure Imagination has a 7th collection of Ditko stories on the schedule for this summer, this time STEVE DITKO - ANGRY APES 'N' LEAPIN' LIZARDS.  I didn't know Ditko ever drew Little Orphan Annie...




Steve Ditko's Angry Apes 'n' Leapin' Lizards collects the artwork produced by Steve Ditko for Charlton Comics during the time of his tenure on Amazing Spider-Man, including science-fiction and fantasy work, with guest appearances by Gorgo and Konga. Theakstonized for maximum reproduction.

Unusual Tales - Free

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"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

"Free" is a 3-page story first published in Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #35 [1957]. Brief little fantasy story about a man escaping jail but never quite getting free.  Some good artwork in this one, including one of the occasional uses of mechanical tones for the shading that Ditko did in the 1950s.


But before the story, some links:
Complete MISSING MAN book available
Ditko rarities and fan art and articles
Complete CREEPER hardcover available
Scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click to embiggen


May 1, 2011

Unusual Tales - The Man Who Disappeared

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"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

"The Man Who Disappeared" is a 5-page story first published in Charlton's THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #14 [1957].  Dr. Haunt regales us with the story of science student Lance Cabot, who in despair goes to the police to report on the reasons for him imminent disappearance.  The structure of the story is kind of strained, but Ditko's work is solid, with a few really nice moments.


But before the story, some links:
WHA..!?, new edition of classic 1970s comic now available
Ditko news and reviews bi-monthly
Unpublished c1981 Hulk/Torch story coming soon
Scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click to embiggen


April 25, 2011

Unusual Tales - Inside The Crystal Globe

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"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

"Inside The Crystal Globe" is a 4-page story first published in Charlton's TALES OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER #11 [1959].  This is one of a handful of stories and covers from the era that are signed "J. Kodti" (or sometimes "Kotdi"). Not sure why the pen-name was used, but there is a slightly different look to the inking on this story compared to most Ditko work of the era.  A little sharper, less variation in line weight.  Anyway, not too much of a story, as the Traveler mentions in his introduction it's one of the rare times he chooses to intervene rather than just narrate.  The most interesting bit of art is the ghostly image of the Traveler in the crystal ball on the first page, that's really effective.


But before the story, some links:
Complete MISSING MAN book available
New issue out soon
Two big DC collections scheduled for 2011
Scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click to embiggen

April 23, 2011

Unusual Tales - The Most Terrible Fate

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"Unusual Tales", a series presenting Steve Ditko's comics from 1957 to 1959 that are in the public domain.

"The Most Terrible Fate" is a 5-page story first published in Charlton's OUT OF THIS WORLD #7 [1958]. In a post-nuclear war world of a thousand years in the future, a young man finds out that his parents have been keeping a terrible secret from him.  Kind of an over-wrought story with a twist you'll probably see coming, but the art is nice.  Note especially the good panel progression across the top of the last page, ending with a classic Ditko extreme close-up of the eye.

But before the story, some links:
Get the massive AVENGING WORLD collection, 240 pages of comics and essays, now
New issue out soon
Doctor Strange softcover MARVEL MASTERWORKS volume now available
Scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click to embiggen


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