New Ditko - DITKOMANIA #81

DITKOMANIA #81 is now available, the latest issue of the long-running recently revived fanzine.  No theme this issue so a wide variety of articles and fan art, including articles on the early Spider-Man villain The Terrible Tinkerer, later-day Marvel hero The Shroud and creator-owned hero The Void.  Many more articles, including an amusing Ditko encounter by Mort Todd and the first in a series of articles on Ditko character design by Javier Hernandez and a sketch by Steve Bissette of Gorgo's mother.

Upcoming Ditko - DITKO #5-FIVE ACT

Ditko's co-publisher Robin Snyder informs me that the release of their next title, which seems to be titled DITKO #5-FIVE ACT, is imminent. Ordering details for this and the many prior in-print books are over here, as usual. Interested retailers should contact Snyder now for wholesale rates and terms.

Unusual Tales - Director Of The Board

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

"Director Of The Board" is a 5-page Ditko story from Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #33 [1957]. A strange little story about an executive turning down a job applicant but encouraging him with the tale of a dream he had as a struggling young job-seeker, dreaming about taking the initiative and risks to rise in the company through any number of unethical actions.  I'm not sure I get it, but that Ditko art sure is pretty, from the fanciful looking drilling machine to the scenes of our hero beating up miners demanding safe working conditions to exploiting jungle natives and the drunk.

In a bit of an oddity, pretty much the same story was repeated under the title "A Look Into The Future" in Charlton's UNUSUAL TALES #27 [1961], also drawn by Ditko.

As this story is now available in DITKO'S MR. A. #8, only the first page is presented below.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New material and classic reprints
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
New issue out now
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Slightly short of complete Doctor Strange colour reprint later this year
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 embiggen

Unusual Tales - The Messages

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

From Charlton's THIS MAGAZINE IS HAUNTED #12 [1957] is the 5-page story "The Messages" by Ditko.

Dr. Haunt's story this time around is about Dr. Diablo and his incredible tiny people, and how they were rescued. Nothing too exciting visually in this one, but the storytelling is solid.  I do like the bottom of page two, which is an early appearance of a classic Ditko pose.

You know the drill, story below, but first I'm going to place these links you might be interested in
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New material and classic reprints
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Coming your way bi-monthly or better
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover now 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 to make the little people (and everything else) bigger.

Unusual Tales - From All Our Darkrooms...

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

Title: "From All Our Darkrooms..."
Length: 8 pages
Source: OUT OF THIS WORLD #4 [1957]
Publisher: Charlton
Artist: Steve Ditko
Writer: Unknown

A mildly clever variation on the alien invasion theme really gives Ditko something to sink his teeth into visually, with a really good use of the negative theme in the splash page and very striking finale.  Another favourite of mine among Ditko's 1950s work.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New material and classic reprints
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
New issue out now
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Slightly short of complete Doctor Strange colour reprint later this year
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

As this story appears in the Snyder/Ditko OUT OF THIS WORLD #20, I'm only showing the first page below.

Click to enbiggen.

Unusual Tales - The Man Who Could See Tomorrow

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

"The Man Who Could See Tomorrow" is a 6-page story from Charlton's UNUSUAL TALES #7 [1957].

A few neat visuals in this one,especially the bits focusing on the eyes.  That second page is really nice.

Before the story, some links:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New material and classic reprints
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
New issue out soon
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
CREEPER hardcover now 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 to see tomorrow

Unusual Tales - The Man Who Painted On Air

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

"The Man Who Painted On Air" is from Charlton's UNUSUAL TALES #7 [1957]. It's a 9-page story, which makes it one of the longest stories Ditko drew in the 1950s, one of only two stories that long. It wouldn't be until 1960, when he started doing Konga and Gorgo stories that he'd do any longer stories, with even his Marvel work never topping the 6-page mark until the 1960s.

In this one, a down-and-out promoter seems to see his dream answered when he finds an artist with a visually spectacular act of painting in mid-air, and remains oblivious to hints that something more is going on.

The gimmick in this story is tailor-made for some clever Ditko visuals, and he doesn't disappoint.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
New material and classic reprints
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
New issue out this week
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Slightly short of complete Doctor Strange colour reprint later this year
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 enbiggen.

Unusual Tales - The Last Laugh

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

"The Last Laugh" is a 6-page story from Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #32 [1957].

An amusing little science fiction trifle about a college practical joker who decides to exploit a brainy classmates belief in the possibility of time travel to craft his biggest prank.  Some very nice Ditko faces on the characters in this one.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
ACT 5 out next
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Bi-monthly and packed with rare art, fan art and articles, delivered to your door
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
THE CREEPER complete Ditko hardcover now 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 images to embiggen

Unusual Tales - A World Of His Own

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

"A World Of His Own" is a 6-page story from Charlton's STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #32 [1957], and is definitely one of Ditko's most inventive and memorable stories of the 1950s. Featuring an odd abstract painting that serves as a portal to another world, Ditko's visual effects to depict this realm on pages 4 and 5 are top-notch, and in retrospect very much a precursor to such realms he'd create in other comics in later years.

Some links to check out:
Buy Ditko's creator-owned work
Many books of new and classic material available
Find out about the fanzine DITKOMANIA
Bi-monthly and packed with rare art, fan art and articles, delivered to your door
Check out new and upcoming Ditko publications
Ditko's Warren work available scattered through several books
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

Clicky to biggy.