Upcoming Ditko - Act 4

Robin Snyder informs me that the newest Ditko, ACT 4, will be shipping soon.  As you can see by the cover, The !? returns for his second story, as well as other recent Ditko creations.  $4 cover price, direct ordering info here, retailers interested in carrying it and other Ditko books should contact Snyder for wholesale rates and terms.

I'll have some copies, as usual, on Ebay when I have the book on hand, or if you want me to get it in the mail to you as soon as I have it you can order here. If you want to combine the order with some of the other Ditko books, let me know and I'll hold them for you and let you know the total shipping.

Unusual Tales - Misfits

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

From Charlton's OUTER SPACE #20 [1958] comes the 5-page "Misfits".

A mildly amusing story with a bit of a predictable "Twilight Zone" style twist ending, but Ditko's art really makes this one stand out.  The goofy looking aliens are wonderfully expressive, and there's just some nice design work on that first panel, and that building on page 4.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Catch up on Ditko's new characters like Miss Eerie 
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Just $1.50 plus postage an issue
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Seriously, all of Ditko's Indiana Jones stories in print...
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click images to big-up.

 

Unusual Tales - The Strange Asteroid

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

From Charlton's OUTER SPACE #19 [1958] comes the 5-page "The Strange Asteroid".  A reporter accompanies a scientific expedition to the asteroid belt, out there looking for interesting samples to bring back to Earth.  What they find is... well, read the story, you won't believe me...

I suppose when you had to write a few dozen of these a week like many of the comic book writers from the 1950s you got a bit loopy after a while.  Couple of nice bits from Ditko, that cosmic background on page 2 looks pretty nice.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
(scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies)

Click images to asteroid-size.

 

 

Unusual Tales - Mystery From Mars

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

From Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #39 [1958] comes the 5-page "Mystery From Mars".

A nice goofy story about a funny looking Martian brought to Earth by an unmanned rocket.  Ditko's take on the alien is great, and he sells the twist at the end nicely.  

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
1999 160-PAGE PACKAGE still available, a huge chuck of then-new Ditko
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Always good reading
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Lots of 1950s public domain reprints from various publishers out there, none with this story yet
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click images to big-up.

 

Unusual Tales - First On Mercury

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

"First On Mercury" is a 5-page story from Charlton's OUTER SPACE #18 [1958].  It presents a scientific expedition to Mercury, and the surprising form of life they find there, which only raises more questions than it answers.

 A cute little story, nothing too spectacular in the artwork, but some nice designs.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Interesting essays in THE AVENGING MIND
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click images to big-up.

 

 

Unusual Tales - Panic

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

From Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #35 [1957] comes the 6-page "Panic".


A bit of a Cold War story, although transplanted to the future of 2136 and against the fictional city of Torovia.  The writing is pretty clumsy, and the lackluster production doesn't help much, but there are a lot of good Ditko panels and characters in this story to make it worthwhile.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Classic MR. A. reprint now available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Complete your Ditko experience
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Still a lot of stuff not available, get on the ball publishers
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click images to big-up.

 

 

Unusual Tales - A Visit To Planet 3

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

Charlton's SPACE ADVENTURES #26 [1958] brings us the 5-page "A Visit To Planet 3".


First contacts gone awry from aliens landing on Earth are a popular theme in stories from this era, from Charlton and other publishers.  This is an offbeat variation on that one, not sure i completely get the twist at the ending.  Still, some very nice art by Ditko, including the space ship design and the various 1950s city scenes. Do a few of the faces look like they had some touch-up work by another artist to anyone else?

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Hundreds of pages of new 2008-2010 comics
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Great fan art and articles sent to your door
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
This story might not have been reprinted, but a lot more have been
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click images to big-up.

 

 

Unusual Tales - The Statues That Came To Life

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

From Charlton's TALES OF THE MYSTERIOUS TRAVELER #10 [1958] comes the 6-page "The Statues That Came To Life".

The Traveler expands his scope to ancient Greece, where he also observed, oddly already wearing his 1950s outfit.  At first he tells us a version of the familiar story of Pygmalion, and then tells the lesser known second story (presumably made up just for this story) of another statue made soon after.

An entertaining story, Ditko does well with the classic setting, and always interesting to see the sculptor theme which enters into a lot of his stories, whether he had a hand in writing them or not.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Download public domain comics, likely including the one this story is from
scans in this series generally adapted to my personal tastes from those copies

Click images to big-up.