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1) The first update of the new year! And it's a hummer! We've overloaded the NEWS section! First, it's finally happened! The monthly comic book, Amazing Spider-Man, finally lists Steve Ditko as CO-CREATOR! Second, we've located a never-before-discovered Steve Ditko story for Charlton published in 1971! Third, help us uncover the mystery of a Ditko story supposedly published overseas! Also, you can now be notified every time the site is updated!
1) It's a rather sombre update this time around. Many of you may already know that WIZARD magazine released their January 2002 issue (#124) at the end of November. Inside is an article entitled, "Who is Steve Ditko?", for which I was interviewed. In the NEWS section, I have posted my open letter to all Ditko, and comic-book, fans, expressing my disappointment about the abuses propagated by Wizard magazine onto me regarding my participation. Also check out the section for news on a Bill Schelly fanzine project with plenty of Ditko content, as well as an even easier way to be notified of updates to the site!
1) The absolute highlight of this update has to be the PRE-INKED PAGES section. There's nothing like analyzing the pencils of Ditko vs. the finished work, and we have two new entries! Try another page from the 1984 Noman story by Ditko for Blue Ribbon Comics #12, but especially THREE (!) pages from a 1980 Starman story from Adventure Comics #474! Brilliant!
2) Check out the NEWS section for news on a Bill Schelly fanzine project with plenty of Ditko content, as well as an even easier way to be notified of updates to the site!
3) THE ARTIST section shows off Fred Hembeck's Amazing Spider-Man recreations of famous Ditko covers and splashes. His work falls under the MISCELLANEOUS sub-section at #20. They are great fun, and very well-done!
1) We're back again! Check out the NEWS section for
info. on the official ROBIN SNYDER and STEVE DITKO web-site, designed by me! Also, for the
first time, you'll be able to receive e-mails from me everytime the site is updated! See the section for details!
2) THE ARTIST section is on fire this time, as we've dug up an unidentified piece of mid-'60s Dr. Strange artwork! What's the story? Check it out! Also...wait for it...another newly-discovered Ditko Charlton Romance story! Can you believe it? Both fall under the MISCELLANEOUS sub-section at #18 and #19 respectively. The BIOGRAPHY sub-section has my report of the 2001 San Diego Comic-Convention - the first time I ever attended the event! Tons of visuals to boot!
3) Check out our new front-page logo, and background design on our FRONT PAGE!
4) We've cleaned up the LINKS AND CREDITS page to include
the new official Snyder and Ditko web-site, as well as a link to my new Comic Book Fanzines yahoogroups mailing list! Join up and talk about Ditko's contribution to the world of fanzines. Several key players from the '60s and '70s are on the list, ready to share their experiences,
so join up today!
1) What could prompt the fastest-ever DITKO LOOKED UPdate in history? We have two VERY important news items in the NEWS section; one sad and one terribly exciting! Check it out!
1) We have two remarkable editions to the PRE-INKED PAGES section. There's nothing like analyzing the pencils of Ditko vs. the finished work!
The first is a glorious two-page splash featuring Ditko's 1984 take on No-Man! The second features two pages from a 1991 Captain America story!
2) Inclusions to the THE ARTIST section see two new additions to our on-going article called ''Censored/Altered Ditko'' (#13 in the ARTICLES sub-section). We've also got the never-before-credited-as-an-original DR. STRANGE Pin-Up from MARVEL COLLECTORS' ITEM CLASSICS #10 (Aug '67) and a truly rare find - a GET SMART Test Page by Ditko from 1966, done for Sal Trapani! Also thrown in is the original art to the splash page from the pre-hero Marvel story ''Who Am I?''; one of my favourite Ditko pages ever!
3) It's the NEWS section that is so spankin' hot!
A new DITKO PACKAGE is released and...is Ditko finally going to speak his mind on his days at Marvel in the '60s? Read all about it!
1) Holy Lord, we've added 8 trillion more additions/corrections to
the checklists in the STEVE DITKO CHECKLIST CENTRE,
including two newly-discovered Steve Ditko stories! Yes, a never-before-credited to
Ditko story from 1959, and a ROMANCE story from 1970! Unbelievable!
2) Brilliant additions to THE ARTIST section
include a fabulous (and on-going) article called ''Censored/Altered Ditko'' (#13 in
the ARTICLES sub-section); cover scans to the REALLY rare MAD MONSTERS #1 (1961)
Charlton Magazine, and the 1974 U.K. Fanzine, THE AMAZING STEVE DITKO; a page from
the children's book WAR OF THE GOBOTS, and the two pin-ups (Spider-Man and Dr. Strange)
from the ultra-rare 1964 New York City Convention Program!
3) In the FABULOUS '50s section, we've added
a brilliant page from MYSTERIES OF UNEXPLORED WORLDS #9 (Aug '58) and the
extremely rare CHEYENNE KID #10 cover (Dec '57), courtesy of a scan from Rodney Schroeter!
4) The NEWS section has details of the latest
Ditko/Snyder Package, and other Ditko-related items.
1) We're back with exciting new additions to the site. The star of
this update is a new section added to the site called
VISUAL TEMPLATES. Here, you can see visual
examples of Ditko's early work, from the 1950s, to show how Ditko would
re-use these 'prototypes', if you will, in the series for which he is most
famous, Spider-Man and Dr. Strange! It's wads of fun, and feel free to
suggest some more sightings!
2) Another highlight of this update is the amount of interior
pages from 1954 (!) we've added to the FABULOUS
'50s section! See FOUR cleaned-up pages from his work on BLACK
MAGIC, BLAZING WESTERN and STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES; all from Ditko's
first full year of drawing comics - 1954! We've also added an Atlas page
from MARVEL TALES #147 (Jun '56)!
3) A fabulous addition to THE ARTIST section
is a scan of Ditko's original cover to AMAZING FANTASY #15, and in color, too!
4) The NEWS section has more details on
all the recent appearances of Ditko work and articles on his work in
various comics and publications from the past few months. Unbelievable
to think Ditko is still this prominent at this stage in his career!
5) We've added another big batch of additions and corrections to
the Ditko Looked Up checklists in the STEVE DITKO CHECKLIST CENTRE. We're getting closer to completion (if that's possible)!
6) We've added a few more links to our non-Ditko section of
links, which can be found in our LINKS AND CREDITS
section. Look for links to my BILL EVERETT/ALEX SCHOMBURG/SYD SHORES
site, my GENE COLAN Art Gallery site, and to the DICK AYERS mailing list, of
which Dick himself takes part answering all questions through at him!
1) The star of this update is the largest-ever batch of additions and corrections to
the Ditko Looked Up checklists in the STEVE DITKO CHECKLIST CENTRE. New, unaccounted-for Ditko stories, reprints into originals and it can all be found in the above Centre. Many thanks must go to Michael Ambrose for all his hard work as he
provided the extreme bulk of said corrections and additions!
2) We've made some great additions to THE ARTIST section.
You can see the cover to FANTASTIC FEARS #5 (Ditko's first-ever drawn story), a full page
from one of Ditko's VERY rare romance stories (I Love You #91 - May '71) and an
excellent, UNPUBLISHED piece of Ditko artwork! Check out the PLASTIC MAN pin-up,
provided to the site by GENE FAMA, inker of said piece.
3) Ditko drawing ROBIN HOOD! We've added a full page featuring same to
the FABULOUS '50s section!
4) The NEWS section has more details on coming
year's Ditko projects from Snyder/Ditko, plus all the Ditko miscellaneous pieces from
the past months.
1) Welcome to another truly significant update. Significant because we've
uncovered another Pre-Inked Ditko page! It is from MAGNUS, ROBOT FIGHTER #18 and can
be found in the PRE-INKED PAGES section. There's nothing
like analyzing the pencils of Ditko vs. the finished work! Thanks to Magnus
Ramstrom for the new addition.
2) The second signicant addition to the site is another DITKO LOOKED UP
exclusive! Ron Frantz, former publisher of ACE COMICS and provider of last update's
pre-inked pages of SKYMAN, has written a 40,000-byte novella on his time as the
publisher of ACE and his interactions with Steve Ditko! It is called ACE COMICS
AND THE ART OF STEVE DITKO. What makes it so special is that Ron shares letters
to him written by Vincent Sullivan, Pete Morisi, Alex Toth, Pat Boyette, Jerry
DeFuccio, and two lengthy letters from STEVE DITKO! These letters alone give one
a penetrating look into the mind of Ditko, in terms of his thought process on
writing, morality, penciling, and others inking his own work. You can find
the novella by Ron in the SKYMAN entry of the Pre-Inked Pages section, but it
can be found easier in THE ARTIST section, marked Article #13.
It is beyond fascinating and everyone owns Ron a debt of thanks. The same section
now houses the cover to the book in which Ditko's first-ever artwork appeared, Daring
Love #1. It is #8 under MISCELLANEOUS.
3) More fabulous additions to the FABULOUS '50s section!
I've added two more articles on the era, marked #2 and #3, both of which have
numerous examples, and full splash pages, of '50s Ditko art. In the Page/Cover Gallery,
I've added the splash page to WORLD OF MYSTERY #6 (Apr '57) and the final page of
OUTER SPACE #19 (Oct '58), as well as the cover to THE THING! #15 (Jul '54).
4) And we've added an interesting picture to the top logo of our
FRONT PAGE. Somewhere
between 1958 and 1966, I'd say.
5) The NEWS section has more details on
the next Snyder/Ditko package featuring 160 pages of late '60s/early '70s Charlton
ghost story reprints.
6) We've added another two links to our LINKS AND CREDITS
section, featuring Greg Theakston's SUNDAY COMICS (which reprints 20 pages each week
of Silver Age work; more often than not including Ditko) and a link to DITKO.COM, which
is Aaron Deutsch's new portal site to all the Ditko internet sites.
7) I am going on a '50s Ditko buying rampage, so you can
E-MAIL ME if you are selling anything.
1) This is a historic update, as we've added two brand new sections to
the front page. The first will be called the PRE-INKED PAGES section.
It features Ditko's published comic artwork in its pencilled form, before it was inked.
There is also a critical analysis of said pages with the finished work placed along side!
2) The second brand new section is the FABULOUS '50s section.
It is dedicated to exploring the works of the rarest of Ditko eras, the 1950s! There are
articles on the era and a growing cover gallery. But my favourite part is the reproduction
of some INTERIOR '50s Ditko pages. THRILL to Ditko's 1950s western work! THRILL to This
Magazine Is Haunted splash pages! And the best part is that I've cleaned them up, making
the pages white, and the colours sparkle! And there will be plenty more to come!
3) The NEWS section has all the details on the new 80-Page
Package featuring THE MISSING MAN, plus info. on how to purchase the MR. MONSTER reprint
of FANTASTIC FEARS #5. Also, info. can be found on the next Snyder/Ditko package
featuring 160 pages of late '60s/early '70s Charlton ghost story reprints.
4) We've added some great stuff to THE ARTIST section.
The BIG news is that Rappin' Ron Frantz, publisher of the late '80s ACE books (featuring
Ditko work) gave us an unpublished Charlton House Ad, drawn by Ditko! It is at the
very bottom of the 'Miscellaneous' part (#8) of the section. Rob Sodaro wrote the article
''The Ditko Days'' for AMAZING HEROES #5 back in 1980, and he has granted his permission
to have it reprinted here (#2 in the 'Articles' part of the section).
5) We moved the Eric Stanton piece from the Artist Section to
THE CREATIONS section AND created a whole new page for Ditko/Stanton work, featuring 4 new scans of old Stanton/Ditko (alleged, of course) collaborations!
6) I am going on a '50s Ditko buying rampage, so you can
E-MAIL ME if you are selling anything.
7) We've added another two links to our LINKS AND CREDITS
section, featuring Mike Burkey's original art, on-line sales. Just ask him for what Ditko
he has, and he'll always give you a great deal, and does an excellent job packing and
shipping.
1) We have a VERY special inclusion to the site this time around. PAUL SMITH,
the famed artist of X-Men, Dr. Strange and his current Wildstorm series GRIFTER, has
honoured us with his own written entry into THE DITKO INFLUENCE section.
Yes, Paul's entry was exclusively written for DITKO LOOKED UP. Check out Entry #1 in the
Excerpts part of the section for Paul's words concerning Ditko's influence on his own career.
2) It's been awhile since we've updated the site and Ditko has continued to produce
new material in 1999! NEWS section is where you can read all about
the released 160-Page Package, and the upcoming 80-Page Package based on Ditko's MISSING MAN
character from the early '80s Pacific days. The section has plenty of little Ditko notes
concerning other events that have popped up in the Ditko universe since our last update.
3) We've added some interesting things to THE ARTIST section.
Look for #3 in the Articles part of the section. Look for #9 and #10 in the Miscellaneous
part of the section.
4) We've added another link or two and cleaned up some of the old in our
LINKS AND CREDITS section.
5) I've also taken the time to change the black backgrounds on most of the articles
to a much-easier-to-read coloured background. Also, pages with links have had their
nackgrounds altered to make the links more clear. All in the name of information-dispensing
convience!
1) The star of this update is the largest-ever batch of additions and corrections to
the Ditko Looked Up checklists in the STEVE DITKO CHECKLIST CENTRE.
New, unaccounted for Ditko stories, reprints into originals and it can all be found in
the above Centre. Many thanks must go to Michael Ambrose for all his hard work as he
provided the extreme bulk of said corrections and additions!
2) I've updated THE ARTIST section with the following items in the miscellaneous sections : my recently-acquired, Phantom 2040 piece of original art,
plus its finished comic-page (#6); a ''French'' take on Ditko - see it to believe it (#7);
and the covers to two of Ditko's earliest art appearances - 'Black Magic #27' and 'Captain 3-D
#1'. Neither are Ditko covers but at least now, Ditko fans will be able to recognize the
books at conventions.
3) I've updated the NEWS section of the site to include
former '86-7 Ace Comics publisher Ron Frantz's offer to sell copies of the books Ditko
did for the company!
4) I've updated THE CREATIONS section to include the
unused covers for Machine Man #10. Check out Machine Man's section to see the evidence!
5) To the LINKS AND CREDITS section, I've added a link
to 'The Comic Book Art Of Scott Stewart' (#8), which pretty much speaks for itself. If you
have anything else you'd like to contribute to the site, like scans of rare Ditko items or
old articles, please E-MAIL me!
1) I've done a MAJOR update of the site! To the front page, I've added quick links to
everything at the top and bottom of the page, to make moving inside the site easier, rather
than scrolling all the way up and down.
2) I've updated THE ARTIST section with the following
articles : ''Stretching Things'' (#3); ''Bruce Hamilton on Fantastic Fears #5'' (#6);
a ''Review Of Comic Crusader #14'' (#10) and a ''Review of Imagine #4'' (#11) which includes
a scan of the cover. To the 'Miscellaneous'' part of the section, I've added a cover scan
of ''The 50s Ditko Cover Gallery'' (#5) book.
3) I've adding/corrected more details in the
STEVE DITKO CHECKLIST CENTRE, including a new (old) Ditko book
that was throughly unknown to me (and just about everyone else I've ever talked to) until
last week! Ahhh, the romance of it all! Go to the Additions and Corrections Page in the
section, which will have a listing of that one and all the comics affected. And keep those
corrections coming!
4) I've updated the NEWS section of the site to include
Rodney Schroeter's reprinting of the Ditko classic ''Lazlo's Hammer'', plus I've added a
special new page for the all-new, Steve Ditko's 160-Page Package, published by Robin Snyder
and Steve Ditko, due in January of 1999!
5) The most updated part of the site has to do with THE CREATIONS part of the site. I've added 21 new scans to the section! I've added the following new categories : * Ghostly Ditko Tales; * Ditko & Robin Snyder; 21) T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents; 22) The Avengers; and 29) The Stalker. I've added new images to the following existing
sections : 3) Creeper; 12) Gorgo And Konga; and 16) The Mysterious Traveler, with multiple
scans in each!
6) To THE DITKO INFLUENCE section, I've added QUOTES from
Barry Windsor Smith and Steve Englehart. I've added an EXCERPT from Jim Starlin.
7) To the LINKS AND CREDITS section, I've added Links
to 'The Unofficial Spider-Man Page' (#6) and 'Comic Book Resources' (#7). If you have
anything else you'd like to contribute to the site, like scans of rare Ditko items or
old articles, please E-MAIL me!
1) Yes, we're back with some updating and we start with all the
Ditko checklists! We've done some serious hole-filling, additions and corrections to
all three checklists in The STEVE DITKO CHECKLIST CENTRE.
There, you will find a link to the Additions and Corrections Page, which
will tell you the comics affected. And keep those corrections coming!
2) I've updated the NEWS section with all the Ditko
in your present and future!
3) I've added a couple of items to the SPIDER-MAN
section of the CREATIONS part of the site. Go right to the
bottom and you'll find what you are looking for!
4) I've added my mini-review of QUESTAR #2 (Sum '78) to
THE ARTIST section of the site, placed under the Articles
header, listed as #7.
5) I've added a excerpt by Gil Kane on Ditko to the THE DITKO
INFLUENCE section. It is listed under ''Excerpts'', listed as #3.
6) And I've added a great bunch of links to the LINKS AND
CREDITS section. Included are links to Robin Snyder's THE COMICS site, Ted Latner's
site and The Atlas Comics Home Page! If anybody has any to contribute to the site,
rare scans, old articles, your own written articles or reviews of Ditko comics,
please E-MAIL ME.
1) I haven't gotten to the checklist corrections yet (still
waiting for a few more to come in - will be up by next Tuesday) but
we have reduced the byte-size for the remaining 16 scans (that were just
too huge to exist) for quicker viewing plasure! Randy Hoppe came through
and re-sized another 14 (!). Many thanks to the Rand-Master!
2) I've updated the NEWS section with additions
from the June issue of PREVIEWS.
1) Issue #58 of Ditkomania, the fabulous, decade-old, Bill Hall fanzine
concerning all things Ditko is now available for purchase. You can find out all the
information you need from Bill Hall himself.
2) By June 8, we will have a whole new host of Ditko checklist additions.
Keep your eyes open!
3) And finally! We have been added to Yahoo's Comic Book Artists' Section!
Many thanks to Randy Hoppe for doing what I apparently couldn't make happen.
1) There are additions to the Checklists in the new Additions
And Corrections section of the Checklist Centre.
2) BIG NEWS! Randy ''Let's Go To The'' Hoppe, Master of the Ditko Mailing List,
has reduced the size of many of the images in THE ARTIST and CREATIONS sections! No more
80,000+ bytes; many are down to 30-40,000. The reduce images in the ARTIST section are for Alter Ego #8, The Art Of Steve Ditko, the two Jack Kirby Collector images, and the Peter Parker House Ad. Some of those ones have been reduced by an amazing 80%! The Atlas, Captain Atom, Creeper, Dr. Strange, Hawk And The Dove, Mr. A., The Question, Secret City Saga, Spider-Man, Static and the Warren images have been reduced for the CREATIONS section. Randy plans to reduce even more this week and we are thrilled!
3) Thanks to all those who have written with kind words about the site.
All comments are encouraged, especially additions/corrections to the checklist
and ideas (and soon to be votes) for the upcoming ''Dit-Poll'', starting on Wed. Apr. 15 '98.
See you there then!
4) We are now part of the Cool Comics Web Ring, off the front page.
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