Unusual Tales - The Enchanted Planet

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

"The Enchanted Planet" is a 6-page story from Charlton's SPACE ADVENTURES #31 [1959].  Gorgeous artwork in this science fiction tale, some of Ditko's best of the 1950s, very detailed and imaginative.  It features Bruce Colston, son of a rich businessman in the 26th century, who is completely lacking in drive and ambition until he happens upon a damsel in distress on an exotic alien planet.  The action scenes in this story are especially nice, very much pointing the way to the type of thing that would be a Ditko staple in just a few more years.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work

Reprint of 1975 classic WHA now available

Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA

Mailed out bi-monthly, subscribe today

Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications

SHADE and other DC stories book on the way

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 to biggy

Unusual Tales - The Strange Fate Of Captain Fenton

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

"The Strange Fate Of Captain Fenton" is a 7-page story from Charlton's MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #6 [1957], one of many nautical themed stories Ditko drew in the early days.  This time around we have a cruel captain who forces a young sailor to toss a prized carving of his overboard.  This turns out not to be a good idea, but in a very unexpected way.

Enjoyable story, with some really good artwork by Ditko, as usual in those nautical period pieces.  I especially like that somewhat creepy carving.

But before the story, some links:

Buy Ditko's creator-owned work

Over 300 new pages from the past three years

Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA

Mailed out bi-monthly, subscribe today

Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications

SHADE and other DC stories book on the way

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 to biggy

Unusual Tales - Automata Ultima

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

"Automata Ultima" is a 3-page science fiction story from Charlton's MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #12 [1959], featuring scenes of a future world when automatic machines continue the production of weapons of war long after they're needed.  More of a vignette than a story, playing on the doomsday fears of the early Cold War era, and perhaps more than a little inspired by the Ray Bradbury story "There Will Come Soft Rains".

A nice little story, with a really good opening page, and the snippets of the adventures the ship went through are well done.

But before the story, some links:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Newest Ditko ACT 7 SEVEN out soon
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
For all your Ditko fanzine needs
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
SHADE and other DC stories book on the way
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 to biggy

Unusual Tales - Adrift In Space

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

"Adrift In Space" is a 5-page science fiction story from Charlton's MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #8 [1958], wherein Captain Crewes is left adrift in space after a mutiny by his men and flashes back to the events that led him there, starting years ago when he first got the years-long mission to explore strange new wolds, through various adventures and onto his decision to extend the mission without telling his crew why.

A nice little story, with a really good opening page, and the snippets of the adventures the ship went through are well done.

But before the story, some links:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Reprint of classic 1975 ..WHA..!? now available for $4
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
For all your Ditko fanzine needs
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
SHADE and other DC stories book on the way
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 to biggy

New Ditko - ..WHA..!? reprint

Now available, ..WHA..!? [2nd edition], a new printing of the 1975 comic book first published by Bruce Hershenson, numbered "D. #3" to indicate its place after MR. A [1973] (2010 reprint now available) and AVENGING WORLD [1973] (contents included in the 2002 AVENGING WORLD collection).

This comic features five black and white stories by Ditko, plus colour front and back covers, some of his best mid-1970s work (a period getting some attention now with recent and upcoming reprints of his DC work of the period).

"Case Of The Silent Voice" 8-pages
"Premise To Consequence" 4-pages
"The Void" 8-pages
"The Captive Spark" 4-pages
"Masquerade" 8-pages


Copies as always available from Robin Snyder, along with a wide selection of other recent and classic Ditko creator-owned works.  Retailers interested in carrying the books should contact Snyder for terms and discounts, which probably exceed your discounts on similar books from your near-monopoly distributor.  I'll also have copies available, see here, keep an eye on Ebay or e-mail me if you want to combine an order with some of the other available books.

New Ditko - DITKOMANIA #83

Rob Imes reports that DITKOMANIA #83, the 20th issues since the revival of the fanzine three years ago, is now on its way to subscribers from Ditkomania world headquarters in Michigan.

The new issue is 32 B&W pages long (counting the covers) and includes articles and art about CHARLTON COMICS including a listing of all of Ditko's late 1950s Charlton stories (in the order of their job numbers)! There's also an article about GORGO, a review of HAUNTED #1, a comparison of 1950s EC and Charlton, and a review of Ditko's newest comicbook ACT 6.

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

Unusual Tales - The Juggernauts Of Jupiter

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

"The Juggernauts Of Jupiter" is a 5-page story from Charlton's UNUSUAL TALES #15 [1959].  It's been reprinted a few times, but not in colour in quite a while.

An atypical space story, as humans aren't involved at all, except for one passing, and slightly insulting, reference.  No, this time it's war between Neptune, led by the belligerent leader The Highest, and the newly discovered peace-loving people of Jupiter.  A scientist from Neptune tries to warn the Jovians of the threat, but finds out that peace-loving doesn't always mean unprepared.

A nice little story, with the visual highlight being, as you can see to the right, the long panel on page four showing the glory of the Jovian city.

But before the story, some links:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Reprint of 1975 ..WHA..!? DITKO'S H SERIES coming next
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
New issue out soon
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Softcover Doctor Strange Masterworks available
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 on images to enlarge

Upcoming Ditko - ..WHA..!? reprint

Robin Snyder informs me that the next book he and Ditko will publish will be a reprint of the 1975 comic ..WHA..!?, which features five short stories.  Most of these haven't been reprinted since THE DITKO COLLECTION #2 [1986].

Some really good stuff, I'll post a bit about it soon.  This new edition will be $4, ordering details here.  Retailers interested in carrying this and the other Snyder/Ditko publications should contact Snyder for details.

(cover shown from original edition, I'll post the new edition when I have it)