DC Entertainment is mourning the loss of comic creator Steve Ditko who died at the end of June, but whose passing has only just been announced.
In a statement, the company describes him as “a true legend of the comic book industry.
“He will forever be remembered for co-creating Spider-Man, but that was just one of his many accomplishments.
Steve Ditko’s career in comics spanned over 60 years, and he worked for many publishers. He is justly famous for his work during the 1960s at Marvel Comics, where he co-created Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. Steve also had two stints at DC Comics.
“A Ditko comic never looked like anyone else’s,” said DC Entertainment Publisher Dan DiDio. “Aside from his deceptively simple art style — which was uniquely Ditko’s — he was a master at plotting and filling his stories with energy.”
Steve first started contributing to DC in 1968. He only stayed a year, but he left his mark with several unconventional characters. His signature creation was the Creeper, a vigilante crime-fighter with a sinister appearance and a warped sense of humour.
Equally unusual were The Hawk and the Dove, two bickering brothers on opposite sides of the political spectrum. The pair spent as much time fighting over liberal and conservative politics as they did battling their enemies.
“Steve Ditko’s impact and achievements are legendary,” said DC Entertainment Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee. “The work he created will live on for generations to come.”
Always an intensely private person, Steve once said, “I never talk about myself. My work is me. I do my best, and if I like it, I hope somebody else likes it, too.”
“Today DC Entertainment remembers the accomplishments of a giant in the world of comics.”
DC Comics The Hawk and the Dove – crated by Steve Ditko
Steve was also, of course, the creator of Blue Beetle for Charlton Comics, who first appeared in Captain Atom #83 in November 1966. Like Captain Atom, who Steve co-created by Steve with writer Joe Gill, he’s a character now owned and published by DC.
The Blue Beetle – crated by Steve Ditko
• Legendary comic creator Steve Ditko, dead at 90
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The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Obituaries, US Comics
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